Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-05-26

him to silence He would not for the
world say a word that might give aid
and comfort to the followers CT the
rum traffic.
We may we'll believe, therefore, that
Kansas City was surprised and start
led last Sunday when Rev. Wallace
NJ. Short, pastor of Beacon Hill Con-
gregational church, the leading
church of that denomination in the
town delivered a vigorous sermon
against prohititica. Unlike Prof.
Munsterorrg of Harvard, he did not
contend that the moderate use of
liquor is symptom of civilization
and promoted the imagination, COM
fort and happiness Of nation.
The prohibi' on idea must be aban-
doned, because it is mistaken in it's
methods, erroneous in its moral dis
tinctlons and unjust in its applica-
tion," said Mr.. Short.
''In the first place, it is mistaken
in its method of attempting to build
up human character and human So
ciety. 1t is pursuing in its grossest
form the mistake of the hermits OF
the middle ages, who tried to attain
righteousness by removing themselvts
from the sight and sound and posi-
bility of evil. One admires their earn
estaess, hut weeps over their errors.
"Scme of these saints of the middle
ages went solar as to practice self
mutilation In the struggle for purity
and spiritual power. The whole
method works upon the line of spirit
ual emasculation, rather than upon
the line of spiritual power.
"The average American being too
busy in his pursuit of money and
pleasure to take the trouble to dis.
cipline himself or train the rising gen
Grafton in the true principles of life.
has fallen back upon the easylooking
method of the enactment of many
laws and the reliance upon multi.
tudes of policeman. The world has
never been helped any by that
method. 1t is sign of decadent
moral and spiritual force.
I'VE need to spend time and effort
to make clear to the American people
the distinction between the sphere of
government and the sphere of moral
ducation. The business of govern
ment is to preserve the person and
property of men inviolate. 1t should
give every man chance fer life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
But in the matter of personal
habits, the educational influences are
supreme. The home, the school, the
church and public sentiment, are the
forces that make character. Just in
proportion as we place reliance upon
law and the police, we shall fail in
the sphere of educational and moral
influence, and that failure has al.
ways been fatal and must ever be.
THE line of distinction between tn
sphere of government and moral edu-
cation is not always absolute and
clear, yet it is as definite as any in
tellectual and moral distinction, and
we must learn what it is and heed it.
Prohibition is unjust, and morally
wrong in its application. For the bare
majority of men to vote thing Grim
inal that is not criminal, and then
treat the other half of society as
criminal, can only beget contempt for
laws thus enacted. 1t is tyranny
worse than the tyranny of ancient
kings. 1t drives many men under the
sting of injustice and wrong to be-
come lawbreakers from principle
Society has no right to take the
nine men who dr:ak their beer as
Temporarily as their neighbcrs drink
their coffee and brand them as Grim
inals because the tenth man is in
temperate in his drinking. And there
is Just as much justice in branding
every man who eats because one-half
of mankind are Incorporate in their
eating.
Society has no right to treat the
occupations and property of con-
siderable class of men as football,
to be kicked here and there by the
whims of public opinion, In many a
city where the license and no license
forces are closely matched a man pur.
sues one year in peace the occupa-
ton and use of his property and his
trade, and the next year must lose
both, or pursue them as an outlaw.
Any man who believes that principle
in the end must prevail cannot but
know that every prohibition wave
wall Fave its receding tide, and will
leave behind chaotic wreck of NOR
al distinctions, and the weakened re-
spect for law and for the justice and
temperance of majorities.
1--WE must get over the fanatical
bigotry which lies in the assumption
that the minority, or the people of
the opposite party have no rights
that the majority are bound to re-
spect. We must get over the expert
ence that leads us to stop our ears
to the plea of any man who, sees diff
ferently from ourselves. on the as
sumption that he is wholly wicked in
the motive and his practice.
Temperance can never he built up i
on intemperance. and loose moral dis
and unfair play. When we
have gotten these implanted, then
the way will be clear for the really
temperate and self-controlled So
ciety."
Killed the Peacemaker.
A London man attempted to prevent
an angry husband from abusing his