Year: 1874

We get the following from the Olympia Echo
which copies it from the Southern Temperance
Organ, published in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The fact stated is only repetition of fact
which has been stated and re-stated by judges
all over the land, and u.s. therefore, nothing
new; but the position taken by the comnenta.
tor upon the fact, though the correct one, is
not the one usually taken by temperance advo-
Gates. The law is at fault, and not the whisky
sellers. We know not few men engaged in
the sale of whisky, who are law-abiding men;
men who would not do any act in violation of
law, nor yet any mean, disreputable, or inhu-
man act; and it is useless to try to make peo
pie who know them, believe they are bad men.
They simply act as the law permits them to
act, and if we would reform them we must re-
form the law. Neither can temperance people
say to whisky seller, with good grace:-
"Sir, you must not pursue this business. Your
house is moral pest house; your practice de-
moralizing and degrading to the community
for they know very well if they do this the
whisky seller will reply by saying: 1.-The law
authorizes me to do what l am doing, after
paying a stipulated price for the privilege. Are
you above the law. that you presume to dictate
to me the course am to pursue when am not
violating-aln but obeying the law?" The law,
and not the rumsellers, is guilty:


"Ths distinguished gentleman, presiding
over the District Court which was lately held
at Vienna, Lincoln county. Louisiana, announc-
ed from the bench, that every case on the
crowded criminal docket at that place, sprung
directly from the sale and use of alcoholic
liquors. And this. he said, was pretty much
the case all over the district. He took special
care to call the attention of the Grand Jury to
the Local Option Law of Louisiana. He de-
liyered at the Vienna Court powerful and
effective admoni:ion on this subject. We ad-
mire him for his candor. endorse him for his
boldness, and hold him up as model for some
of the judges we wOt Of in this state.


! The victims. however, who were arraigned
before the judge, were looked upon as GRIMM
ais, and punished accordingly.


The legislators of Louisiana endorsed the sale
of the alcoholic posOns that made these men
criminals, they gave their legal, specific sane
ton to the man who sold the poison, and we
are inclined to think, that they ought to come
in for their part of the punishment.


The legitimate, legal consequences of the
sale of this poison was drinking, drunkenness
and crminaity.


| 1t is supreme folly for our WISE but silly
| legislators to urge the foolish objection that
we did not lend our sanction to the excessive
use of liquors, but only to their moderate USE"
Did these wise men attempt to define in the
law, how much these men must drink to rem
der their indulgence safe to themselves and the
public! Did they definitely prescribe the lin
its beyond which it is dangerous to pass? Will
the legislators Of Louisiana argue that they
only Justify commencement of drinking hab-
| its and are not responsible for the results?


Do they set up these alcoholic man.traps,
lure their victims into the dead-falls, ply them
with abominable, adulterated, alcoholic pOisons,
all under the law which they themselves franz
ed in profound wisdom, and them presume to
say that they are not responsible aye, particeps
criminis in the crimes for which these men
were arraigned in North Louisiana.


| The wretch up for trial before Judge Abel's
court might argue that he did not fire the house,
he only set some light-wood and paper on fire.
| Our law makers are responsible, they pro-
vide the light-wood and kindling material, then
set it on fire by the sanctions of law, and then
tell US they are free from all guilt in the ar
raignment of criminals before the courts.
They drank by law, they got drunk under the
sanctions of law framed by the Legislature, they
were madmen under the sanctions of law, and
murder was the result. And yet, our wise leg
islators are not to be held responsible2
They ought to be indicted by the Grand Jury
for setting in motion the alcoholic machinery
that is filling the land with crime, murder,
pauperism and excessive taxation.


THE Rev. Mr. Talmage, of New York, now prays
for those who sit in editorial chairs.-Ezchamge


If there is class Of professionals who need pray
ing for, it is editors, and we wish Tamage much sue.
cess in his great undertaking. South Ata6am'dn
We fear it is working against heavy chances TO ex-
pend prayer on that sort Of material. Mr.. Talmage
is man of indomitabe pluck and deserves the very
highest commentator for his courage and originality
Other men quite cheerfuly gone for the Kanak-
as Fegees New Zelanders, Africans and Mozam-
of more enterprising stamp to undertake the conver
sion of sailors, fishermen. etc. We supposed, how.
ever the ultimahule had been reached in that direc
tion when the shoe-backs and newsboys were
brought into candidacy for Christian nhuences but
the world moves and it is hopeful sign, that
sangune Christian at least thinks there be hope
even for the editors. We shall watch for results.-
Sacramento Rescue.


We are not sure we wouldn't be tempted to
wish Mr.. Talmage success in his new UNDER
taking, did we not fear success here would en-
bolden him to branch out still further, and pray
next for the politicians: and Heaven would
cease to be worth striving after if q few poll
ticians got there t


BILKs, BEATS AND BUMMERs.-The Ogden
Junction informs us that one C. w. Stayner il
lecturing in Utah, on the three interesting clas-