2
The dramshop is there by law; nothing promisingly victorious thought in the
but law can take it away. It laughs en- Anglo-Saxon mind, it is this," Let the law
treaty, eloquence, logic, and prayer to very be joined to moral suasion in the righteous
, corn. It fcars the ballot. and relentless crusade against intemper-
Why is moral suasion alone not suffi- ance."
cient ? 2. Moral Suasion is not Relsed on Solely
I. Bccause history proves it. in other things.
If moral suasion is sufficient, why does Moral suasion teaches honesty; the law
every Christian country bringin the strong shuts up the gambler's shop, the counter-
arm of the law to punish drunkenness and feiter's den, the lottery swindle, punishes
fetter the drunkard maker ? And yet no the embezzler, the sharper, and the rogue.
government would dare for a single week Moral suasion teaches virtue; the law
to let the traffic go unchecked to be met roots out the bawdy-house; punishes in-
by moral suasion alone. Government will decency, public vice, and immorality.
'alowu but one person in five hundred to Moral suasion teaches reverence for the
sell; closes up the bar on Sundays, Satur- worship of God and His holy day; the law
day nights, election days; forbids sale to places its sentries to guard each church is
minors, Indians, drunkards; imposes fines door from intrusion or disturbance, and pro-
and penalties for every infraction. tects the sanctity of the Sabbath day with
Why ? Moral suasion has not been severe penalties.
found sufficient, and the law has to be Moral suasion works for education; the
added. law backs up the school and college, com-
- Christian governments forbid the sale pels attendance, and puts disabilities on
and manufacture of liquor in Maine, Ver- ignorance.
mont, New Hampshire, Kansas, the North- Moral suasion commends cleanliness
West Territories, etc. precautions for safety, etc.; the law en-
Why? Moral suasion has not been torces health provisions, fire limits, build-
found sufficient, and the law must step in. ing security, and purity of food.
Christian governments forbid the sale Everywhere moral suasion is backed up --
of liquors in Bessbrook, 6i sq. miles of by law. The two are joined, and together
territory in Tyrone, Ireland; in I500 par- they do their best work. But in this matter
ishes in England, inhabited by 250,000ooo of intemperance the law sets up thousands
souls; in one-half of Maryland, in three- of men, whose business it is to create and
?ourths of Massachusetts, in Potter Co., perpetuate intemperance; whose living
Penn., in Vineland, N.J., in over 6o00 towns and gains depend on their success in doing
in Illinois, in nearly half of Georgia, Ten- thie.
nessee, Alabama, Texas, South Carolina, Moral suasion teaches the children to be
and Arkansas, in large districts of nearly sober; legal drink-shops teach them to be-
all the other States; in 27 counties and come tipplers.
cities of Canada. Moral suasion saves the drunkard from
Why ? Moral suasion has not been his ruin; legal drink-shops 'drag him back
found sufficient, and law gives its added again.
protection. Moral suasion builds up a happy home
In Great Britain, after a century of moral and brings back the light and love to it;
suasion, the House of Commons in I880, legal drink-shops tear it down again, and
by a vote of 245 to 2I6, declared that moral chase away all light of hope and warmth
suasion was not sufficient, and that the of love.
-peopil.of,each district should be allowed All we ask is British fair-play. Let the
the p 0'to close the dramshops. To- law shut up the drink-shop, and mral --._
day, if there is one steadily marching and suasion will do the rest.
7':!