Is the Law of God Prohibitory?
At the National Temperance Convention at Saratoga, N. Y., an important paper by Dr. A. J. Gordon, of Boston, was read, dealing with the question, "Is the Law of God Prohibitory?" in which he answered the question affirmatively, grounding his arguments on the ten commandments. Human laws, Dr. Gordon contends, have been educating the people in the wrong direction in licensing the sale of liquor. If a man falls into a pit carelessly left open in a street and breaks a leg, he can sue the city and get paid therefor; but if a man is damaged in a licensed hall for the sale of liquor, legal reparation is denied him, although the city, by its license, is a legal partner in the business. Interesting addresses were also delivered by Mr. J. B. Gough, Rev. J. O. Peck, and Miss Frances Willard. At the next day's session among the resolutions passed, was one which may be accepted as the prohibition platform of the future. It asks Congress to prohibit and prevent in the District of Columbia and the Territories, the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, and to prohibit their importation into the United States; also to propose to the States an amendment to the constitution forbidding all making of, and traffic in, intoxicating beverages; advising the friends of temperance to make that the chief point in political action and organization; requiring total abstinence as a qualification for all office-holders, and to exact from all candidates for legislative positions pledges to support and urge the enactment of temperance measures.—Exchange.