IS IT RIGHT?

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 6, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 19

“My home,” said a Manchester gentleman, “is situated in the suburbs of this commercial city. I love my home, and desire to do all in my power to surround my family with all the enjoyments of life, and to screen them, as far as possible, by God’s blessings, from all its evil associations. At the back of my house is a beautiful garden, in which I delight to spend many of my spare hours. Some time ago the fumes from the chimney of the chemical works about half a mile from my house began to injure the bloom and foliage of my plants and trees.

“I consulted my lawyer, and he assured me that the law of the land was so strict on such matters, that he had no doubt whatever of being able to stop the ‘nuisance.’ He applied to the Court of Chancery for an injunction, and after hearing evidence from professional analysts on the question, the judge speedily decided in my favor, and the nuisance was removed.

“But is the law of England equally just with regard to other and greater evils?

“On the opposite side of the street in front of my house is a huge gin-shop. At night it is lighted up most brilliantly, and holds out many inducements to entrap young people of both sexes into drinking and other evil habits. The foul language which my family and servants are often obliged to hear from both men and women who have been drunk in that house, is too sad to relate. To my coachman, stablemen, and gardeners, it has truly been a curse; for much of the money which ought to have gone for the support of their wives and children has gone into the publican’s till instead. The evil is not confined to the six working days of the week, as was the case with the chemical works, but the withering influence of the trade carried on in that house continues all days.

“But when I remonstrated and tried to remove this nuisance, my lawyer shook his head, and said: ‘The law of the land enables you to protect your flowers, but it gives you no power to remove the greater curse of the public house and gin-shop.’

“To my remonstrances with the man whose business is withering and blighting my earthly comforts far more than the chemical works, he boldly draws out from his pocket a paper signed by the magistrates—who are the representatives of the Queen and Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland—and with a look of scorn and derision he says the withering words, ‘Here is my license to do it!’”

Is it right?—English Paper.