Prohibition

Where does the authority of the state end and the claims of conscience begin? In "Prohibition: Viewed From a Legal As Well As a Moral Standpoint", distinguished jurist Daniel Agnew weighs the alcohol prohibition debate with the cool rigour of a prohibition legal treatise and the urgency of a historic moral essay. Its questions still burn today. Moving between courtroom reasoning and Christian ethics and law, Agnew examines liquor laws and morality, personal liberty and public duty, and the responsibilities of rulers and citizens in the face of social harm.

Written in 19th century America, at the height of the American temperance era, this classic temperance treatise captures a society wrestling with drink, discipline and democratic ideals. Agnew speaks to readers interested in how legal systems confront moral crises, tracing arguments that still inform policy, preaching and public debate. It is essential reading for legal historians who study the evolution of police powers, for theology students exploring sin, law and grace, and for anyone wondering how far legislation should reach into private life.

Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today -- a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. A thoughtful centrepiece for any temperance movement collection or prohibition history collection, it offers both casual readers and lovers of classic non-fiction a vivid window into the values, fears and aspirations that shaped one of the most consequential social experiments in history.