New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-02-29
po,b.r Mathew in America.


10 with the pleasant gales Of June. His presence
will he AZ welcome and his mission as fruitful, we
deroutly hope, as the early showers OF summer.
MIGHTY work has been done here already, IN the
.,re of human madness and the extinction Of the
no;son which creates it, yet much more remains
to be accomplished; and we, with hundreds OF
thousands beside, shall hail the presence of the
Irish Apostle of Temperance amongst us as
something that is to impart new life, energy and
enthusiasm to the great cause OF physical and
moral regeneration amongst our countrymen.
There are moments when all reforms and all
revolutions falter and look backwards the
stoutest hearts begin to be troubled for the issue,
and the most hopeful faces shrink behind veil
of gloom and dependency. The rejecting prlncl-
pie in human nature is so stronger rather, ex-
haustion so soon follows unusual eXcrtlon-that
nothing but constant and rapid succession OF
new and stirring incidents can prolong an action
after the excitement which gave the first impulse
has passed away. In the long intervals Of acton,
too, the freshest and most important enterprises
become dusty and perhaps diseased; and the mo-
ment when a superficial reformer begins to think
ofreposing peacefully upon his laurels, is the very
time in which they are in the greatest danger,
and REQUIRE the closest attenton-the largest ex-
penditure of intellect and enthusiasm.
The Temperance Reform in this country is
one Of the most remarkable events on record
The Crasades formed scarcely a more distln-
gushing characteristic of their time than this OF
ours; while the results of the former become
insignificant when compared to those Of the lat
ter That it should now begin to flag little
to lose somewhat of its impetus, and to cease en-
larging its sphere Of action-would be natural;
but we are not aware that any particular EVIL
dence of this has been exhibited. There are local
defectons; but on general survey of the ground
it vii! appear that the cause is still ma king It's
mighty way, and the idolatrous and heathenlsll
temples of Drunkenness whose worship makes
men mad, are one by one disappearing before its
irresistible progress.
Nevertheless, right glad are VIC that Father
Mathew is to come amongst us. Coming as he
does fresh from his gigantic labors of love
amongst the wann-hearted Irish, there will linger
about him something of the deep poetical charac-
ter of that people which it will be good to lnhaie
The sound of his voice echolng throughout our
broad and glorious land in behalf of Temperance
and Virtue will be as trumpet call, rousng all
true hearts to renewed exertions. Heaven bless
him, and keep him long upon the earth
Notwithstanding all that has been accomplish
ed by the Temperance Reform, the good old man
will find enough to call out his keenest sympa-
thies, TO demand his most untiring labors, even
amongst his countrymen by nativity. Although
he will not find whole nation to first awaken
from the horrid sleep Of intoxlcatlon and then to
save from death, yet the foul fend has lett his
sl;mv trail upon much that is fair and lovely; ana
many a cankering ulcer, unknown but by the fever
and the ehastliness which it sends to the surface,
lies eating at the very heart OF society. Inc
metropolitan system, which we are SO rapidly
adopting, brings with it its never-talllng concom-
itants of dissipation, debauchery and crlme-lts
corrupt administration of the laws, its protllgacy
in hiph places, its extravaganza in high life, and
"a, the ten thousand curses that the present organ
izaton of Society increases upon itself as 1t ADDS
to the number and extent of every separate COM
n,unity. The root of these evils, perhaps, lies
deeper than has been reached by any mere practl-
cal reform; but, if we cannot hope to retrieve
the constitution, we must still exert ourselves to
check those diseases which threaten dissolution.
Or these, Intempcrance is doubtless one OF the
most terrific in its progress most certain IN It's
consequences. a community of drunkards is, or
is very ready to become, community of crlml-
nails and vagrants-as the individual drunkard is
VIGOROUSLY exposed to every temptation and far
on the road to total rum.
TuEoBALD MATHEW is nativcof Thomastow-n,
County OF Tipperary, and is related to the family
of Lord Landotf. Soon after his ordination to
the Roman Catholic Priesthood, an which he is
of the order of Franciscan Friars,) he was ap-
pointed to officiate in Cork, where he has SINCE
that time resided. In that city his earlier SER
vices were directed to the instruction of young
men in religious knowledge, who subsequently
formed themselves into society from which
some OF them, aided by his friendship, have since
become clergymen, and, in that capacity, borne
credtabe testimony to his judicious discernment
and insight into character. In manners he is
gentle, amabe and winning, and in department
polished and even courty. His habits are in
strict accordance with his profession his chart
ties are many and transformations, and his popu-
larity with all classes and conditions unlimited
by diversity OF religious opinion, is broad and
during. Mr.. NJ. is remarkable for his decision of
character-cartious IN forming but firm IN main.