New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-31
Fifth Ward Maine Law Demonstration M
Metropolitan Hall.
1arca and spjrjted demonstration by the


Fifth Ward Tcunerance Alliance. in favor OF the Maine
Law took place at Metropolitan Hall on Wednesday
evening There were large number present, the al
n,;,tance beiur 25 cents p I Barnum, Esq., pTesidci,
assisted by number Of Vice-Presideuts, among whom
were Hon Geo Hall, of Brooklyn Hon. T. r. BETS o.
Jersey City, Rev J. NJ. Rhees, OF Wiiamsbursh, ks''
C. ] Warren, DR. s p Townsend, c. {. Leigh, Esq.
and Dr. Kennedy also ]. |. Oliver, Oricnfa lac ez'
ercises were opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Wescot
Remarks were made by Mr. Barnum, the president OF
the meeting In the course OF them he estimated that
Intempersnce the giant curse OF the hand, was the
cause Of an annual expenditure or loss OF two hundred
and fifty million of dollars III this nation In this Cry
he estimated that there were 1900 grog shops and a.
lowing that the expenditure IN each averaged SO per
dav the aggregate in ore years time woaid d.
Sos $50 eco besides the wholesale business. He offered,
if the City would give him that sum and stop liquor
selling for one year, to pay all the City taxes amount
ing to about four millions send every child TO good
school present every family with library OF 100 good
books three barrels of -four, and silk dress TO every
tmnle old or young, suit of broadcloth to every
male citizen old or young and admissionto each to
the Museum. He said the campaign is reopened, anu
our motto Is, The Maine Lao must and shdHPrerdA
At the close of Mr. Barnums remarks the Quintette
Club sang the song "The Noble Law of Maine, which
Yves loudly applauded.
Rev s A. Corey next addressed the meeting He
inquired why Intemperance could withstand all the
assaults against it by the friends of Temperance He
said that the literature of the day. and especially of the
stage, was committed against Temperance. He re-
fcrred to the crime reported in the journals Of the day
resulting from Intemperance, and to the complaints
also of the increase of taxation from the same
He spoke eoquently and truly of the temptations Of
the City to strangers coming here to reside aud how
such young men were prevailed upon by associates to
90 out and look at the City-to enter the brilliant
drinking saloons, and commence the ruinous course
which destroys its hosts OF victims The fate of Sher
dan was noticed. Most eloquent aud talented, be de-
scended by ntemperance to the lowest grade OF hui
man misery In his eloquent harangues he made mobiles
shed tears and their ladies' in the excitement of
their grief But he descended to the low condition Of
n sot pursued by balifs for debt This speaker pro.
ceeded at considerable length to remark upon the evils
of Tntemperance and sooke eloquently.
John B. Cough, Esq, then introduced to the
audience and spoke at some length He compared the
life of ntemperance to the Niagara river-smooh end
CLASSY above the Cataract, but and awful death
when the strong current draws its victims down. He
spoke of the difference between the shoemaker tailor
and other mechanics and the liquor dealer The me
chanc gives you value received for your money but
the liquor seller does not The manufacturer adds
value to the material by his labor, and makes
more of finished artcle-the more labor he bestows
upon it, not with the quor-seller The longer he
works at a subject the he il, and when he IL
done the finished article is vastly than the
material He detailed some circumstances IN his own
life and in the lives of others to illustrate the evils of
intemperonce The remarkable use of LANGUAGE
possessed by the speaker, together with his action,
rendered his narrative sometimes exceedingly amusing
and at others very affecting and enforced his arguments
with much earnestness. He avowed himself an advo
cate of legal suason and proceeded to state the made
quacy of former efforts to carry out the objects of the
Temperance reformation. The majority of the citizens
Of the City of New.York respectable law and or
der persons and the liquor sellers, rowdies &C. are
minority, but reckless and corrupt minority which
rules and governs the City The lecturer commented
severely upon the existing license law and by his adj
nrable imitation pictured the farce of the trial of the
lquoreler. Throughout his address he was as usual
eloquent and loudly appauded AT the close of his al.
dress there was further singing, and the meeting od.
journed with three cheers for the Maine Law The
Hall quite full during the meeting