The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-27
For the Organ of the Temperance Reform.
New ORLEANS, Aug. 9Th, 1853.

SiiiSS l"ou Adu GuC IIlCuouIG VI OOtli-
municating with you has been so great
that, when once more addressing you
on our common topic, it seems like
the renewal of an old acquaintance;
yet do not once suppose that our
. cause has been permitted to enjoy the.
same mastery inactivity " as that
which has recently marked my cores
pondence; although, in the absence
Of an Organ to hold the mirror up to
our views and deeds, rejecting the
inner and outer work of the Order,
we may appear to our friends and
brothers elsewhere to be slothfully en-
joying our ease, unmindful Of the tre-
mendous claims which lie against us
on behalf of our erring fellow men
oblivious of our duty to work for the
regeneration of community in error,
and blind TO the portentous signs OF
the times, stick to none of these ale
cations could we conscientiousIy plead
guilty, for we have been busiIy cast
ing our bread upon the waters, conf
dent that it will be seen even after
many days. AS for the necessities of
our condition, none could be more
impervious. Not day elapses that
our city papers do not record some
case of death, traceable directly to
liquor, and on some days several such
occur by variety of methods, but all
springing from the same cause.
Yesterday it was, poor inebriate
found dead in gutter or on the levee.
To-day it is a genteel daelIO by en-
lightened christian men. Tomorrow
it may be suicide, street rencontre,
or a cofee-house melee and murder;
but it is sure to be something, and that
something is sure to be the legitimate
offspring of acknowledgement of Sa.
tan and Rum-shops, duplicates of
He'll.
In such a field, then, our labor lies
and on such material are our regen-
Grating influences to be cxerted.
You have been heretofore advised
in relation to the various progressive
efforts which have been made by our
friends in this State for the ameIiora-
ton Of our condition, in regard to the
licensingof the rum traffic. The Leg.
islature being appealed to by the peo-
pie, declined the responsibility of
arranging so odious a burden, and
promptly, and almost unanimously,
placed the responsibility of lincensing
where it ought to be-with the peo-
pie themselves, giving them full and
exclusive power 10 grant or withhold
license, as they should by ballot de-
termne.
The question then arose as to
whether it was compulsory upon the
local authorities of the State to place
the question of License or No License
before the people, as the Law pro-
vided.
Our Grand Division were Jealous in
this work, considered this question
fully, and determined it affirmatively,
acquainted our friends throughout the
State with its views, and incited them
everywhere to demand its immediate
submission for their sutfrages.
For the especial benefit Of New
Orleans, and as an argument for the
use of the whole State, memorial
addressed to the Mayor and Alder
men Of New Orleans was written by
that faithful and long-tried worker in
the cause, our excellent Gen. Chap
lain, Rev. Jerome Twitchell.
This memorial a copy of which
has been forwarded to you) received
a large and influential signature, and
endorsed as it was by the authority Of
the Grand Division, commanded much
attention and respect. 600 copies
were issued and sent to us, many per-
sons, selected for their influence or
position, every Parish had several
copies furnished it, every Police gang
was assailed with the argument, and
many yielded to the public wish.
In New Orleans the battle was sue
cessively gained by perseverance. 1t
was said that any attempt to interfere
with the present abomination of Ii
censing drinking shops would be sig
naily rebuked. Some of our friends
even went so far as to say, that aOe
were not ready for such movement,
and that by our course we should in
Jure, if not bring to ruin, our State or
ganization as an Order; while others
averred that our whole effort to enlist
aid to our work by seeking any des-
cription of legislative enactment, was
an error which we should be glad to
correct, when perhaps too late.
The past twelve months have de-
monstrated too many temperance
facts for us to be governed by such
speculations as the above, and unde-
tered by the well-meant warnings Of
friends as well as undismayed by the
number or influence of foes, open or
covert. The Temperance mind has
progressed steadily, and brought the
responsibility home to the people in
manner, and in an aspect, once