New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-04

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sect and party, whose common object is the
Elevation of the Poor from want, misery
and contempt to competence, comfort and
respectful esteem. In defiance of the lead
ers of Fashion and the strong current of po-
tential Opinion-of the cowardice of Wealth
and the faithlessness of Want-Of the stud
led SANDERS of venal Press and the reson.
ant thunders ola misguided Pulpit have
seen this little band move forward to its cho-
sen work with dauntless courage and unshak-
enresolve, until already the sky ofits Future
is red with the portents of ultimate and most
benefcent victory. On every side, the
condition of the Poor--their wants, woes,
trials and temptations-are being earnestly
and anxiously considered with a view to
measures of Radical Reform, by thousands
of the influential classes, where scarcely so
many dozens had ever thought of them un-
til within the last ten years.
These Reformers belonged, as we have
intimated, to different sects and parties !;
they do not even yet see alike on all ques-
tons, and in this world may never do so.
But, if we have not misunderstood them,
they all agree in certain elemental Princi-
pies, which may be hurriedly set forth in
the following propositions l. 1t is far bet
ter to prevent crime and vice than to punish
them. 2. A large proportion of those who
constitute the Useless or Dangerous Class
es, forming the burdens or the pests of So
ciety, might have been so trained and de-
veloped that they would have been upright,
Industrious, useful and honored. 3. 1t is
the solemn duty ofSociety to remove tempt
atoms to evil, so far as possible, from the
paths Of the young and the yet uncorrupted,
and to surround them with influences and
indictments to lives of Industry, Virtue and
Honor
Such, as we understand them, are the
leading ideas of the Social Reformers of
our time and when grave dunderheads as
sure us that we can't improve the material
condition of the now destitute and suffer-
ing without publication Of their hearts
and an amendment Of their lives, we are
provoked by the stupidity which persists in
not seeing what it is that we aim at. None
of lis ever supposed that lazy, sluttonous,
drunken, lecherous human beast can be es-
sentially helped by any change of outward
-.
are such as tend to modify his character.
But We do insist that profigates and good
for-nothings would be far less abundant
than they now are if Society were so or
ganized and human relations so adjusted as
to profier to each individual opportunities
to do well and deprive any of chances of
personal advantage and preft from doing
evil. Such are our convictions, and, we
believe, those Of Social Reformers gen.
orally.
Where, then, is our natural and right
full position on the Liquor Question of to-
day?
Glance over the loRg list of incitsments to
evil passion and perverse action, and say
whether all others-yes, all-are so potent
and so deadly as Alcoholic potations alone.
Bear witness of how many crimes they are
the immediate prompter, and how few are
the vices which could flourish or make head
in their absence. Search out the history of
the thousand families nearest you who are
suffering from pehury, debility, vice and
crime, and you will assuredly find that nine
tenths of them owe their mistortunes to the
use Of Intoxicating Beverages. The pres
eht sufferers may in many cases be strictly
temperate; but the pit into which they have
fallen was dug by some tippler's unsteady
hands. And in majority of cases you
need not 90 to the grave, unless a very
fresh one, in quest of the Alcoholic cause
of familys downfall and subsequens mis-
cries.
Take all the Mechanics and Artisans of
cur City who became their own masters
ten, twenty and up to thirty years ago and
Of all those who have steadily abstained
from Intoxicating Beverages you will find
that nine teRths have prospered, while Of
the other sort scarcely one-tensh will be
found to have succeeded. So of Day-La-
borers; so, in fact, of all the Labering
Classes. Liquor has debased many aud
raised up none; while Temperance has
raised thousands after thousands from the
House of Refuge and the Orphan Asylum
70 positions of the highest usefulness aud
honor And these antagonist influences are
potestly at work to-day. Go into any city
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