The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-27
THE GREAT TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.
Political Agitation on Cold Water
Principles.
TIE PRONUkClAMESrO OF THE new PARTY.
Meetings Yesterday in the City.

To the Temperance Men of New Yorh.
Address OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF THE
NEW YORK CITY AND KINGS COUNTY TEMPE
RANCE ALLIANCE.
The utter inadequacy of mere appeals to the
moral sense OF tae 4munity, for the suppression
OF tie traffic In Intoxicating drinks, and the mani
fold evils resulting therefrom have been sadly but in
testibly proven by the experience Of the quarter of
a century which mas now elapsed since The introduce
tion and advocacy Of the pledge sys stem
This system IL good in its place. 1t is good for
the preservation and reclamation Of inaiv daals
good for lite nnaonce in the formation Of public
opinion, and as adjunct Of Law. But it will
never in the nature of the case, supersede the
cessity Of law as IL can be made to control
every mans opinion and action.
The facts. now admitted By impartial observers
that both the home manufacture and the imports
OF alcoholic liquors are increasing that vice aud
crime are rapidly multiplying their victims; that
corruption Mt The polls is becoming and
more bareiaced aud notorious that the drinking
habits of our people, especially Of the young, are
fast relapsing to the state which first alarmed the
friends of sound morals, aud aroused them to action
AL attest either the ineihcacy Of moral suasioa
Alone correct these widespread evils, else the
uniaitLfulhess 20 their work Of those who have un.
dertaken 20 apglv this remedy. None will assert
the latter hypothesis for trutn
We fall back therefore, upon the necessity OF
rrOhibitOfy laws In doing so, we conform not only
to the plain teachings of philosophy, but We
plant ourselves on toe very rock Of Sinai. Law is
the foundation OF Gods mora government and
until 1t can be shown that thaeppeals of Calvary
have superseded the punctions and prohibitions Of
the two tables Of stone, we NAV, rs a people, still
safely entrust our common and our highest earthly
interests to legislation fashioned atter tAe Divine
model.
These truths have been long working out their
vndcation IN The minds Of thinking men; and the
simultan eons movement throughout our own and
many Of our sister states towards the result,
is evidence past COZ futaon Of the absolute neces-
sity for thor present md practical assertion.
IC shall 10
Very clearly, isolated. sItsgopistc. or even un-
concerted ovepents will not accomplish il; their
result must naturally be crude and III dgested iegis
laion. Under such Influences, one Legislature mas
enacted laws, but TO be repealed by the next.
Again, we have had laws so framed to be partial
and local in their Operations; thus subverting the
great foundation principle OF coustitutiopal go yeEn
ment TIA. law should be general and universal in
/ lis app cation.
Lcgisla,ion TO be eirectaal and enduring, should
! be but The exponent Of universal conviction Of
truth ard expcdenoy. Hence the necessity Of a
correct public sentiment. We believe that 1t will
be found on trial, that public opinion is already
in advance Of the law on the great question be-
fore ~.
Legislation is the product Of many minds; and
these minds represent sections ana portions of the
people widely Sc patstes and having diverse thong b
happily rot conflicting interests, to be regarded.
Hence our legislators Aust be made to see alike and
to feel alike This they will 90. when they under
stand that or determination rules aith those who
speak through tho ballot box.
These opiAisle rot tho ofshoo.s Of sudden inn
pulse nor tho coue'useu Of yop.d thought. They
are the result OF The twenty five years d5cipne 70
which Ged, in his Providence. has b.en euljsctng
US. They are the ripe fruit Of the cree hic6 has
been thus long under Gu lure which has grown in
heavenly soil been watered by tao toars Of anxious
tusbGndmen; been prured, trimmed. and nurtWe
by the hands of Dieence, Love- and Wisdomem
| All honor is due TO the nj norous bands baen
rerancc " en-, who under VARIOUS names, Eject the
working, for years past, to guard andnd consrm
Young and he unfaisn, and to reclph 49, ~.
be vaJwar and the g,oS; r. ACE it should stili
been the rignt work iodyinr igor. But the day
be maintained vifor an advance unconventional
and the hour 90 ya.s YlaI " scticn, ba. s.upIy