Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-12-28
state Temperance Society.

JAMES u. EADS, CualTnaus
Fl Madison, Nov IA. 1853.
State Temperance Society.
This Society closed the transactions of its
sneeting In our City, on Thursday evening
last, after busy and interesting two days
session held in the Baptist Church. Our en-.
Ragements prevented more than partial at
tendance upon its proceedings, but they will
soon be published in detail. in sthe STATE Or
Ssn. tks Sun5ssAss On Wednesday evening
the election Of officers took place, and CHIEF
Justice WILLIAMS, recent President retired be
fore DR.. Bowen, the new and present ;ncum
bent. After the regular business Of the Socie
y was completed for the evening. crowded
audience were agrceably entertained for cou-
pie of hours, by addresses from various gen.
tlemen. Delegates 10 the meeting. and BY the
spirited and appropriate selections of the
Choir.
At the close Of the meeting set of rcsolu.
tions was introduced by JAS. THoRlNcroN Esq
OF Davenport intended to embody the imme.
date and permanent platform OF what should
be styled the Temperance Party in this State.
The resolutions, as we were informed had been
drafted at q recent meeting OF an Auxiliary So.
ciety in Scott County and there adopted -
They had been deemed the most judicious and
polite to be presented to the deliberations of
the State Society, and Thursday was wholly
devoted TO their discussion and final adoption,
with several notifications.
They originally set forth as determined
policy, the calling Of . Temperance Conven.
tion and the nomination of State Temper
ance third party ticket. provided that neither
OF the two leading parties in the State,
pied with the peculiar requirements and tests
of the Temperance Organization, in its selec-
tion Of candidates. 1t was, and is. under
stood however. that The efforts aud inf uence
of the Temperance men will be given unreser-
redly in behalf Of that Party which shall NOM
mate clean Total Abstinence, Maine Law,
Ticket.
The policy embodied in this resolution the
policy Of a prohibitory liquor law, the policy
Of moral tests for office, apart from business
integrity and practical judgement. and the
tendency Of lending partizan character to she
Temperance movement in this State, elected
warm and animated debate during the whole of
Thursday, in which the incumbents Of the
Supreme Bench with many others enthusias.
tically participated. =as..zaa.-s
As the resolutions now stand, we may re-
duce them to this conclusion; that the Tenn
perance men, with the great interests of suffer
ing humanity at heart and nothing more of
course. desire to carry on their operations
without being brought 10 the necessity of
Third Party Organization; and why9 Because.
as Political party, they could never stand a.
lone.-bccause when they isolate themselves;
when they sacrifice their identity with the
Democratic or the Wing party. they commit
a sure aud but briefly lingering suicide
Nevertheless, if they cannot succeed in their
dictation to the present parties and lead their
champions by the nose. they will still peril
too in their own words, "whatever be the con
sequences to either political party in the
State"
We have no desire to do battle upon this
question at the present time. Our views are
simply these. We shall oppose with all the
vigor and bitterness Of which we are master,
the prostitution Of any and every moral ques-
ton to the manoeuverlngs Of political asprants,
and no man, who can perceive anything, can
fail 10 perceive at the bottom of all this turbu-
lent agitation, the political Vaccinations, and
aspirations and all-engrossing ambition OF
leading mer. with whom the moral betterment
Of the State Of Iowa is mere secondary con-
s;1 Dn1v far ! IN |
own exaltation. At this age Of the world. men
are not found easily in numbers sufficiently
plenteous to uniie in sacred league for the
sole maintenance and advancement Of a holy
cause, cholly and unmercenarly disinterested as
to their success. Neither are men plenteous
enough who will.voluntarily offer them selves as
martyrs in holy cause, without resource to
iastrumentali,ies Of a questionable and mer
cenary character. We have not that blind
confidence in human nature, which would
prompt us to believe that any set of men, &C.
an unseifish desire Of redeeming
heir Brotherhood of man from error, will be
ound enthusiastic enough to enlist under the
crusaders banner, to contend again for the
larkened Palestine Of Mans morality, with.
cut thought Of the spoils which await
Them.
We want a correction Of Public Sentiment
before We can have Prohibitory law We
cannot make law and bend opinion to it,.
We must fashion the law to the opinion, or
society will becomea scene Of despo'ic tyranny,
physical might cramplng the energies and eff.
forts Of moral conviction. We have law at
present. Why is it not enforced? If Public
sentiment demanded its enactment, why does
not Public sentiment compel its enforcement?
Will its enforcement become more probable, by
he creation Of additional stringency?
We go in for tho Maine liquor law, when the
,eople do and not before d any prior enac. ment,
brought about by subterfuge and wiley sche.
nings, will remain a dead letter upon our
statute books, ss our present law remains, we
egres to say. and any movement in the matter,
Of popular vii l, has the sole ten.
lency of degrading the cause to political in.
Of weakening its own right arm,
md breeding disaf.ction IN the ranks Of one
Y both of our great political parties.
After the resolutions had been adopted on I
Thursday evening, Mr.. LELAND State Agent. Q
poke somewhat at length in his usual fluent I
nd occasionally humorous style, upon the o