Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-05-12
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/ they labored quietly, they were active and
/ efficient Some members were returned
TO the legislature openly pledged for the
repeal of the law, and we have no means
] of knowing how many more were secretly
J pledged to the same object and upon the
assembling Of the legislature Of 1850, al
most the first movement that was made,
was the introduction of bills in both houses
/ for the repeal of this law. An humble
/ individual who thought he understood the
designs of the rum party touching this
( law, on the 18th day of January 1850,
three days after the assembling of the leg
I islature and before any tidings had been
received of the movements at Madison,
arose IN his place at the Division room of
q small village IN one corner of the State,
and stated to the members Of the Division
his reasons for believing the law was in
danger, and concluded by offering resolu-
/ tions pledging the Division to demonstrate
against Its repeal, and instructing the Re
cordlng Scribe TO invite every Division in
/ the State to unite III an effort to save the
4 law. The resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and in less than one week from
/ that time. remOnstranees were on their
way to Madison from the place where this
movement was started containing over
three hundred names, and from that time
1 to the close of the session. the remonstran-
ces were pouring in from every section of
the State and such was their influence,
/ that the law was not only saved but was
strengthened and perfected so as to make
1T much more efficient for good than before.
To the Sons of Temperance belonged the
credit of the salvation of that law at that
time. | have been advised by those whose
/ position was such that they know whereof
they affirm. that had 1t not been FOR these
renonstrances the law would most undoubt-
edly have been repealed Here we have
an illustration of the power of united ac-
tlon brought to bear upon given point.
! The Order, In this instance, exerted a
power and influence that no other temper
ance organization could have exerted in
the same length of time. 1t would have
required period of several months. and
an expenditure Of hundreds, if not thou
| sands of dollars, to have effected similar
result through the instrumentality of any
other influence or organization. The Sons
of Temperance IN consequence of their pc
culiar organization possess this great pow
fer-and shall they not use it Are they
not under obligations TO do 50
SEcoND.-Another peculiar feature of
the organization which gives it great pow
er for good is. what is usually denominat-
ed the secrecy of the Order. \ o conceal
ment is made of the object of the Assooi-
alton They are Sons or TEMPERANCE
literally and truly, and are banded togeth
er for the advancement Of the temperance
cause, and the well known character Of
many of the members Of the Order, is all
the pledge that the outsiders who will not
come in, should ask for the truth of the
declarations on this point
Such being the object Of the organiza-
tiOn--and that it is a good one no one will
question--they are justified in promoting
it by all lawful and proper means--by all
instrumentalities, which are right and prop
er in themselves If particular iastru-
mentality, innocent in itself, has been used
! for the accomplishment of evil, there is in
this fact no good reason, why the same IN
stru mentality should not be employed for
the accomplishment CT good If two or
three individuals unite in privately admin
lsterng to the wants of needy neighbor,
there can be nothing wrong in their keep
ing the fact profound secret IN their own
! bosoms If dozen individuals in a par
ticular neighborhood agree together pri-
vately to adopt measures to detect the thief
who may nightly visit their sheep folds,
and then keep their movements secret
among themselyes--they certainly do no
wrong by such n course. If the Sons of
/ Temperance, wish to accomplish some good
aud noble purpose for the promotion of the
cause, there can be nothing wrong In their
starting the movement in their own Divis-
ion rooms, and thus going forth quietly
and energetically to carry their plans in
to effect without publishing to the world
exactly what they are about or precisely
how they expect to accomplish it BY
acting in this quiet and secret manner
they can often bring about results that it
would be more difficult if not quite iin-
possible, to accomplish in any other way.
Here, then. is a powerful measure for the
accomplishment Of good--shall it not be
used TO the best advantage for the further
auce Of the cause2
The duty of more advanced and efficient
action on the part of the Order of Sons Of
Temperance is argued IN the Fourth place,
From the fact that its members are most
ly young or middle aged men, just in the
vigor of early manhood or in the prime of
mature life. The Order embraces within
its bounds the flower and strength Of the
Temperance Hosts We would be far,
very far, from estimating lightly the aid
which can be rendered By females in the
great temperance movements--they are,
and ever have been active and efficient Ia
borers The importance Of their aid in
the prosecution Of any great moral move
ment can hardly be overrated. No great
movement of the kind ever has been or
ever can be successful without their aid
and countenance They have their par
ticular work to do. and generally they are
ready to perform it. Nor we unmind-
full of the Importance Of training up the
youth in the ways Of temperance, and Of
early securing their cooperation in labors
for it's advancement. In few years they
will berequired to carry on the great move
ments which are now IN the hands Of those
who viii then be leaving the stage Of active