New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-24
THE MAINE LAW IN ENGLAND.

Fortunately is the keystone of the character OF
Epgisbmen They are very slow in taking Up an
idea but very determined, when they do take it
up, in persisting until it be fully carried ou'.
Without running too far back We can cite several
instances within our own recollection, in which
this has been exemplifed. The abolition of the
Test and Corporation Acts, (Which placed the
whole body of Dissenters in an unfair, because
unequal, position)-the removal Of the civil disa
bilities Of the Roman Catholcs-the carrying Of
Parliamentary RefOrm-the abolition of Negto
Slavery-the curtailment ofthe monstrous Church
Establishment of Ireland-the repeal of the more
oppressive taxes newspaper stamps and adver.
tisement duties) upon the diffusion ofknowledge-
the abolition OF the punishment of death, save for
the very heaviest ofenses-the carrying of Free
Trade and the Abolition Of the Corn Laws by
the late Sir Robert Peel-the all but abolition of
fogging in the Army and Navy-the surrendering
by the Crown of the arbitrary practice of Impress
mental these, with many other things, have
literally been wrung by the people of England
from their Legislators and their Government, by
means of constant and untiring agitation, which,
in some instances, had been pertinaciously con.
tinued from period beyond the memory Of living
men. Tie restrictions, by act Of Parliament,
upon the civil rights of Dissenters and Roman
Catholics, had been complained of from the time
Of Queen Anne. Parliamentary Reform had first
been sgitated under the patronage Of the elder
Pitt when he was Minister to George III. and the
prosecution of the other reforms had been kept
up, from father to son, in most instances, until,
at last, the Executive were fairly badgered into
conceding what was required.
The Temperance cause in Great Britain aud
Ireland may be said to have first been fairly
brought before the public, in a substantive shape,
by the remarkable "sa yiDgs aud doiDgs" of Theo-
bald Mathew, who is now, we perceive at Ma
deira, in the hope Of improving his health, which
has suffered very greatly from the wear and tear
of mind and body during twenty years of uaex-
ampled labor and ex ,itement. Millions took the
pledge Ito abstain from the use of all intoxicat-
ing lquors) sbd very many Of these were faith
ful TO their vows, selemnly made before God and
man. Many relapsed, no doubtful that Father
Mathew effected very great benefits, there is no.
the slightest question. That his exertions were
needed may be judged from the statistical fact
that calculating only Oh the quantity Of gin and
whisky distilled in England Ireland and Scotland
and not taking into account the vas. GU .ntty of
foreign spirits also consumed by them, the con-
sumption of native spirits by every man, womtn
and child 10 Scotland was four gallons year 10 Ire
land, nearly three aDdin England two gallons. This
average was made on comparison with the amount
of native distillation, and the respective numbers
of the population in each county. This average
was sworn to before Committee of the House of
Lords, and has never been denied. Surely, there
fore, Father Mathews mission was loudly called
for.
In truth il was noble mission, though too
much for the strength of one man. As one of
bis eulogists lately said, at meeting held 10
Dublin to address him before his departure for
Madeira, be is man who had advocated great
principle for the redemption Of man against one
"of the besettiDg sins Of maDkind;" he had stood
FORTH "not for work y greatness, nor for worldly
reward, but for that principle which mus. bring
happiness and comfort to his fellow creatures.
" But though worldly honors and rewards were
" not given to Father Mathew, and the historian
in future ages might not dwell on his worldly
acts and position still he could tell Of incidents
(Which would brig satisfaction to the mind of
every one who read his history lie could tell
- Of multitudes Of families Of children, born and
brought up in misery and crime, aud of wives
So and husbands sufieriog from the baueful effects
q of intempersnce, who lad been reclaimed and
" rendered hsppy; how he had come forth to
81 tDunciate great principle, and BY introducing
" the wedge into society, and attacking the great
- enemy Of mankind in its strongholis, brought
- conf TT and happiness into thousands and thou
- sands of homes"
What one man has been unable to do, though he
has achieved wonders may be done by the pc yer of
Scattered sll over Great Britain aud
ireland are numerous but isolated Temperance So
rietes which have hitherto had no unity Of action.
They have been kept together 10 some slig state
Of connection by their publications. they have
lecturers and public speakers. No !
loubt, the lectures Of Mr. Cough have been in
in the old country, in extending the
ceiling Of antipatby to iatoxication and the bever
'ges by which that body nd soul destroyin evil
8 created and fostered. AT last 1t has become
fashionable to advocate Temperance. The United
Kingdom Alliance Association. established last
'esr, for the purpose Of promoting the total
" suppression Of the traffic Of intoxicating liquors
- an Great Britain and Ireland" has Just held q
treat public mating az Maucha,ta, al h.v;,u