Smyrna times., 1854-12-06
What makes a Temperance Man.

What makes Temperance MANI
In the early stage of the Temperance Re-
form, some thirty or even twenty years ago,
says the Boston Teteg raph, the man who scru-
pulousy abstained from the use of ardent spirits
was usually reputed, and might, as things then
were, justly enough call himself 8, temperance
man. OF wine he might drink and give to his
friends as much as he pleased, provided he
stopped short of evident excitement. We have
been assured by a member of the old original
Massachusetts Society for the suppression of
intemperance--the first society of the kind,
formed, if we reeollect Alright, in 15ll-that |
for many years, at the annual meetings of the !
society, it was customary to discuss the shutting
up of the grogshops over bottle Of old
Madeira.
The American Temperance Union and the
advocates of total abstinence from all that in
toxicates, introduced a new test--and, after a
severe struggle, the wine drinkers, who thought
themselves very badly treated, were obliged to
give up their claiR to be called temperance
men,.
The next step in advance was the pledge
1t was not enough for man to abstain; he
must give in his adherence to the principle Of
total abstiuenGe openly before the world, thus
reaching out as it were, helping hand to the
unfortunates struggling in the gutter, who
might be induced to take hold of the offered
pledge, and SO to draw themselves out of the
mud ; while this firm hand-to-hand union of all
the temperance men would prevent many of the
weaker brethren from being drawn in.
But it was soon found that all these means
were quite inadequate to the great object in
view, AS long grogshops stared the public
in the face at every corner of our citles--as
long as every hotel and grocery offered facili-
ties for drinking, there would be, as sad expert
ence showed, many even of the pledged men,
unable to resist the temptation. The idea o
abolishing intcmpcrance, as a national and do
mestie institution, or even of holding the gFOunC
already gained was evidently chimerical, unles,
these grogshOps could be shut up, and oFy wa!
accordingly raised by the men of the temper
anee party. for stronger Legislative acts of pro
bikitioD, These acts were readily enough
passed by the concurrence of men of all par
Lies lOE III tuOcC Nody hlb@SH years az "
almost everybody not an habitual hard drinke
or seller, belonged (nominally) to some tota
abstinence society, and claimed to be temper
ance man. But no sooner were these new act
passed than the tag of war came. The seller
forthwith carried the question into politics, re
fusing to vote for any candidate for any Office
who would not give them pledges, public c
private, of hostility to prohbitive Legislation
The politicians, ike flock of frightened shee
all began to jump out of the temperance fold, :
though they still insisted upon calling then
selves temperance men; and the friends
temperance, in pgFe selfdefence, were compel
ed also to carry the question, and to adopt II
resolution of voting for no man for any Sta
Office not pledged, not merely to the abstra
principle, but to the efficient practice of prob
bitiye legislation.
And that is the ground on which the matt
stands at present No person has now rig
to claim fellowship with the Temperance part
or votes from them upon the mere ground
personal sbstemio1sness, of his good wish
for the general prevalence of temperance,
even Of his admission of the abstract right
prohiDa.tU legislation. Personal abstinen,
good wishes for the cause, the admission of
stract principles, are all very well, but to
called at this day Temperance man. one mi
30 a step further, One thing, politician q
candidate for office, solicitor Of the votes
Temperance men, thou yet lackest You CT
not have their votes and the votes of the r
men too. If you wish us to vote for you, J
must declare your readiness to ACT with US
the matter of prohibition by law