New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-23
PUBLIC MEETINGS.

The Semi Annual Meeting Of the New-fork State
Tempersnce Society convened at Albany 90 The 2lst
inst The President Of the Society, EDWARD u
DytIy.s then addressed the Society as follows:
crxYtyxry OF THE NEw-YoRx STATE TEMPER
.scY socIrrr; The Executive Committee oil your
Society has so recently issued an Address on the
passage of the Prohibitory Law, containing tnelr
ditiop of the Temperance Reform that It Is unneces-
ssry for me TO take up the time Of this meeting furtner
than TO call its attention 10 few leadng topics "ncn
msy come up for your consideration; FL -
Ii appears TO NE, Gentlemen, that the irends oil
Temperance have now two very prVushen' opye'N ~
effect. 80
F,r,,, To hermit no infracton of the law. General
neglect here would be fatal and bring disgrace and
contempt upon the friends OF TINS supnme mofai IT,
form everywhere.
Every ward in our cities every town in the State
should have their leagues and vigilance committees OF
strong and leacing men-men soluteiy cetermnei 20
stand shoulder 10 shouder-not to yield an fnch 70
the or emy and see that the law is faithfully executed
Such combinations, universally formed, would be-
heve in very great degree prevent the breach OF the
law ard save vast amount OF litigation.
On the 4th Of july next. the day OF our National
Inder eudence, the Prohibiiory Law is to be IN
sueurst.d in The State of New-fofk Ii that day -
worthy be comnemoraied for having gwen us pol-
ts al n. edom should it be ess comneuorsted Tor CIV
ing US freedom from the greatest OF all despots-tae
Rum Poweri II il therefore to be hoped that the
good people OF this State, when assembled IN thelr
r.sleciye districts TO thank God Tor freedom RON
British rule, will not fail TO connect with II re-
iocipgs and ihankfulnes to the Giver of all good for
The sfea boon He has graaed To their prayers and
lahors-reedom from power which has proved itself
So destructive 10 private peace and Natonal prosper
i,y; ard while thus rejoicing may the resolution be
eth fixed that While improvements IN te law 10
make i more elective will be sanctioned, its repeal
NEVER We must no tolerate the thought OF
rpeGl of this law than the repeal OF this lnion ana
return TO a foreign yoke
The second and rs cannot but think as important
consideration as the first is in relation to the demon
aIi.pg drinking us0ges Of society IA p'rots families.
Tie miserable drunkards are not all made 50 IN the
public lq oi-bars by any means but oitener than is
suprosed we can trace the orr in OF the disgrace and
downfall of our young to the table and side-board
of leir own par nts.
The drnkhg and the drunkenness which are fostered
in the homes of the land tie law only reach ind-
recty. TIE time, however, VIII surely come, waen
the principles of Total Abstinence a. duty, and OF
=, ohihi ion State pecs sslty, will be so firmly set
tied and established in the pubic MUD that public
wrt,r i'll no more think of applying the term Prp-
"ery" TO intoxicating poisons kept for sale as oev.
ersee than 10 mad dog let loose IN the Streets out
rather as no1ious and fatal SuSANcr, to be seized
and destroyed he mad dog IL now: When tho
rrincI les which lie at the foundation OF the Tempe
ce Reform shall have become iaiy ana ueepiy IN
wrought in tie public mind the general sentiment of the
con immunity wifi link the purchase with the seller as
-doer For surely these destructive compounds
are as pemcious If drunk in the pirate Pdror as IN
tie public drom-shop; the blood, ana the mind, aud
the heart OF the young as etectuay posoned and
the big tpg effects of such Uuhallowed indulgences
are Ss numerous as fatal
When still more healthfrl and correct public sem
timent shall be fully established as to the nature and
effect of intoxicating drinks on the mind and body
when the great truth which the temperance
Reformation is based, viz: THAT ALL USE OF INroxI-
eating DRINKS AS BEVERAGE Is ABUsE-when
this truth shall be rightly understood and learned,
twists will not be as free they are with opn
ions in defnse of traffic the footsteps OF which pre-
cede murder, aIson crme OF every hue, cholera and
disease OF every shade as well ss paupersm degrade
ton and death. When this great truth shall be UNI
y.rsaly established have faith to believe 1t will,
and as a truth too not to be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
pcuoious laws framed TO protect and make legal one
of tie vilest trades which who was made in Gods
own image can be engaged m-iaws framed IN total
uiscouception to the run0us and destructive effects
of the traffic. will no longer be quoted by men of
standiDg and reputation as reason why such
scourge should be perperaed, protected and fostered
Ever sincel have been engaged with you, my fell
lowabores, in this cause, two prominent objects have
b,en kert In view which have hardly for moment
lost SIG ht OF The one was endeavor to interest all
religious denominations in the movement so as to pre-
vent any lust charge OF its being considered sectdTtda
the other to endeavOr TO interest all political partes
SO as TO prevent its becoming party measure for dcm
spopu.s use for selfish ends. For cannot under
stand why movement The only object OF which IL to
stay the ravages of intemperance, and which seeks
the good Of the whole human family, should find an
opponent in any branch of the Church of Christ in
sny political party. Nor do l now believe If self
int rest prejudice fashion, misconceptions and sppe
te were out of the way but that every good man
would enrol himself among its frmest supporters.
On looking back over quarter of century, through
which this Society has labored find as general rule
the officers of the State Society, well as all the aux
iliaries and | may add the National organization,
have been selected from all parties in politics aud all
denominations in religion. And also find that bith-
,rto the great effort has been to induce all parties to
adopt ItmperaIce principles and practice Temper
ance habits aud that any movement toward the for
nation of distinct Temperance party has been scru
pulously avoided. We have acted up to this time
M on the belief that great strength lay in this I'M
partial and dsinterested course of conduct. course
of conduct SO defensible in theory, and which has
proved advantageous in practice, ought not to be
char ged hastily and without due consideration.
The future policy to be pursued by this Society,
far political action is concerned Is matter 80 im-
portsnt in It's consequences that shall not presume 10
Indicate it, but shall cheerfully acquiesce in any de-
cson you may arrive at, after II has received the con-
sideraIion its importance demands.
But whatever attitude the friends of Prohibition may
decide to take at the present important crisis, and
whatever may be the manner in which their united
strength may be directed it is my settled conviction,
if they act with prudence and true TO their princi
lies, that 10 political party arraying itself against
those principles or against the PrOhibitory Law,
carry an election among the people OF the Empire
State.
There are indeed other and great interests of society
to be regarded but in such crisis is il reasonable to
expect that Temperance men will compromise their
principles by casting their votes in favor Of candidates
for Office, high or low who do not avoid the use OF the
poison III emselves and who not in favor of rigid
enforcement of the Prohibiiory Law to others
Tie friends of Prohibition throughout the State
should be reminded that there to be chosen at the
November election one hundred and twenty eight As
stmblymen, thiriytwo Senators, eight Judges Of the
supeme Court and at least one Judge Of the Court Of
Appeals ard great plumbers of local Judicial and civil