New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-22
TEMPERANCE AND POLITICS.

We have received several letters from highly
respect sble sources, severely commenting Oh the
Lieutenant Governor and certain professed advo.
Gates of Temperance in the Senate, not only b.
cause they resist the proposed Prohibitory Law,
but for taking glass or two Of champagne,
whenever they liked whether prompted BY spe.
cal appetite for that beverage, or by conviSislty
We do not print these letters, for the reason that
their criticism does not seem altogether we'll
founded. 1t is true that the principal faactionsry
in question pledged his support to Prohibitory
Law substantially like that vetoed by Gov. Sey.
Notwithstanding he had sustained the
veto at the time, in sOme astute and effective art-
cles, whose authorship was afterward repudisted
for him at the Temperance Convention-but
there was nothing in his pledge, or 10 that of the
others, to imply that the candidates who
gave it did so from conscientious opposition
to dram. drinking. 1t was a pledge 10 sup.
port the law of Prohibition, but by no
mesbs Temperance pledge. 1t did not even say
that its author had changed his convictions, and
that he as a matter Of opision, nov believed in
IT, measure he opposed before, but merely that
he would oppose it longer. The person taking
srch pledge, does Lot violate it by any personal
indulgences in Intoxicating liquors. He might
even still privately regard the Maine Law rs un-
constitutional oppressive, aud antsgonistlc to all
true ideas of liberty aud individual rights, pro-
vided he voted for it when necessary. In short,
such pledges are apt to be Pickwickian-s sort Of
wooy.bor or cOdfsh mermaid pledges, not
meaning so much as to the simple and credulous
they appear to mean-got up specially for the
election, and nothing more. Such being the case,
our respected correspondents would appear to
travel out of the record, in their anmsdversions.
and accordingly it seems only just to withhold
their letters from the public
Our friends should understand that there are
two sorts Of Temperance men-thOse who believe
in it, and those who don't. There are those who
earnestly regard the use Of alcoholic hquors as
pernicious, and these who regard the failure to
get Office as peInicous, The latter class are
politicians, who cultivate temperance as public
amateurs. They use the Temperance cause and
its genuine adberents for their own Advancement,
just o. they use, for that high purpo'e, every
thing else they can use. Yesterday, perhaps,
they were on the other eide, but their power Of
being suddenly converted is most remarkable.
Wpen domination to Office, or an election 10 at
hand, having shrewdly satisfied themselves that
the despised and hated fanatics will win the
battle, these gentlemen hasten TO enlist under
tn. ir banner and to write letters 70 their Con
ventions. 1t may, possibly be said that this is
base and dishonest proceeding; and We shall
not dispute it. But it is the way OF the
world, and those who have bsen delu1ei
are generally ready for the same pleasing pro
cess again. The spsculators earn for them.
selves q harves! of latent public contempt, but
they get Office. Sometimes the electors are to-
tally cheated, and sometimes they are not, as the
personal patriotism OF their OF; cials and repre-
sentatives may dictate. In regard to the bill
now before the Senate, it seems to be question
whether, after all, the Temperance men are to
be cheated or not. Let us hope for the best,
and not be cast down at the worst