The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-05-03
THURSDAY MoRNING::::::::::MAY 3
An Anti.Temperance SocIety-Its Con.
stftution and Organization.

Tribune says it may publish hereafter the
bylaws aud proceedings of the society. If
this society existed only in one city, and any
evil effects it might produce against law, or
der and morality, were to be confined to the
one place. possibly we should not deem it of
such public interest, as to call the attention
of our readers. and especially of the friends
of the prohibitofy law, to this society as it
exists in New Albany. But already we hear
rumors Of societies of similar aature form
ing in other places, and certainly the great
est field for such an organization in the
whole State, is Evansville, and If an anti
Temperance Society is not even now in its
chrysaiis state here. it perhaps soon will be.
Not that we mean to say there has been ex-
pressed determination among any class of
our citizens to resist this law, and to prevent
the prohibitory experiment being fully tested,
for we have too much confidence 10 the good
sense and good citizenship of all classes, to
believe that unless under the absolute con-
troll or dictation oil demagogues, any one
class would seek to oppose law established
as this has been. But do believe there
are demagogues here. who would gladly lead
in such a course as that Of opposition even
to temperance, in their disposition to make
capital ont of this prohibiiory law. And
the very men who would be at the bottom
of such society as that whose constitution
we publish to-day, are the very men who
most loudly cry out against secret political
societies. Yet this organization is Of that
very nature, and so declared in its constitu-
ston. Here is one of its declarations Of
principles:
4th. Occasionally to hold meetings to
strengthen our sediments, as expressed,
and, in regard to our union, as a political
one, to use our whoie influence, through the
Iaitot bor, at every suitable occasion.
They declare their union a"political one,"
and it is just as secret as they know how to
make it. Therefore, it is one of those "se-
cret political societies" which Old Liners
have taken so much pleasure in denouncing,
yet which they stand ready at any time to
adopt ind father, whenever they may be
benefited thereby-just as in many places
they are lending their cordial approval to the
Sag NIGHTS. 1t Is well this society is secret.
1t should be enveloped in a secrecy that the
mortal eye Of no honest man might pene-
trate. A society arrayed against temper
ance, and which therefore must carry upon
its banners-"The general propagation of
whisky-Heavy taxes upon the people-De-
ISOLATION of homes-Ruin of bodies and souls
Manufacture of paupers--Increase of
widows and orphans"-has good reason for
being secret-and right well justified are
its members for concealing their names from
the world as members of such a society-of
society which declares as one of its OBJ.
jects:
Sd. To counteract the working of the
temperance society, in moral as well as in
legal point of view.
It's not only to oppose temperance legal
ly, but it is to oppose temperance in moral
point Of view. Now we are not a member
of any temperance association, and therefore
are free from that ultraism of feeling which
makes bigots of some temperance men-but
we do say, that any man who would pledge
himself, by joining any society, to support
such principle as the above, has not moral
principle enough to keep him from converting
to his own use his neighbours property and is
not.a perscnto be trusted as man or citi.
zen. Let men legally oppose this or any
other law fer as they please--but the momen,
In doing this, they seek to directly crush any
great moral principle or cause, they in re.
turn deserve to be crushed by any moral
community in which they may live.
This society in New Albany, and the ru-
mors of similar ones in other places, prove
that the enemies of the prohibitory law are
trying the virtues of organisation to give
power to their efforts. Let the friends of the
law take the hint. They have been sue.
cessful enough thus far to secure the latv-
but that law must be tried, and if fount
good, it must be preserved The trial come.
next. See that it is no half way experiment
permitting injury to itself by not securing
implicit obedience. IL is q lalr--and mer
may talk about i. as much as they will, an,
form organizations to oppose it in words ant
by legal action, but permit no man nor set o
men to rioldte it. There is the moral priu
ciple in the cause and in the people, which
if rightly broughtto bear, will amply sustain
this law-at least, until experiment MAJ
have proven it ineficient-and the law, W,
think, will in its turn sustain the moral prin
eipie and the people who made the law.
10 A contemporary describing a dance a