Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-02-13
Temperance.


To the Edtor Of the american
/ was pleased to notice in your last
paper. an article on the subject OF tenn
perance from the pen of Rev. A. Prince
whose reputation as preacher, man.
and true hearted friend of this noble
cause. stands high, where he is known,
Although grea. confidence should be
placed in his historical. as we'll as his
moral views of this enterprise, | was led
to doubt, on reading his article. whether
he was strictly correct with regard to the
orioin of ".hc more aggressive move
ment of the Temperance Reform tie
attributes it to 4" Meeting Of men OF
various christian denominations, held IN
Boston. Jan. 10th 1926" We are apt
to forge. the pioneers of laadaole under
,akings. and to overlook those who " hrs'
beat the bush, and give all the credit to
those who catch the bird. The begin
ing Of all efforts is generally feeble; and
We, i. may prove the spark that nights up
the fame, While we praise eNerttons OF
Others we should be just to our own citi-
zens. Massachusetts, has done nooiy IN
this cause, but she did not produce |
think. its earliest advocates. The State
of Maine was not behind her in
this movement; and Portland was be-
fore Boston in sending laborers into tho
vineyard
A Society for the suppression OF In
temperance was established in Portland
about the year 1910. The work should
be consid red as there commenced: and
If its consequences cannot be directly
traced, it would be wrong TO say that no
good was effected by the attempt.
Mr.. Prince may be correct in saying
that "the leading projectors and agents
of the movement he has referred to-that
is the Temperance reformation "were
members of churches, and many Of them
ministers at her alters" II he means
they were men of Christian principl es We
will not be disposed to dispute the fact.
But it should be acknowledged. that ma
nv of Its warmest advocates and supper
tiers were no, members Of churches, and
it has been questioned. whether, as a
body, the ministers Of the Gospel were
among the first to enlis. in this b lessed
cause Whatever may have been the
case in the commencement of this reform
alton, it is cheering to know, that they
are now almost without exception found
in its favor, and on the side ,of human
ty and right.
While noticing the communication
of Mr.. Prince, l cannot help saying
with your other able correspondent, II.
NJ. Eaton, - am in favor Of prohibition
ana if practicable Of extermination.-
Blu, I am also in favor of the people
speaking upon the subject by direct
vote. lie. the people through the ballot
box make the law and there viii be no
cause of complaint would add to
this expression of opinion. that there
should be no delay in passing law to
be submitted for approval. The present
Legislature should not enact one with
out; bu, before it adjourns the iniatia-
tory step should be taken to secure a
better law than is now on the Statute
book and such an one, think must be
prohibitory.
There is no pledge against commencing
the work; and the friends Of temperance
have reason to demand that it should
be commenced in season to allow the
people ample time to consider and
decide the subject upon its merits, so
that if it should meet with their favor it
may become Law at the next meeting
of the Legislature. The flood Of intern
perance is now swelling and rolling
through the S,a.e, and something should
be done to assuage its fatal waters.