The New York herald., 1866-05-17
TEMPERANCE IN BROOKLYN.
" Ass Meeting in the Aca'
denny Of Music.
DISCUSSION OF THE NEW EXCISE LAW.
Addresses BY Henry Ward Beecher, Rev.
Theodore L. Cuyler, Rev. Mason
Gallagher and Others.

Gallagher and Others.
&c. &c. &C.
Tho efforts Of the Board Of Excise To exercise the de-
mon Of intemperance very generally approved OF
Brooklyn, and last evening grand temperance mass
meeting was held there in the Academy Of Music The
placard OF the Committee Of Arrangements announced
that number Of distinguished clergymen would address
the meeting and all in favor Of rigid enforcement
the late law passed by the Legislature to regulate the
sale OF liquor In the Metropolitan Police district in
vited to attend In response to the call the vast
building was filled to over1owipg Parquette, dress
CIRCLE galleries and boxes all crowded No charge
was made for admission On the stage were the pres.
dens Of tne various temperance societies and other
vted guests who were admitted by ticket Music both
vocal and instrumental gave pleasing variety to the
exercises; the first was furnished by the Tremaine
ninth regiment New York National Guard
AT eight O'Clock the hour for proceedings
to commence, the building filed with probably the
larges, audience assembled within its walls
Mr. j. n STEARSs, chairman of the Committee OF Ar
rangements, called the meeting to ORDER and after
stating its object read letter from Mayor Booth an.
nouncng his inability to attend and preside over the
meeting, and nominated Mr. George Hall as President
Mr. HALL came forward and said Ladies' and gentle.
men, permit me to congratulate you this large and
respectable meeting on this very important vement
but without making any further remarks, shall have
70 decline the post OF honor have been very unwe
for the last week, for which reason hope you will per-
init me to decline, and nominate Mr. stearns
On motion Mr.. Stearns unanimously nominated
as presiding officer and introduced Mr. IRA BucKmAN of
Williamsburg, as the first speaker He said: :-Mr Pres
dent and ladies' and gentlemen, find myself in posi-
tion tonight that | little expected TO occupy. came
here TO be silent listener TO hear what might be said
the work that had been done in capital Tonight is
the proudest moment of fe and fruits of what
have long been working for we have seen during
the last two Sabbaths-we have two quiet New
England Sabbaths in the city of Brooklyn.
at this time Rev. Henry Ward Beecher appeared and
was greeted with loud applause.
Mr. BUoknAN continued by saying that they had seen
in the public prints that every Union member OF the
City OF Brooklyn did all he could TO bring about this
state OF things, and that he deserved credit
fortune it's before % he HoSss ns HaS 60 he
done less ne would not have done his duty and had he
endeavored to have done he could not have
pished less Three great objects would be accomplished
by the bll considerable revenue would be derived in
the shape OF taxes, would be driven of grocery
business out after twelve O'Clock night Loud cheers
and laughter greeted this the midst Of
which Mr.. Buckman retired TO make way for
Rev. HENRY WARD BEEcHER, who was received
restored he said:.Mr President, ladies and gen, en-
began to fear it might be true that the temper.
ance cause dead II It be this 10 the goodiiest
the privilege attend such another funeral meeting at
the Cooper lnstitutea real old fashioned temperance
meeting M Every man was there because he wanted TO
be thore and all went away feeling that the Temperance
cause had taken new lease OF life. ] feel
tonight that BROOKLYN does not intend TO be-
"
partments in which the Temperance work is
directed, and the principal one makes Il a convincing
and and one that is to be separated
from legislative and coersive The first has
exclusive reference TO individuals who labor with men
that they in the exercise Of their liberty may become
temperate, and this will be the important work
You cannot bring statutes to stand In the way OF
reasoning and persuasion When men say that
legislative enactmsuts thew means es .D oy
10 must always be left TO q mans good iudement
whether he will become temperate or not There
n 0uQQ tim nj puhIir
involved in this cause. Must be allowed 70 sell
liquor everywhere and at all tmesY This lie also differ
Of temperance That point is now In The hands Of the
police and the question shall consider this evening IA
simply this is i rsh. that men tha, sell liquor shall do
dealing in alcoholic nss liquors wsSs ws s SSfR sentiment that
thing else and has always been subject Of legislative
regulation Before you born was So ana n has
always been found difhcult thing to regulate Not
that there were not laws enough tut because the nst
ments by which these laws administered were cor
rupt and has been found almost mposs Bile 70 frame
laws which the cunning OF dealers aud LAWYERS cannot
evade The Name Liquor law becaoe dead letter and
was found that the community wa not ripe enough TO
enforce H. but time will come whc will be deemed
wise 70 enact such laws will thorouhly effect the mr.
pose Our position is just this: no that we have A /
license law for the first time but We hse license law
tS, 70, 'ns s nrst ,.u a%s that works Appause Not
before, but that II enacted law that tits we'll M
Beecher then proceeded to defend the wv and explain
its workings, saying that when they -haryed with
taking away their neighbors rights II Wa much as TO
say that they Of their to defeni ant s held
that the dealers have right to do anything, a when
the protest against it the cry is nsed y are
invading our rights" He was q taxpayer and he sew |
H. too. Laughter) The United States taxes he alxvs
paid AZ easy grease, and II they were twice
much, he would pay them cheerfully. a. no none,
is too much for saving ones cedntry. Cheers
county institutions % fcT Which, p pon, Of fact he WAS
assessed by the big beed spde who spread their nets
he would put down one snsSior criminals FOR
thieves for paspers and onetcnth for luna
tics all Of which TO BE paid for as the indirect but
certain results Of allowing unrestrained trae In
liquor The liquor dealers are the assessors and honest
sober citizens have % pay the bills No man could be
taxed for any public Improvement without hts own
consent, and here these who them
In this indirect manner And when they attempted to
s sse 5 you
away our rights forS" The only thing more monstrous
than the traffic itself was that the dealers should say
s'You have right medde with It," But must be
made little dangerous possble-not through enmiy
against the liquor deaers-and they must the power
very least proportion that they possibly can Cheers
He accepted the licensing principle not because
he though. II wa. wise. but because Of
1--WE hundred are doing so now, and the hfteen
hundred who could not sell that he liked Iaughter
He believed it 70 be abominaton 70 let one man sell
liquor (Cheers Every one might drink, but he would
not let any one sell any liquor. When asked where
would be get his liquor he should reply that your look
out, not mine. tCheer.) Mr. Beeshcr then spoke at
great length the fact that the Sabbath had been re-
deemed, speaking Of not only as religious ques,,r
ALSO ~ pnysChl peucnt W tuo
that he will hereafter be enabled 70 spend quiz 'o"er
Sabbath. u....s.
.o''ee su.oe % pa,y ~ sne me- - 20 address the
meeting. and . was only because hn undertaking to
PEELED 70 that he accepted the poss summer when the
address them. There ten the ground is na,chaS
farmer looks over his nee dried up and he wishes f
and dry and the prinsears bis prayer at any rate tie
rain. Al last the Lc-iand Is refreshed When we ook
storm comes and.nmuuity in which we live the law
back tbeome into cfect, and which We seem 10 |
,ha. has mt to US morally wha, the Of rain was
possess ner practically. Heretofore drunkenness and
nave stalked in the street the rumseiler sold hrs
c-vr IN defiance OF lawn defiance Of the sentiment
. the community, and In defiance OF everything We
onged Tor something 70 check this trafic TO check
rme praying for H. working for IL, and we have
ccomplished something The Lord alwaysblcsses those
mo work, and " We wish TO accomplish stl greater
hngs We must work in our temperance oreanizations
'aiher Mathew societies band themselves together 10
end men 70 the Legislature that VIII prevent he rcrcaI
this wholesome excise law. The men they sent 10
bany last year were that understood the wants of
ne community and knowing their duty had the conrage
? perform H. He thanked Almighty God who blessed "
heir abors by such law as they had net 40 ,,,,sy 40