The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-08
County Temperance Convention.

The County Association will meet at Cum
berland Centre on Wednesday, 10th instant.
Arrangements are making for a full meeting.
Speakers possessing the ability to please and
instruct have engaged to be present Their
names may hereafter be announced. Good
music by choir whose qualifications have
been fully tested will be furnished for the occa-
sion. This is very important part of the
pros ramme, and as an element of success can
not be wisely overlooked.
1t is proper here to repeat, what has been oc-
casonally stated but which may not be gener-
ally understood, that this organization, while
it proposes to discuss the political aspects of
temperance, is in no authorized sense partizan
in its character-persons of whatever political
party or temperance society or, if friends of
the cause, of no organization, having the full
est liberty TO participate in the proceedings,
subject only to such temporary arrangements
as may be made at any particular meeting.
The Association regards temperance as a
life work. 1t is not deceived nor misled by the
vain delusion that the most stringent law and
its most faithful execution can entirely close
the dram shops while the desire for the intox
-
cation in the cup. 1t proposes, therefore SO to
enlighten the public mind touching the nature
and effects of intoxicating liquors as largely to
check, if not wholly restrain, the desire. That
immediate success will crown the endeavOr
is not to be expected.
Sin is not mere abstraction, but tangible
evil, and intemperance is a fearful element.
When the millennial day shall dawn and sin
vanish before its rising glory, then, and only
then, will intemperance cease. When the
church of the living God shall be dissolved, its
divine mission having been fully accomplished,
then may this and all other temperance organ
izations disband. Till then this society intends
to strive on; and as one after another of its ac-
tive members passes away, it may be hoped
that their places will be filed by those yet
more devoted to the cause, and whose efforts
shall be crowned with greater success.
But let no one ''lay the fiattering JUNCTION to
his soul" that law-the Maine law or any law
is of the least possible a 5ail save as it is sup
ported by public sentiment, or that right pub
lie opinion is formed or maintained solely by
law, however mild or stringent its enactments,
or how ever loosely or vigorously applied. To
make law effectual or what is infinitely bet
ter, TO render law unnecessary, in presenting
the subject of temperance there should be the
ciearest exhibition OF principle and statement
Of fact, the most earnest appeal and the kndest
persuasion-no buffooaery nor story telling as
an end but simply as a means-and behind all
this consistent unselfsh life; and then it
may reasonably be expected that what is ut
tered will prove as = nail fastened in a sure
place. In other words, the main instrumental
ity employed by this society should be MORAL
sUAsIoN in its strictest and most comprehen
sve sense.
1t is not long since some of our religious
bodies were seriously discussing the question
whether slavery is a sin per Sc. Meanwhile
the "irrepressible conflict" was going ON and
signal events were fastening to their coDsum-
nation. In this strangely refined discussion
whatever other element was introduced that of
common sense was often wanting. Slavery,
however, still remained terrible evil, while
the enslaved, and the enslaver as well, were
in constant peril from which the only deliv-
erance eternal justice decreed, or the wisdom
of man could devise, was its utter extirpatoA
A similar discussion in reference to intoxi-
eating drinks is now progressing. 'Is il
wrong per Sc to partake?" "Shall ones per-
sonal liberty be abridged?" In the meantime
intem perance abounds through the use Of
strong drink, and the evils that necessarily
flow therefrom, are before the world. In the
discussion of this evil, and in the adoption
of measures for its removal, let us not ignore
the essential element of common sense.
The society urges the attendance npon its
meetings of Democrats and Republicans-oi
the professional and unprofessional-o all
who desire the progress of temperance and
seek its promotion by whatever method. Lei
the lawyer, the doctor, the minister come
There is important work for each. The minis.
try may be assured that however pungent its
sermons or elaborate its pulpit essays, their
force will be materially abated by the preva-
lence of intemperance. Inebriation is pc
culiar and subtle evil, and needs to be dealt
with separately from other evils. Long ex-
perience and careful observation have EN-
| phatcally taught this lesson. And there is no
more fitting means whereby to compass the
! evil and stay its desolating course than by ex-
| hibting the nature and effects of intoxicating
drink and urging the community in the name
| of God and humanity to avoid its presence
| to touch not, taste not the liquid poison. This
| is the mission of the County Temperance As
sociation, and in harmony with that design a
| meeting will be held at Cumberland Centre on
| Wednesday week.