North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-09-08

seldom wishing far to rsam;
Or, II roaming, still will ever
Cherish happy thoughts Of home.
Such homo makes men the better;
Sure and lasting the control;
Home with pure and bright surroundings,
Leaves fts impress the soul.
National Temperance Convention.
From the Chicago Journal, Sept. LIST, 1860.
To-day the more prominent and active
temperance men throughout the United
States assemble in Mass Convention in
this city, TO deliberate upon the best means
to be used for diminishing the evils of in
temperance. This, we presume, is the
real object Of gathering, as it is folly to sup.
pose for moment that all the conven.
tions that could be called together can de.
wise and carry out any plan that would
result in the complete overthrow of the
liquor traffic.
The friends of temperance, good order
and sound morality everywhere must feel
an interest in every movement of this
kind, and all good citizens will watch the
proceedings of the National Convention
at Farwell Hall with the sincere hope that
good may result thsrefrom. The original
call for this meeting invites all persons
favorable to the movement to assemble in
mass convention ''for the purpose of Or
ganising for distinct political action for
temperance" The call also intimates that
prohibition Is to be made one of the prin-
cipal planks in the platform of the new
temperance party. We are constrained to
say that these announcements do not fore
bode the most beneficial results from the
Convention. A similar gathering of tenn.
perance men and women was held in the
city of Cleveland, Ohio, thirteen months
ago, at which many good things were said
and much good feeling was manifested.
The Convention passed strong resolutions
in favor of prohibitory legislation, and
the delegates all seemed determined that
liquor selling and drinking must and
should be suppressed. But the history Of
the past year fails to record single in
stance, so far as we can learn, where liq-
uor selling was squelched out in conse.
quence Of anything which that National
Convention said or did. Should nothing
more tangible and practicable be done by
the Convention now assembled in this city
than was done at Cleveland, the gathering
will hardly be worth the time and money
expended in running it.
The quality most lacking and most es-
scntial among those who lead off in such
reformatory movements is practicabiiity.
A few well-meaning but inconsiderate
temperance people behold the evils of in
Temperance on every hand, aud forthwith
they conclude that if prohibitory liquor
law can only be passed, those fountains of
misery will be dried up. They see drunk
enness and debauchery among politicians,
and hence resolve upon the formation of a
new political party, whose skirts shall be
free from the stains Of whisky or any 9TH
er vile thing, ard whose mission shall be
to do away, by law, with all political corr
ruption. And thus are they constantly
jumping at conclusions and wasting ener-
gies and talents which might be usec in
other directions with really good results.
If the National Convention will use its
best endeavers to promote the cause of
sobriety, by legitimate and practical meas
ures, the great mass Of the people will say
amen to its deliberations, and rejoice that
such an assemblage was ever called to-
gether. But if it is ruled by firing" OF
fanatical prohibitionists who believe that
excise laws are the universal panacea for
all social and political evils, then will this
Convention prove pitable failure. With
the prevailing opinions, prejudices and
practices among the people with reference
to the use of alcoholic liquors, nothing
could be moro absurd or impracticable
than prohibitory liquor laws. This we
believe to be true with reference to all
large cities and vast majority Of towns
and villages throughout tho United States
If there be any exceptional cases, they are
those of comparatively obscure localities
where nearly the entire population are in
favor of keeping liquor out Of the commu'
nifty. And in all such instances they car
accomplish that object among themselves
without the intervention Of national con-
ventions, or the organization of polirico
temperance party. If the members Of ths
Convention at Farewell Hall desire to &C
complish the greatest possible good in thu
name of temperance reform, let them en-
deavor to convince the people, by incon
4rovertible facts and scientific arguments
that alcoholic liquors, when taken into ths
human system under any and every pre-
text, nre hurtful. Let them stir up th'
people to point where they will realize
the magnitude of the evils resulting from
the uss Of intoxicating liquors in every
form. Let them adopt measures for tn
more general diffusion Of suitable temper
auoe literature, the holding of frequen
mass meetings, and the use of all ef6cien
means in carrying forward this reform
II men who use liquor cannot be con
WINGED of their error, it is utterly absur'
to declare that they shall not use, "as
beverage" what they and their physician
may honestly believe is essential to physi
cal health. It is to be hoped that thi
Convention of temperance reformers vii
be wiser than to fritter away their time il
building air>castles, making buncomb
speeches, organizing political parties OF
paper, and resolving in favor of prohibi