The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-26
ssQuaG."

The atlantic Monthly is hardly the place
where one would naturally look for an article
in which the ground is taken that the uncon-
trolIable passion for intoxicating drinks is the
result of direct diabolic infuence-tbat the
victim Of the passion is indebted for his mis-
cry to "a personal devif' that possesses him.
The fact that such an article has appeared in
such place, and that the demon "Quaff" is
denounced as the Devils agent in affecting
mankind by means Of strong drink, is proof
OF the Truth of what Gen. Neal Dow said at
the meeting of the Cumberland County Tenn
perance Association the other day when he
declared that "the temperance cause is in an
EDDY" though he hoped that its future course
would be stea1y advance. The temperance
cause is "in an eddy" and the present ten
dency of thought among temperance men is
decidedly in the way Of completing the circle
and going back to where it began. In 9TH
or words the tendency is to depreciae
the efficiency of legal restraints and
TO exaeserate the Importance of moral
suasIon. 1t is an undeniable fact
and one within The personal knowledge
OF every well informed person, that men as
ISOLATED all their lives with the temperance
movement are " swinging around the circle" 10
such an extent as to speak distrustully of all
the restrictions, fines, penalties and the vari-
Gus legal regulations in regard to the sale of
liquor that 90 to make up what is known as
prohibition" Horace Greeley is among those
who seem to be thus moving back from that
advanced position which for nearly or quite
twenty years has been SO much relied upon
by temperance men. In Massachusetts the
whole scheme of prohibition seems on the
point OF falling to the ground. In New York
even that mildest of prohibitory codes, known
as the excise law, will soon be repealed by
Democratic legislature.
This reaction ought by no means to 90 too
far. We are not of those who regard the
Pinciple OF prohibition as fairly tried and
touhd wanting. As it seems to us the prevail
ing tendency to reactionary line of thought
an conduct is due rather to the neglect of the
Trends Of temperance to supplement the
work effected through the law by moral agen-
cies, such as were at first solely relied upon,
than to any impotence OF legal methods of re-
form. The almost entire disuse of moral in
tuences in the temperance reform has occa
stoned so low an ebb Of public sentiment that
tue legislation which was based on more
ferVent popular feeling now lacks popular sup
port.
We look to the Convention that meets at
Auburn Thursday to take the proper meas
ures for new moral crusade against the de-
mon QuaH, as necessary preliminary to
any further legislation that may be desirable
This, rather than political organization or ap-
peals for new laws, is the business of the Con-
vention. The States PROFESSIONALLY suffering
from the ravages Of intemperance at the pres
ent time to most appalling extent In very
many cities and towns rum shops are in full
blast notwithstanding the terrors of the pro-
hibitory code. Lewiston and Ellsworth alone
among the cities, if we are not mistaken, seri-
ously undertake to interfere with the fatal
traffic. Our people are perishipg in hun
dreds, carried to untimely graves by the great
destroyer. The public consciences need to
be awakened-the popular heart to be touch
ed. A general temperance revival, such for
instance as might be inaugurated by the pro-
posed observance of the 22d of February as a
day for holding temperance meetings through
out the country, is what is needed.
We have heard it stated, though upon doubt
ful authority, that Mr.. Hichborn will be pres
ent at the Auburn Convention, and make a
reply to Governor Chambellain's ill-judged
remarks on temperance, in his Address. We
trust this is not true. The good cause is to
be promoted just now in a far different vav.