Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-01
STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATION.

STRENG THEN THE FOUNDATION.
The Methodist Conference at Portland
discussed the temperance question with
great deal of good sense. Occupying the
extreme front of the Prohibition army,
they still recognize the necessity of edu-
eating public sentiment in favor of tenn
perance that the law may stand and be
effective. In this they are wise. Build
ing upon this idea they will go forward
over every obstacle to success. The cause
rests upon public sentiment, and as that is
broadened and deepened so much the
more firmly will temperance stand and
the more widely extend its Influence.
There is a strange predisposition among
temperance men to underrate the work |
which they have already accomplished
and doubt of success in the future. This |
speaks well for their sincerity, but not for
their faith or the accuracy with which
they compute results. 1t is true that the
enemy is not entirely vanquished, but tenn
perance now as compared with thirty
years ago is as the locomotive to the stage
coach. Thirty years ago nearly every
house in the land kept ardent spirits for
common drink. The father and mother
took their morning dram and the children
were not denied share as soon as large
enough to swallow it. The minister took
his glass before going into the pulpit to
enable him to preach with greater JUNCTION,
and the deacon kept the village grogshop
and dealt out liquor and passages of Scrip
ture to his neighbors through the week
No farmer could get his hay crop without
an abundant supply of rum. If a building
was to be raised the jug Of rum was indis-
pensable. 1t was supplied to gangs OF
men, as at numbering. shipbuilding, or any
other hard work, asregularly as their meals,
and was furnished to sailors as part of
the vessels stores as much as bread and
beef. To talktemperance would make an
outlaw OF q person, unless his offence
against the prevailing custom and senti.
ment were generously excused by imput
ing it to lack of brains.
What is the state OF things nowP TIL,
most fainthearted temperance man cal
see wonderful change. The use of liq
nor in private houses is almost total,
abandoned. Ministers lead in the wa
against intemperance and deacons have
become members of temperance societies
Logs come down the streams, hay goes
into the barn, frames ofbuildings are raised
sailors go to sea, and all other kinds Of
work and business go on without the aid
of ardent spirits, and without exception
in a better manner. Men are living now
who can remember the first barn raising
at which liquor was dispensed with, and
what wrath and mutiny arose at the idea,
and how difficult it was to stem the oppo-
sition and erect the timbers. Liquor SELL
ers used to be the lords Of creation now
they ply their business, when it is done,
under the ban of society, in secret ways
and places, and if caught in the trade are
regarded as criminals before the law.
Temperance men meet in open daylight,
tons, while their antagonist is driven into
holes and cellars if not quite into the "last
ditch" While public sentiment has grown
to acknowledge the advantage and neces-
sity of temperance it has also grown to
the adoption of stringent measures for the
suppression Of the traffic in liquor. The
courts were timid in sustaining repressive
laws. Grand juries were 10th to indict.
Now the rumsellers lands no better chance
of escaping conviction if guilty than other
criminals, andreceiyes no sympathy in his
struggles or misfortunes. In the smaller
towns of our State the sale of liquor is
quite abolished. In the larger places it
fingers, but even there it is reduced to the
most desperate shifts to continue its exis-
tenee. @
Thus stands the temperance cause now,
and thus it stood thirty years ago. Its
progress has not only been grand but won
derful in the period mentioned. 1t is
stronger too than appears upon the sur
face. Hardly an individual except the
man who is engaged in the traffic of spirits
!, but bids temperance God speed. Even
the poor victim ofappetite adds his prayer
for its success, hoping that in its progress
he may be saved from destruction. Now
let its advocates continue to extend and
strengthen the moral sentiment in favor of
temperance. While they have been aim
ing to accomplish their work by legis-
lation they have neglected the moral
means to success. Gather up and unite in
stead Of scattering the temperance element.
Educate the young. and draw in the
older to help the cause. No subject ap-
peais with stronger force to the feelings
ana Judgment. Its enemies cannot pur-
sue their occupation day without send
ing out upon the streets and into the fami-
lies, in the shape of drunkards, powerful
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