Litchfield enquirer., 1871-06-01
9itfs6tla Gnquirtr. 1itchfeld. Thursday, June I ,1S7l
A Winters Temperance campaign.

the residents of this place started Tem. perance organization. Believing that the vice of intemperance was on the increase among us, it was thought expedient to try the effect of some organized effort to arrest ~ its progress. Desirous of uniting all shades of temperance opini on in this organization, no total abstinence pledge was required of its members, so that all who believed in the efficacy of any species of temperance movement might give their adhesion. Dur ing the winter months, lectures were given, the ministers of all the Protestant churches in the village gave their views. and audi ences of good size always attended. Owing to the limited means of the Association, it was impossible to employ noted lecturers, bnt the services of such temperance speak CTS as have from time to time made lectur- ing tours through this part of the State, have been secured. Regarding the results of this winters temperance campaign, we will state our own views with entire frank ness.
 The object for which the Association was framed, i. e., to unite all those who favor any form of temperance movement into an organization to that end, was not attained. It is our belief that a strict Total Absti- hence plan would have met equal support and shown greater practical results than the more liberal one adopted. Our reasons for this belief are based upon the following facts. It was noticeable, in the first place, that the support of our organization came, with very few exceptions, from single po- htical party, and, in the second, from two of the four religious denominations into which the christians of this place are di- vided. The Association. as it turned out, was composed of Republicans, Of Metho- dists, and Congregationalists; Democrats, Episcopalians and Catholics standing aloof. That there are no Democrats. Episcopa. Hans or Catholics who are desirous of as- sisting moderate temperance movement,
 we do not believe. The problem is to start such an organization as they, or some of them, might be willing to join; and that problem is precisely the one we failed to solve last winter. Nor is it very easy of solution. Temperance ground has been 90 much fought over by political parties and by religious denominations, that any basis of union between rival parties and denominations is very difficult. The diff fsrences may be briefly stated as follows: Republicans are at issue with Demo- crats on the question of prohibition; Congregationaiists and Methodists with Episcopalians and Catholics, on the ques- tion of total abstinence. One advantage, which we reckon great one, of our last winters campaign, has been the develop ment, with considerable accuracy, of the line of difference between what we might call, with much propriety, the Oongrega. tional and Episcopalian views of Tenn perance. The former decidedly favors to- tal abstinence; the latter, abstinence as general rule, not denying occasional indul. sence, but discouraging the frequent use of alcoholic beverages as dangerous rather than as sinful It will be seen that while there are important points of difference there is also agreement in at least one vital matter. The habitual use of spirituous liquors is regarded as very dangerous, and as causing most of the crime and poverty in society, by ell thinking men of whatever religious creed. Is it impossible to unite all who hold such view in one organiza. ton opposed to the spread of intemper
 ancef If there were no political parties, or religious denominations, such an union could be easily accomplished; but with temperance so much of political and so much of Q denominational question as it now is, it is one of extreme difficulty. The clannishness of politics and of denomina. tional religion has taken such hold on this question that one almost despairs of any united effort on the part of those who real ly hate Intemperance, and would be glad to check its progress. Still, single failure ought not to discourage those who believe in the possibility of combined campaign of all temperate Democrats and Republi- cans. and of all temperate Episcopalians. Oongregationalists, Methodists, and Catho. lies. against the evil which is spreading so rapidly among us. To that end thorough reorganizationwith view to avoid all the po- itical or denominational opposition, which itispossible to svoid, should be the prelim. mary stop. Should any such general or genixation prove as impracticable for the coming campaign as it was for the last, then the next best measure, as it seems to us, would be the establishment of some Good Samaritan or other regular total abaiinence society. having the advantage ef regular State organization, and afilia- tion with other societies. Such an effort would promise no great immediate results, but would offer the next best chance for ussful work in the cause of Temperance.
 Before falling back upon Total Absti. nenes society, however, we should much wmmHnr mmnkhar af@anank ak a cornlin nf;on x,