Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-13
A Temperance Revival.


All friends of temperance, whatever their
opinions of the value of legislative prohibition
of the sale of intoxicants, must be convinced
that the existence of such laws does not in the
least diminish the importance of employing
every possible moral and social agency to i'm.
press upon the minds of young people especially,
the dangers to individuals and to society of the
use of intoxicating drinks, and to encourage
the habit of abstaining altogether from such
beverages. The successful employment of such
agencies generation ago, made prohbitory
legislation possible, and just In proportion as
they are neglected and tie advocates of temper
ance reform trust in the law only to prevent
drunkenness, the execution Of the law will be-
come feeble, spasmo6ic and inefficient. In this
respect the temperance reform differs from
some of the other combined moral and political
agitations of our time. The anti-slavery reform
for instance, had for Its object reform in the
law. Slavery was created by law, and when the
law creating or authorizing it was repealed,
slavery was dead and the work was done. So of
any other evil or abuse which depends for its
vitality upon law, written or unwritten, COM
mon or statute, the subordination of women
for example; repeal or amend the law and the
reform is accomplished. The same idea may be
expressed otherwise in the statement that laws
which add to the RIGHTS or immunitits of any
class of persons are sure to be executed, because
all who come within their scope may be trusted
TO claim their benefit; but laws which restrict
individual rights to secure some ad vantage to
the public, will become dead letter if they are
not sustained and the public officers stimulated
to their enforcement by vigorous and aggressive
public sentiment.
The temperance reform which swept through
the country twenty-five or thirty years ago,
owed Its success to the zeal and energy with
which It's advocates used every available moral.
religious and social influence. They had diff.
eulties to surmount that hardly exist now. in
New England, at least. The settled habits of
society in all classes were attacked; ridicuIe.
defamation and violence were employed. even
by reputable and influential persons, to intimi.
date the reformers. But they persevered and
In few years effected such changes in the
habits of society, as young people whose observ.
alton does not extend back so far can hardly
realize. Few viii be inclined to dispute that the
force which they exerted is in some measure
spent, and that the evils Of intemperance have
been increasing for some years past. There is
need Of new temperance revival.
large number of gentlemen, among whom
are William B. Spooner, Gov. Clafiin, P. Emory
Aldricn, and many other well known leaders in
temperance movements, believing that the frs,
reliance in all effective temperance propagandism
must be special Christian effort TO bring the at
tention OF the people to the subject, recommend
the formation Of new state temperance society.
whose work shall be exclusively of a moral
and religious character; whose agencies shall he
the pulpit, the press, the lecture room, and all
those that were so efficient generation ago in
spreading the principle of total abstinence ffou
all intoxicating drinks as beverage. In cir
cular issued by them, they say:
SIN combining the society 10 moral and re
lgiOus agencies, however, II is not intended /
oppose in any way legal, or other means of pro
noting the cause, but believing the existing dil
feTenceg of opinion as to other means often mai
alyze or deter from action, they think il wise /
form q new state society, in whose action a
friends of the cause can harmonic, while a
members of the society are left free TO act on
side as their conscience or judgment shall di,
tate. We therefore invite all persons who are
favor Of forming society on the above prime
pies, 10 meet in convention, in fremont Tempt
An"
we hope for valuable results from this NOV,
meni' ana are glad TO sec beginning at the SAN
nme an enort Of the Irish temperance societit
70 promote temperance revival among the
people. who need it quite as much as Others. an
are not 90 readily accessible to some of the II
aoenees which the new state society win ba,
81 ils command.