New-York tribune., 1874-03-23
NO EXCUSE FOR MODERATE DRINKING.

The heT s. H. ROSstfr al INC norm ITeSDVtFtlH thTtN
The Rev. S. B. Rossiter preached yesterday
morning at the North Presbyterian Church at Ninth
ave- and Thirty rsst., the subject Of al Plea for
Total Abstinence" His text II is good neither to
eat flesh drink wine. anything whereby thy
brother stumDleth, is offended, or is made weak
Romans xiv, 81.
The preacher saii On every breeze from the West is
sound of wOmens voices praying against
aud the traffic Those who have studied the tenn
perauce movement in the West assert that God is NOV
ing in a new way. The influence Is moving Westward,
and even in our large ctes beneath the OF selfish
felt the prckings Of this new electricity The
ministers of God who set on the walls OF Zion as
watchmen the coming tide and welcomed 1t. though
they may be cautious to the to boz employed in
carrying on the reformation The resolutions adopted
at the recent meeting Iof clerSymen, are com
seTvative. The men who drew them up were anxious
to unite all men. one hnderance 10 reform has been
difference Of opnioD this instance the radical and
the conservative bowed 10 each other and joined hands,
that there might be united action-one forward
movement all along the ine against the common zoe
These resolutions do not express all my views; Dut
voted for them a compromise measure.
One point of these resolutions is that they aim to
bring the women, for none have suffered more from
the effects Of intenperance than they and none can
labor earnestly against H. Another IS TO shut up
the dram shops and tipping houses where liquor Is sou
According TO these resolutions, then, drinking In tne
place where liquor Is sold Is sin There are 65OOOO
gallons Of distilled liquors ana 9,OOOOO OrelS OF Ter
sre 100000 dram shops where TINS hqmd danna ION IS
dealt out There are s1S0oO0O spent annually for dis-
from the bodies OF little children from the table ana the
home. crafty base passion. More money is ex-
pended for liquor than for schools, churches, and
missionary enterprises put together Besides tins, the
rum traffic costs the country 60OO0J abeDOdCd men,
taken from useful occupations the grain aud fruit
taken from their legitimate uses. Add to tins
the cost OF courts, Of jais and asyiums. the
support OF 8OO.O0O drunken paupcrs and their
children and you have sum total which makes
the Devil chucke his heish throne. TwOthirds OF
the crime ODethird OF the diOey and unacy and three
quarters of the poverty caused by this traffic. This
Is the evil against which men tght and women pray.
DO you wonder that men become fanatcal that women
leave the retirement of home and kneel the mud aud
rain before the rum-selers d0Or Do you wonder that
God moved out of the usual majesty OF His dealings
IN view OF this gigantic evli II il were only pure
hquOr with which we had to deal its use by so many
persons and IN such large Quantities would call Tor re-
srlcEOns placed upon its sale and consumption. In
wne-growng countries and in old times there drum
kenness. We know that alcohol Is poison, and tnat IT
ought be taken only when prescribed by physician
temperance been taken from moderate Of that
which be beneficial at some times TO total abstl-
nence from that which is always evil The extent of
adulteration is such that you may well doubt
drank glass of pure liquor In your liie If there
pure liquor in the country 1t Is safe 70 say that
does get into the bar-rOOm The temperance queS
tion then, is one Of total abstinence from deadly
poison.
There are those who believe that moderate drnkingis
right; they drink III their homes This Is large ana
influential class many of whom may be in tins audience
will say such lyou purchase your liquors III saloon
be you buy what bargain for. You thlnk you
are buying mild stmulant; you are DuYing deadly
poison IL you deal with importer you are still IN
danger. Care for your own body demands caution In
this respect But there real danger in the grattca
ton OF the appetite for pure liquor There can he no
drunkenness without moderate drinking All drunk
ards once moderate drinkers.