The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.


The story of An Old Revival.
The Buffalo Courier gives o brief
history Of the temperance revival Of
1910. The preceding year had brought
news OF the magnificent crusade in
which Father Mathew had for time
wrested Ireland from the grasp Of King
Alcohol. In Baltimore, in April, 1910,
six incorporate men who had been in
the habit Of meeting nightly, for con-
viyial purposes, were suddenly led TO
frame and sign n pledge Of total abb
stinence. They formed themselves into
q body, which they called the Washing
ton Temperance Society. and forthwith
began to proselytize. In less than o
year they had gathered into their ranks
over one thousand reformed drunkards.
A prominent member Of the parent
society was John II. W. Hawkins, who
early the next year headed q delegation
TO visit, hold meetings, and organize
societies in New York, Boston, and
several OF the New England cities.
The contagion OF the enthusiasm gen.
Grated at these meetings spread like o
prairie FIRE. During the summer and
autumn Of 1s41 the whole country was
in q blaze Of excitement. In the State
Of Ohio 60,000 signed the pledge; in
Kentucky, 10000 ; in Pennsylvania, an
equal number. The parent Wushing.
tonian society in New York in one year
had gathered in 1000 members, and
had twenty-two auxiliaries, with o
membership OF 10000. Tho 81. Louis
societies had 1850 members. In Jauu.
ary, 1912, the fire caught in Washing
ton, and Tom Marshall, the first con.
vert, led q movement which swept
through the halls OF Congress and car
ried away several OF the city fire com.
panies. The birthday Of Washington,
February %, 1912, was grand jubilee
OF temperance throughout the country.
Three thousand reformed drunkards
marched in procession that day in Bal
timore alone. The following summer
was one OF prodigious activity in the
cause. Nearly every distillery In Brook
lyn was closed in New York meetings
were held weekly in fifty-two halls,
and signatures were received for tho
pledge at the rate Of two hundred q
day. The production Of liquor in the
country had decreased absolutely one
half, and relatively TO the population
was not third Of what 1t had been ten
years before. Before the close Of 1872,
also, the organization Of the "Cold
Water Armies" and lodges OF the
"Order Of the Sons Of Temperance"
had begun, the latter being devised for
the relief Of reformed men in destitute
circumstances. The Van Pelt Of that
day was Alexander Welsh, Of New
York, known as liking Of the rum.
sellers" who took the stump as m I'D.
yocate OF total abstinence with great
effect, Five fro companies in New
York and two in Brooklyn surrendered
| to the prevailing enthusiasm; the May.
| or Of the former city, and very gener.
ally the municipal and State officials Of
New York, publicly discoantenanced
the use Of alcoholic beverages.
The period Of natural reaction was 70
Some extent postponed by the advent oi
John B. Cough IN the field in 1874. In
| June Of that year MIR. Cough and Rev.
DR.. John Marsh, Secretary OF the
American Temperance Union, made 9
tour OF New York State, arousing great
feryor and excitement wherever they
went. From 1874, however, the decline
OF the revival in the popular heart be
gan. II was marked by the initiation
OF attempts 10 carry the movement int
politics, and secure the enactment oi
prohibitory laws.
In 1915 the people Of New York voted
on license or no license. A tret1erl'
dously energetic campaign was made
by the temperance forces, and O bill
enacting prohibition outside OF New
York city, was passed by an aggregate
majority Of over 45, 900. The law, from
the day OF its passage, was virtually q
dead letter, and alcohol began to regain
| its lost territory. In the meantime,
however, the German brewer had begun
TO get foothold in the land, and the
growing use OF his milder beverage
prevented anything like complete re
lapse into that excessive consumption
Of distilled drinks from which tht
temperance agitation Of 1910 hat
reused the country. II is thus seen tha
the great Temperance movement OF thu
last generation continued in force a
least four years, and attained dimen
sions which have not yet been reached
by tic revival now in progress.
I