The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-09


In word this crusade against alcohol Is sectional
and denominatIonal: and here lies lts weakness
and the secret Of It's certain failure. what would
be worse than weakness, and would shipwreck the
cause IN spite Of all Its inherent merits wouia %
the mixing 1t up with politics; and as these words
are written, 1t Is seriously proposed TO organize
a new national party on the basis OF temperance
Coming now TO the practical remedy II Is well to
further. No man in his senses would dream OF
making OF the whole American people nation OF
teetotaiiers.
Total abstinence for years. for a lifetime espe.
ciaiy, can only become the virtue OF the lew.
Even among ration so proverblally aDstemlous
10 abstain from wine and all strong drink, were
small class apart, some oil them, ana they the
lew, having a lie pledge, the greater number only
pledging themselves for shorter period. Inc
RecnaDires are the only instance OF whole iain-
ny OF teetoallers growing INTO a trioe AND re,
naming faithful 10 their pledge Tor thousands OF
years. In our country, with the necessities oil our
climate calling continually for stlmulant. we
caDnot hope TO see either the rigorous abstinence
OF Nazarite or Rechabits becoming general or,
LOT many year to come the almost universal
aDstemiousness OF the Semitic races. total ao-
stnence societies in connection with the various
churches exist all over The country. In Otner To-
calties societies OF woikingmen pledge themselves
never 10 use alcoholic stmulants outside OF their
own homes, and there only at meals. In city Of
tins State a large proportion OF the aborers were
practically impossible TO have them abstain alto.
gether from beer or other strong drinks. during
what is known as EMISSION" II was proposed TO
the entire congregation 10 blnd themselves Dy
some such pledge as the above, with the distinct
understanding that they should strictly avoid
drinking and gambling saloons and never offer nor
accent any strong drink at funerals, weddings,
chrslenlngs and the like. There was no excite
ment. After the plan had been laid before them lull
time was allowed Tor elaboration, and, at the
next meeting the entire adult congrega-
ton bound themselves publicly to abstain in
THIS manner, while large number who knew
their own infirmIty pledged themselves to abstain
altogether. Within a lew days all the low grog-
shops In the district had to close-their business
was gone Moreover, mutual benevolent society,
whose members were all temperance men, sprung
up Immediately, and such was the success OF this
movement that 1t spread to many other localities,
and everywhere met with the appreciation OF all
good men. To some such organization as these we
have recourse IN The end. All the efforts OF the
friends of temperance must aim at effecting a like
mixed REFORM The cooperation OF the women. the
advocacy OF the pulpit. the press and the Lecture
one word the men have to be induced thus to band
themselves together under the powerful stimulus
Of senterest mutua! example and protection
norlty will be teetotalers, large majority
will become temperate men. Thus our ann
ought to be to take existing organizations as
model, to improve them, Increase and multiply
them. Now, as TO the means Oar population
being one much Influenced by religion, the minis.
this movement, both by word and by example, II
any real widespread or permanent good Is to come
OF all the present agitation and enthusiasm.
There is no use in expecting cergymen OF widely
differing sects to meet together to devise q COM
mon plan OF action; nor, even should they agree
on some such plan, Is 1t probable that they would
ing II out
the present crusade seems to have originated
with the MethOdsts and 1t s carried out In &C
cordance with their usual system OF REVEALS and
prayer meetings. These methods and practices
are utterly repugnant to other religious denOmina-
tons. Hence such large bodies as the Eplscopalians
and Catholics. must be moved from within IN
order TO act mutaneousy with members OF other
creeds, Indeed, during the last two years Catholic
societies have organized into State and national
temperance unions; and could the great body or
the Catholic clergy be brought to throw the whole
weight OF their influence into the cause, and
bishops and priests combine so as TO act like one
man against lntemperance the result would no
longer be prObemalical. while the good would be
lucalcuable. The teaching OF the Catholic religion
the virtue Of temperance is so definite, and its
principles 30 clear and familiar to all, that the
members Of the Church are not likely to be leo
astray that matter by new doctrines. on the
other hand wherever the Catholic pastor unites
IN favor OF temperance the force OF his example
with the Incompatible influence OF his priestly
character q reform becomes both easy and per-
manent. But, with your PERMISSION, the writer
would reserve TO another letter the details OF what
he conceives to be the most enectual way OF Or
ganiZlng both temperance meetings and temper
ance societies. One thing only he would add here
that every sane man must agree that one cause or
the fearful spread OF intOXlcatlon and OF Its worst
physical and moral consequences lies IN the poison
Gus nature Of the liquors manu- actured aud sod IN
this country. This Is q matter demanding the i'm
mediate attention OF the Legislature. But OF this
and other legal remedies, more hereafter. Mean
while single week OF misery spared to the hearts
and homes desOlated by drunkenness Is o boon
and q blessing. That this crusade has been the
means OF gaddenlng very many such homes and
hearts deserves the respect OF all good men and
Calls forth the sympathy olyour humble servant,