The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28
THE TEMPERANCE AGITATION.


lfrOln the SATURDAY ReVleW.J
The temperance agitation is only another variety
OF the emotional epidemic. wild fanatlcal out
break OF this kind Is in itsefa form OF dlsspati
not far removed, either In its moral or physical
consequences. from that which is INDUCED in by
the lrequenters or the whiskey bars. If the raid
on the liquor shops is only part OF o general re-
vival, 1t can be readily explained. and may be eX-
pected IN the end to contribute very considerably
TO the prosperity of these establishments II pub.
lie opinion in the districts in question is really in
favor OF suppressing the liquor traffic, it might be
lett 10 die out from simple starvation, since public
houses would not be kept open If there were no
customers to support them. On the other hand. II
people are determined to have drink, the prohibit
ton OF the sale OF 1t Will soon become mockery.
What chiefly deserves to be noticed about this
agitation is that it is simply form of mob intimi.
reh2s were esneoed personal
maintained, would be suppressed at once by the
authorities. II the people who are now praying
down the rum shops and whiskey bars really be.
lieved In the efficacy of prayer pure and simple
they would be. content to pray comfortably at
home instead OF going out INTO the streets The
mere fact that the prayers have to be delivered in
the presence OF the saloon keeper or in front OF his
door sufficiently, proves that the prayers are
doctrinare spirit which has of late I'M.
warmed the publicans OF England that If they
do not take care, they may come to be handled In
the same way as the whiskey dealers OF Ohio. 1t
IS impossible 10 suppose that the writer distinctly
realized in his own mind all the conditions OF
movement which In point OF TACT, amounts to an
absolute subverslon OF social order. In some parts
OF the United States there is law against the sale
OF intoxicating liquors; In other parts the sale is
Tree and lawful Where the trade Is prohibited 1t
is for the authorities to put 1t down; but that it.
should be possible for a trade which is perfectly
IN the streets "a clearly Violation "f one NJ the
first principles Of government
1t IS perfectly plain that this is really not ses-
vice OF prayer, but noisy physical terrorism and
that 1t ought to be suppressed by the authorities
as violation OF public order. The women have,
they have not a right to pray Just where they
hke-in anybody's house or III front OF his shop
door, blocklng up all access to It, The democratic
and that the Will OF the people must be carried out
offhand, without the tedious constitutional cere-
monies OF passing laws and entrusting the execu-
ton OF them to responsible authorities under strict
regulations, has perhaps made some progress in
this country since 1t mas been taken up by the
the tyranny OF the mob IN this basphemOus and
disgusting form. Agitators have no more right TO
persons than to hold meetings there lor a similar
OBJECT; and 1t Is necessary to remember that
OF uses besides that of crushing one set of shop
keepers.
The Movement Ridiculous or Futile.
From the Nation.1
Praying and singing by ladies In front OF low
tayerns have thus far been spectacle sufficiently
ncient halo OF association and feeling about prayer
and pra Sc to impose respect on the bystanders:
the strain which this conflict is imposing on 1t.
In TACT, we are surprised that either has stood it
largely to the tradition which makes them the
direct address to the Deity by a human soul
OF its Utmost feelings. They will retain the
benefit OF this tradition for q limited period
only. After they have been used for awhile In the
streets as weapon OF mundane warfare against
o sem-criminal Class the popular reverence Tor
them must rapidly die out and the theory which
gives them their sanctity perish In the minds OF
large numbers even OF those who engage In them.
and then OF course the ond Is not far OF. That the
movement has already reached It's limits Is shown
In lib failure In the large cities, where local Opn
ion cannot be concentrated. The very utmost that
can be expected from 1t Is, In our opinion, the in
tenslhcat1on greater or less, OF the feelfng that
bars are disreputaoe resorts and that drinking at
them Is degrading; but the value OF this result
even Will depend on the effort not being pushed
far enough to make 1t ridiculous futile and thus
ms ure reaction.