New-York tribune., 1874-04-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

IIoSs TO THE REFoRMEsS'
To fbe razor OF The Trtbuhe'
SIR. You have been pleased to surrender
considerable space your influential Journal to c0mn
uicatons relating to tue present temperance ags'ion'
and as the subject is vital one, and 1t ~ only by earn
est discussion that truth and wisdom can be evolved,
ask the favor of being allowed place in your col umns
Ihave little faith that any permanent good can be ao-
compshed by the emotional enthusiasm OF pious wo-
When the gentler in trouble 1t "a as nat
ura for them to pray and seek superna aid as II Is Tor
hunted stag to seek safety from his pursuersbJ pungs
into lake but though the spiritual exataton may DC
beneficial to tho fair Crusaders themselves am skepi
cal rs to any lasting reform being accomplished bY suoh
methods But think indirect good has already boon
efected-namely, it has awakened pnblIc sentiment
which may prepare the way for the Inauguration Oh
wiser and more practical measures to combat what Is
assuredly very serious evil think 1t Is quite wlhh
the legitimate power OF wise legislation to decrease
very materially this terrible evil OF drunken
ness and that, too, without curtailing the rghtful
freedom OF the citizen of free government Sumptuary
laws which would prohibit the proposed indulgence OF
any individual his desire for any meat or drink he
may fancy certainly an unwarrantaole ATTACK on
his personal freedom, which, think, ought to be re-
sisted and il is hard say where legislation OF ths
kind il once begun would cease. Everybodys idea OF
manly vigOr is embodied in the stad church Deacon
OF serious visage sedate bearing and saow complex
ion man who takes "A glass OF wine or ale at dinner
every day may be good citizen and fuhli all MS
public aud private duties Us well aud faithfully as the
total abstaner aud society has no right Whatever 10
prohibit his exercise Of perfectly Legitimate personal
pleasure t may be necessity But when TINS ihduig-
ence reaches the point ntoxcaton society has then
perfect right nerpose its strong arm for tits OF easy
proof that it becomes grevous sufferer by reason OF the
practice and that its ideal OF civilization IS thereby very
seriously menaced. But recognize the vital Importance
OF any legislation on subject being heartily supported
by largely prepondcrating public sentiment Otherwise
the execution the law is pretty certain to be lax or a
best only spasmodical In the following suggestions
have therefore, aimed to hint only at those legislative
reforms which am convinced would receive the earnest
support Of all the better elements OF our citizenship
am aware that all these suggestions have been mooteu
before and that some OF them have already beeh
embodied in legislative acts unfortunately quite IN
operative), but what strikes me as constituting their
peculiar force is that believe, in order for them to
produce any serious effect they must all be brought INTO
play together in my opinion they constitute single
chain the efficiency OF each link depending on the
strength and vitality OF the others.
NV first suggestion would be almost certain OF unver
sal approval can hardly think 1t would meet with
opposition anywhere. certainly not among drinkers
moderate or immoderare for its single aim would be
simply TO get good liquor to drink That alcoholic
beverages sold in the country most vainou5 COM
pounds has been conclusvely proven again and again.
Perhaps nowhere else in the world has this dabolical
evil reached so atrocious pitch The deadly and mad
dening fuseoil turks in almost every dram. Polson5
which, we can truly say, have been subtly dis
tiled from the vapors Of hell, permeate nearly
every decanter; quickly they sap tue reason. mad
den the blood and eventually paralyze and
utterly destroy the entire body. II the liquor
freed from these foreign dab0lisms, without doubt
thcre are nunbsress evils at present existing which
would to plague u.s. aud countless atrocities
which now east dark fringe around our cYiHzluOh
suppression Is surely this IL Is an eV Whch lhdVu
uas are poweress 10 combat but its overthrow Is quite
within the power Of an honest and energetic govern
ment. Let all liquors undergo thorough chemical ex-
ment agents aud very long step IN temperance reform
WI" NJ seco1d suggestion is also one which think would
be strongly supported by public opinion Dtheye We II Is
Of SSTioas reason which shall hereafter
seldom executed. 1t is hlsthe absolute prohibition OF
the ale OF intoxicating drink TO minors. The penalty
for the violation of this law would make the reyoca-
strictly enforced is easy 10 see that profile cause of
intemperance will be eradcated. Those familiar with
the subject know how very large a percentage OF the
mebraIe class contract the habit in lheir BOY yhood
oT ,he monster This prohbitory law would be pretty
certain OF sturdy popular support. The re-
searches Of physiology would unanimously SUSTAIN
it, for whatever difference OF opinion may
exist among scientific as to the value OF alcoholic
drinks after manhood has been reached, there IL only
one as TO their perncious effect during the period of ad
olescence Even the habitual drunkard would sustain
the law any parental instinct is left In him My third
suggestion would also be heartily supported by all the
stable elements OF our society ana II Is one winch
think entails no unwarrantable restriction on any right
prohibition Of the sale stimuants any
one showing by word act look the slightest evidence
OF intoxicaton Society has most certainly e2tlmate
right TO prevent drunkenness for IL suffers grievous
wounds by its practice, us burdens are in
srcises creased te iH% Of sefdefsnsc in trying
limit it. II the drnnkard only injured a. himself by MS
should he allowed full play TO his animal instincts to
"a ro 0 the gutter and herd with the pigs should be
respected but when 1t Is evident that his conduct Is
affect the welfare and happiness Of the community the
community has perfect right to restrain ms passions
make the revocation forever of the culprits license
But can il be enforced "Ay there's the rub!" Most
uredy not under the present free condition OF liquor
selling 1t would be hopeful to endeayor TO
stem the torrent Of Niagara with penny
third suggestion to-day in the city of New York This
conviction brings me to my fourth slggestion, Wnien
number OF the dram-shops so that they could be
thoroughly supervised 6y tue pee ShIu. tSn
could be enforced without sending out OF existence
most assurediy would send to right about into
honester employments that large fraction OF the mer-
of fight over the passage OF such law; doubt the
liquor dealers would bring up their tpsy cohorts IN solid
force OF worthy not 20 mention the women, to carry
IL triumpbantly through ,,,..
NV last question does not refer to legislative act
II SIMPLY appeal to temperance advocates to those
who their fellowman, and who long for nobler
civilization 20 establish temperance clubs, open every
evening aiming to make them the a0odes of nirth good
humor, sCciaoiLy, and pleasant mental Instruction and
recreation which woud noby supply the places OF the
closed grogshops. Tong humanity needs recreation,
and rightly or wrongly will it. Let aim give
IL 10 them rightly, and they will not seek it wrongly
These clubs should be, first, sefsutaning-it IL truth
that men value most what they have to pay for
ond they should, by their numbers aud localities,
cater for variety OF taste ana mental develop
ment; and, third, they should open their doors to
| both sexes-a couple Of virtuous women In room
| will do more preserve order aud Cccehcy than a
dozen policemen, II would take up too much OF
! your valuable space Il should enlarge more on this
| tonic, so / must content myself with saying
that 1 strongly convinced II intemper-