New-York tribune., 1874-05-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

UNION IN TEMPERANCE SENTIMENT.
HARMONY OF PLANS NEEDED AMONG TEMPERANCE
ADvocATHs-DANGRRs or MODERATE DREKlSq
THE local OPTION SCHEME.
Tosthe Edftor OF the TribUne.
SIR: Although there has been Of late very
much said and written upon the subject OF Temperance
and the need OF further legislation restricting the OF
intoxicating liquors and tho use thereof, II Is only too
apparent tnat very nharmonious, and 10 extent
conflicting set OF opinions presented. The womans
crusade" II such It be tly termed, has wrought tho
desirable effect Of producing earnest examination
into the question OF what practical means requisite
TO reach the evils OF nemperance 1t Is hardly needed
at this day for us TO stop and inquire whether n
Temperance really upon the increase or otherwise FOR
the drift OF feeling the present day that strong
drink costs us too much for 10 tolerate 1t but
little time longer. In point OF fact. we have
scarcely need to ask one another II the further
restrction or the full aud entire prevention
OF the sale OF Intoxicating liquors IS POLITICALLY
right or whether it may not be too much OF an inrDgo-
ment upon personal liberty individual privilege THIS
question will ever itself in the sentiment OF the
main body Of the people Fifteen years ago. the SUBJECT
Of Slavery was a matter regarded by the majority OF our
people q. an evil to tolerated only until the day aud
hour should come when tho voice OF an outraged puDhc
sentiment would rise up and deliver Tue Dond'men
throughout the land; and may II to-day IN truth be
said concerning strong drink, that as people we VIII
when public sentiment shall be 20 completely outraged
by the burden Of the evils attendant upon H. that tho
producing cause must cease. The law OF our land
is the truly expressed, intelligent puOHc sentiment VI
the people and Just the proportion OF intelligence tnus
posses 5ed lies the stability Of any and all egsa'Fe
enactments. We passing through the stage Of
testing our political and normal views upon the subject
and preliminary rlllyng OF opposing forces s taking
place through which men forced to define then re-
speetiye positions To the organizing mind Of the pub
he press this stage action must clearly DO one OF real
when much labor would be lost. T1s work Is by no
means ins gnihcant but the side OF right WI os tns
easier and also the victor IN the closing oI tlc hE4I
The moderate drinker may Wisely tako diarm 0I '-a
general issue lies IN the right OF tDe peope 20 a
indicted nuisance, or TO give the unlsrol tl ~, ~ a.
OF our cities and larger towns. Tie argument titt
the abuse. rather tnan the use that shod % uea'
has long been the favored view Oh many snu % Ia Ia
number stood for score OF years 4I - NY
and an enlarged experience nave recently geo1me
firmly convinced there - hOt, hOI 'soI N1l O'' ttAt
rb udu ence strong drink OF any aud all Nuds, and
In its varied degrees Of moderation aud Intensity pre-
sents itself before Us with no percepube point Whe
legal enactments can practically discriminate Mhue
one drink forty glasses OF Oeel Ol qlatto "ns
or whisky within day, ana not seem overcome or dho!
ing 10 Others and another cannot 20 beyond tenth
part thereof without showing IT. and "lc We uAh tAe
! former called moderate drlhhet ahd Ile idLtt
! allied a drunken man. ana while We hnd men occupy
ing every conceivable ground Det"eou tHy'I ~ isVVn{
too plain that 10 dividing line can Oe es'N9'led WSu
were in anv practical that tue same c0lI 10
| dccenty executed,
|
sirabe must be 10 IFS saiei ana upon thB
point the experience OF the last 200 viii serve rs
Inc legal right to interfere even 10 the entire abolition
OF the traffic. II necessary; yet their laXty OF execution
together with the dlcully ot obtaining proof IRON un-
willing witnesses, and the prOneness OF tie officers hv-
Ing charge OF the matter 70 lean shamciuy toward the
Itimay be- laid all our crminaI laws are only plrty
effective, for well known; nevertheless u onr
then no need for complaint. II II be, as claimed 0Y
some that the of total abstinence men are gute
| know Of one way determine the truth, want OF
truth OF this, ana that Is by very general expression oi
| the public sentiment OF today Ii We mistake nOt
nj tne present dav Tor ridance from tire canse OF 20
much corruption, SORROW, aud woe, and bhghting oi
human comfort as marks the pathway OF stI0ns Irnk
surely include him. let my language be 50 amend that
It plainly said, most respectfully do 90. ID not
Of the day but II they labor toward that wise
an end That is prudent. and seek TO secure from
Of Ills that now beset our daily ne do We not Owe
them OF gratitude TO- such Labor II man
give OF his gold do We not straghtway commend his
acuoni H. then one mas NOT sold aud eve OF us laDyr,
give Of both, having thus TO give is nc not equally
worthy OF our esteem The great body OF the temper
ance men OF to-day arc LtDoEh6 WITHOUT hlte IN inc
of human welfare, and giving Of their means
with fair iberaIty toward the same end lie, thereiore
| who condemns them should heed the danger he faLs
toward OF lending aid and giving comfort to the op-
| strong drinks. If the question be asked what
! there is practicable at tue present date, l
pfepared fSr II the peope are nnprdpard for aGy
certain Of legislative action, let them suffer s
|
are willing to stand side by side and battle mauIuy.
Ihave opinion OF what Is most practicable, but
requires, first or all, union or ideas among temperance
workers and the exercise OF real the part or
legislators To stem the tide OF the lquOr,u- III
fuence. without these 1t Is like many gOOdY pau OF
no possible practical account The more radical tcm-
perance worker is content 10 wait for another
generation to do the work his hands have found he
thinks, and the poor weak legislator trembcs lis
shoes the liquor influence shall defeat his schemes u
| seradyancement. The plan which seems To mind
as the best among oil those offered Is the We
call Local Option aud in England called the Local
! Permissive measure. By this measure the real
| brought into operation, aud where that sentl-
/ ment shall be outraged, tho Wrong-dOer be
| taken in hand by the people and dealt WITH under
fair prospect Of obtaining just redress BY this meas
the district that ayors continuation OF the present
custom and usage may enjoy the uuresrlcej for
time at least, and until Its people SHAH learn through
others experiments the great gam Of the desired
form. The spirit OF the OF tOeratl0n hut the
traffic in liquors OF an intoxicating character can ask
but little nueed at our hands for 10 does not commend
| itself to impartial Judgment. IL We aQudse ths
dealer according to the evidence before Of work
of his hands, wherein has he right 70 be aggrcycdf
Men and women all the land asking fora speedy
trial. and II the ranicer be found guilty. just udg,
| ment must be promptly passed upon nim l ask AL
friendly the OF temperance 10 make EFFORT fora
union OF sentiment for harmony OF plans, anu 10 act
| neither hastily rashly, but wisely and hrmy ana
unitedy. ask for a gradual forward movement with
no looking backward. L ask Tor cooperation nom an
who desire the welfare OF our common humanity. Dol
| ask too much ABB
| ITrngt0a y. T., May !, 1874.
SPECIE PAYMENTS IN TWELVE MONTHS
| ~ .DvocATE OF 3GJs THINKS THAT A GOLD STAND