The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-02-24
The Temperance Revival.

The temperance revival i'll ElSlnltt
and the United States nearly equals the
dimensions Of the religious revival to
which public attention hnS for more than
| two years been drawn. It has taken in
ireland the shaps Of Sunday closing
movement. In this all classcs-Cathn-
lies and PrutcstGnts, Churcllmcn and
Dissenters-havc joined. Parliament
still hesitates to pass the necessary law,
but the petitioners for q Sunday closing
act perseverc. In England, Cardinal
Manning has given himself up to tenn
pcrlncc work with an artlor not unlike
That of Father Matthew. Several Of the
English bishops fully equal him in zeal.
A Church of England Temperance So
ciety Inns been formed, which aims to
check the excessive consumption OF
spirits by the common people. Bishop
Magee has sided with the opponents Of
reprcssiye Legislation but his declara-
ton tllAt he would rather see England
drunk tIlan enslavcd lns not been re-
ccived with favor. Public opinion sets
in favor of RESTRAINT upon the trade in
liquor. The question "wliat to do"
engages Bone OF the best minds OF the
nation. Mr.. Lowe lias written upon it
III the FortaiJhtly Rcric'r Mr.. Bright
has made speech on the "Gothenburg"
plan, and the queen has become tho
patron Of the Church Of England Tenn
perance Society. There is n growing
conviction i'll England that something
should be done, and the English people,
in their slow, persistent way, are setting
aboutit. ....s.,
The statistics of English drinking, il
reports can be depended upon, arc fear
| full. In 1860, with population in Eng
land and Wales of 19, 800, 600, the mum
Der OF committals for drunkenness was
IS, 1851 J; in 1876, with n, population Of "a
900, 900, tho committaIs were 203, $50!
AT this rate Of incr asc there is no tell
ing where the evils Of excessive drinking
are going to end. ,Thcir bearing upon
the industrial and commercials as well as
the social and moral interests Of the na-
ton is very clear Among the. plans OF
relief is that described above as the
"Gothenburg,, 20 ealisl from tile city
of that name i'll Sweden. It proposes
tint the selling Of liquors shall be taken
out OF the. hands OF Individuals and be
assumed blythe local authorities. The
advantage claimed are that each muni-
c:pality adopting it can at once r. duco
the number of liquor shopP, preyent the
salo of adulterated liquors, and in MANY
ways keep the trate under restraint. Mr..
Chamberlain, d member OF Parliament,
is the chief advocate Of this scheme. The
town council of Birmingham recently
voted in ills favor.
In our own country the temperance re-
vival las las been more re confined to hard
drinkers. They have taken up temper
ance rs question Of seIf-refornation.
Mr.. Moody has also i'll hislneetings given
prominence to this subject with the very
best results. Whatever inspires intepl-
sipsrate men with the cbnidcnce that
they can recover, their manhood is an
ttnmixel benefit TO them. ,, Experience
LAS proved that they have, a peculiar
power. to reach each otller. In the past
two years the ttreform clubs f." Of ehsteru
Massachusetts and Maine haveswruught
n great clfiligc in the social habits Of the
workingmeii and fishermen; the same
effects are already visible among tic
lnnbermen Of, Michigan, tho workmGn
and miners of Pittsburgh mud the Ndia-
cent region OF Pennsylvania imd Ohio.
Tic spectacle Of two nations cntlcavoring
'at the same moment to throw of the
burden of great soctal'vice is one which
must arrest the attention Of iboth phil
antllropists,anl statesmen.=NGw ltrk
TiihHNC q -. 49,