Smyrna times., 1877-07-18

THE Evcry Evcning and Commercial thinks
the TINES too severe in its criticisms on 6.
w. Wells, the temperance reformer of Will
mington. 1t admits that he has been in
discreet at times, but ins ists that he is more
sinned against than SHINING. 1t further
says that his method of reforming drunk
ards is the most practical and the most
fruitful of results of any devised in that
city, while he has shown more tact and
energy in the work than almost any man
now prominent in the movement. He
nursed it into life, when the goody-goody
sort of people stood aloof and smiled at its
punyness but after it became the vigorous
thing he made it, then the rest of the re-
formers were glad to steal his thunder and
ride in upon the store of glory.
Maybe this is the correct version; our
cotemporary is right there on the spot and
ought to know. Still we find those who
take the other view Of the question, and
at this distance from the scene it is not SO
easy to reach a correct conclusion. But
it is not our intention to accuse Mr.. Well:
falsely.
AS to the dancing picnic, that, truly
enough, was a mere incident. All there
was in that, as we understand it, was tina
by placing dancing upon the programme
it compromised some of the committee ap
pointed to get up said programme. Som'
of said committee were ministers of demon
nations that oppose dancing, and to hav
placed their names on the programm
would have made them appear to sanction
that which, in fidelity to their Churc
creed, they had no right to do. Whethe
or not dancing was right was not the quei
ton they did not want to be forced int
an endorsement. Some of them may haV
"taken ON over this affair a good des
more than was consistent with good con
mon sense, but Mr.. Wells's party, becaus
they honestly believe dancing is righ
had no right to force it into the picnic fe
tivities to the disregard of conscience an
the good of the cause. Such is our unde
standing of this point.
What is charged upon Mr.. w. is undl
authority in the meetings. For instanc
when they outgrew the capacity of Il
city hall and were taken to the tent, az
when they swelled beyond the tent al
some Of the party went back to the hi
again to organized a new force, Mr.. We
is accused of denouncing the new force
workers bccau- 'le2 f,ilcd to apply to
tent Org1n;lt authority to no
temperance meetings. We know nothi
whatever of the premises that infuenc
Mr.. w. on this occasion, but we rememt
that he did antagonize some of the me
ings. He may have had issues forced up
him that tended to smooth over his ezra
course we know nothing on this point.
But now the whole movement there
pears to be resolving itself into the Chi
tian Temperance Alliance, a new organi
ton. Let Mr.. Wells show his unquesti,
ed zeal in the cause now as when he was
the lead, and like such men as Revs. DuV
Cook; Pegg, Latrobe, Nixon, Stevens
and Others, be as ready to follow as
halSnbleist, and advocate the reform al
from tent or tabernacle, hall or highw
Then he will show his friends how he
been accused falsely. If his plan of re
nation is the best there are plenty of n
who, loving the cause for its own sake,
be fully competent to see it, and will
more for him than all that can be aga
him. We admire his untiring energy;
us have cause to honor his disinteres
ness and discretion.
Niagara Falls is represented as ain
deserted this season. and the landlord