The New York herald., 1878-03-04
THE TEMPERANCE WAR.

MRS. PECK At THE COOPER UNION REPLIES
TO W. W. Asron-cHEAP WINES AND yRxx
LAGER CONDEMNED.
The temperance waters which surround the Amer
lean Temperance Union Cooper Institute were un-
usually agitased yesterday afternoon In consequence
Of the announcement that Of tue most gifted and
eloquent Of the temperance galaxy Of orators would
reply TO the assertions msde by Mr.. W. W. Asior In
his late speech In the Legislature in regard to tho
operations Of the Excise law In this city. There were
other attractions and speakers .lt
Mrs. susannah Evans Peck. the orator Of the
occcasion that read In the daily papers
Of the 2oth Of February what purported 10 DO the
maics~ speech Of Mr. W. w. Astor, who represented
tho E..venth Assembly district, IN this city. IN the
Legislature on tho subject Of tho Excise law. II had
been commended by the press and she hsrso felt an
interest IN u account OF tho questions It dis
cussed and also from the TACT that . million:
na,re Legislator. "a gentleman Of high social
public life by making his maiden speech
IN favor OF The liquor traffic. She beIeved that that
corrected and in tue cause Of right truth aud Justice
she would endsavor 10 do 20. What, sne asked, ara
our lawmakers sent 70 Albany forY She believe tney
sent there 10 mako laws that would elect tho
greatest good Tor the greatest number Does Mr.
Astor expect effect this object by taking the course
nc has? There should be tavor shown 10 any class
OF men in esislatinx or tho good OF the people. Yet
Mr. Asor has shown q decided preference on behalf
Ihc speaker road extract from Mr. Astor's speech
touching the point aud said that while hc desired the
repeal or modlcAton Of the Excise law on account o.
effected much good 10 tho cause Of temperance espe-
cIally by closing the dram shops on Sundaya she
IN iavor OF sustaining that law until they could
get botter one, one having moro scope anu power.
Judge Davis decision had troubled Mr.. Astors con-
stuents.
THE LIcExss LAW
Mr. Ast0r believes the Lice0se law 10 be legitimate
one. but Blackstone was quoted 20 show that laws
ri hQ Q00 gd a n
sue asked whether the Liquor law did not hurt any,
body. aud proved whero the law was the parent OF
crime, insanity pauperism and doath. Coplous sta
listics were presented to sustain the position The
city received only $500 900 from licenses, and tho
aunum ior police almshousos, three
iourihs OF which expense arose from drunkenness.
Mr.. Astor had SAID that the Maine rrohbtve law WIS
inappicabe 10 tho city OF Now York; but tho speaker
believed that II voc could DO taken by uninnuenced
partisan corruption aud political trickcry Mr. Astor
aud hts friends would be astonishod ~ the result Mr.
Aslor, shs affirmed, had shown wonderful lack Of
hc asserted that u tho outcome OF ''ignoranco
and fanatcism combined" Surely law that has
p. .nS me vnoss ss had eoDSd
benefit in other parts OF The country, must
havc something more than ignorance and fanstt-
cism" to sustain II Instances TO this effect wore
freely given. ln every case whore II had been on
forced the extirpation OF tho drum shops followed,
crime had been suppressed jas were 10 let tho poor
houses were empty and tie cost OF supporting a
police merely nominal Snc argued that "ignor-
ance and iala.icsm" could effect SO much good, our
taxpayers could afford tU pray Tor o little more OF
them 10 our Legislature. Continued applause)
LIGHT DRINKS CONSIDERED.
Mr.. Astor's opinions In regard 10 tue salo OF lager
beer and light wines having the effect Of reducing the
sale OF strong drink, and consequently drunkenness,
were next examined. Mrs. Peck arrAigned him Tor i
want OF knowledge on these SUBJECTS, and showed
whero the trec beer laws ot England and the sup
presson OF tho glu shops had been productive OF an
enormous increase OF drunkennesA Shc also quoted
authorities showing where there was more drunken.
In Paris aud In the other wine drinking
cities Of continental Europe than even among
Americans, cxtsnslvc as u was hore. Tho Beer
bill Of England was declared by the London Globe TO
have produced evil than any other act ot Para-
mont passed. for many years. This being the TACT,
argued Mrs. Peck. Il ts hardly possible that cheap
drinks and iroe beer advocated by Mr.. Asor win
prove blessing u New York. Sho said It was not
these that would prove blessing to our city, but in
such wholesome legislation as snail prohibit the sale
OF an alike. (Applausc.) Mr.. Astor acknowledges
tho liquor selling business to be evil and perilous
II SO u was tho duty OF the government 10 re-
strict aud not give II wider range. 1ne speaker
concluded with stirring appeal TO agtato the pro-
hibiLion until shall crown their efforts.