New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-26
GOSPEL TEMPERANCE.
LETTER FROM THURLow WEED.

The PUBLIC OUGHT TO SUSTAIN.
TO the Edssor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The temperance cause is awakening an In
terest commensurate with ITS importance. some OF
our best citizens are giving their thoughts to the
subject. 1t is fitting therefore, and may be pront-
able to glance briefly at the methods adopted IN the
mast by earnest and philanthrOplc citizens to mti
gate the iniseries of intemperance. have been an
attentive observer of these methods for more than
half a century, and as a journalist have been al
WAYS and earnestly endeavoring to pro-
mote the cause of temperance. But L
was unable to concur with those who
sought to effect their object by means
which 1 regarded impracticable and impossible.
The abortive efforts of able, influential and good
men and women TO eradicate intemperance by pro-
hibtory laws will it Is hoped, induce That class
to adopt wiser and better methods. The late DIT.
T.. G. Delevau, of Albany, the well-remembered
champion of temperance, who for several years
was at the head of the Maine Law movements. ran
the whole thing into the ground Growing more
and more ultra, Mr. Delevau's career eliminated
dsastrously in an attempt to drive wine from the
communion table. The time, talent and money lost
i'm efforts to obtain the passage of prohbitory laws
wisely used would have done very much to lessen
the evils of intemperance. But for the halluclna-
ton that Mr.. Greeley labored under in this respect,
The TRIBUNE would have been a far more poten-
can be accomplished for temperance by prohlbl-
tory legislation, much is attainable by other
methods There is a wide field for usefulness
opened if wise and good men will unite their infiu-
ence in favor of practical measures.
Intemperance, while it reaches all classes, is most
fatal and most pervading with the poor. upon whom
the curse rests most heavily. The shortest aud
surest remedy and relief for this most numerous
class of victims is to place the cause beyond their
reach, That cause exists in cheap liquors. Inc
lawshould provide for the appointment of competent
inspectors, whose duty it should be to ascertain
by chemical tests that all liquor offered for sale
should be pure and unadulterated Alcoholic
liquors should be heavily taxed. That would inn
mensely diminish the quantities sold and so largely
enhance the price of alcoholic liquors as to render
them inaccessible to the poor. 1t is only by mix
lures and authorizations that intoxicating drinks
are made cheap enough to ruin and destroy nun
dreds of thousands. These mixtures and adultera-
tons not only intoXicate but poison their victims
The evidence that those who habtuay indulge IN
the use of cheap liquor nhale less of deadly
poison has been clearly ascertaned by chemical
analysis The sale of poisoned liquor may also, for
sanitary reasons be prohibited. Let this reform be
accomplished let us obtain the passage of a law
which will prohibit by stringent penalties the sale OF
adulterated lquors-the gin-sbOps and groggeres
will rapidly disappear Nor, if all the friends OF
temperance will unite in effort to regulate the
distaton and sale of alcoholic liquors, VIII 1t be
long before much the largest and much the most
helpless class of victims will be emanclpated from
the blight of intemperaneei
My best hopes for the cause of temperance were
inspired by its greatest and best of apostles Father
Mathew. visited Ireland i'll 1913. In approach
ing Cork, while sitting upon the outside OF stage
coach, we passed large numbers of quiet. we'll |
DIRE ssed peasant men and women. The driver in
formed me that they returning from funeral, |
adding that, decent and sober as l now |
saw them, few years earlier he would |
have been compelled to stop bis coach |
until dozens of poor creatures, in state of helpless
intoxicaton, were assisted to the sidewalk. They |
were now, thanks to Father Mathew, sober and |
decent people, This made me impatient to see the |
apostle who was working out such temperance |
miracles. Immediately after my arrival in Cork, |
accompanied by Bishop Hughes, Bishop Purcell |
and Father De Smet proceeded to the church, |
where Father Mathew, after delivering familiar, |
affectonate and earnest Christian appeal to those
who in the presence of their Creator, about to
enter upon a new life, in the kindest possible man
ner accepted the pledge of several hundred knee-
ing men and women, VINO, rising from their knees
received the total abstinence medal, aud left
the church with beamiDg cOuntenances, Father
Mathew regarded religion as the only sure anchor
for temperance He had no confidence in the
ability of those who took the pledge to keep 1t
without Divine assistance. Under his auspices the
temperance wave, waiting rlch blessings to
cottages and cabins, already fertillzing the
Emerald Isle
Father Mathew informed me that he about
TO make his first visit to England. Upon his ar
rival in London renewed my acquaintance with
him. Instead of accepting invitations to become
the guest of distinguished people, he sought ont
Mr. Hart, plain man, who had abandoned the
liquor traffic and was keeping clearinghouse In
Aldersgate-st., near the Post Office. In England,
as in Ireland, the good Father rescued thousands
from the misercs of lntemperance. attended his
meetings and visited him at his clearinghouse,
where he gratifed me with assurance that he
would visit America. He came in 1S49, receiving,
as he deserved cordial welcome from all classes
of citizens. He brought healing upon his
wings. and by his devoted efforts scat
tered blessings far and wide amidst the
wives and children of reclaimed inebriates.
Though long since called TO his reward by the Mas
ter whom he served so faithfully, his name is still
household word among u.s. and his memory Is cher
ished by tens of thousands who are indebted to him
for prosperity and happiness Nor are his teachings
lost upon the present generation. Father Mathew
Temperance Societies yet continuing his work
in the most of our large cities.
After a lapse of many years, during which,
through instructed efforts, the temperance cause
made little progress new elements, impulses
and new agencies are at work. The Gospel
mode Of converting drunkards into Christians, so
eifectually inaugurated by Moody and Sankey, has
inspired good men to follow their example.
Indeed, it is due to Jerry McAuley
and his devoted wife to say that their
mission, converting rowdies, gamblers thieves
and druukards into Christians preceded the advent
of Moody and Sankcy. The canse of temperance is