New-York tribune., 1879-04-16
TENPER1NCE AND TOTAL ABSTI-
NENCE.
LETTER FROM THE HON. wM. E. DODGE.

LETTER FROM THE HON. WM. T. DODGE.
VIEWS OF THE PRESIDENT or THE AMERICAN
TEMPERANCE SOCIETY CoNCERNIYG TIE MOVE
MENT FOR MODERATION "-wOULD LIKE IT
To GO FARTHER But WISHES IT GoDsPEED.
70 me Edftor Of The TrtbUHe.
SIR On my return to the citv after some two
months absence, read IN your Saturdays edition
notice of the meeting, held Friday evening at
Chckering Hall, of the " Business Mems Society for
the encouragement of Moderation."
Permit me, az who for q half century has been
identified with the temperance reformation, to ex-
press my satisfaction that gentlemen Of such prom
inence have organized for the purpose of dlscour
aging the habit of public drinking and treating;
for though should 90 strong for their first pledge,
that of total abstinence, yet l am gratited with
any movement looking to the downfall Of the habit
of fashionable or social drinking, and can but hope
that much good may result from the movement.
regret very much that the secretary, Mr. Hadley,
should have thought it necessary to say as he Is
reported to have said, " that after century In
which total abstinence and prohibition had had un-
interrupted possession of the field, drunkenness
was more than ever on the increase
Now if Mr.. Hadley had reference to our city, and
70 the number of drinking places supported princi-
pally by our foreign population would not attempt
TO contradict his statement but beg TO differ en-
trey with him if he refers the result of the tenn
peranee or prohibitory efforts throughout onr cOun-
try He saws, after century" The fact Is 1t Is
only about sixty years since the first systematic
efforts were commenced by thOse noble men. Drs.
Edwards, Beecher, Hewitt and Nott, and many
others and it Is only about half that time since the
idea of prohibition was started.
Rut those of us who can 60 back to the very com
mencement of the temperance reformation know
that IN all parts of the country outside our large
cities there has been most remarkable change III
tbe habit, and customs of the great mass of the
people as the result of the temperance Efforts Then
there was hardly family of any standing that sat
down 10 dine without some kind OF lntoNi-
eating drink on the table. Men were hardly
expected to work on the farm or in
the shop without their regular allowance.
II was kept in every country stOre was used at all
nubIic gatherings; and, in my remembrance, was
nossed among the attendants at funerals. As yOu
sat down at the hotel tables every second man rad
his bottle or glass of some kind OF Intoxicating
drink. Now we know that to a great extent this
is changed. Go where you viii Throughout tho
country sit down to the tables of the great majority
of our families, and you will find no KIND Oh lntoxi-
eating drinks Sit down in our hotels on the great
lines travel and you will not see one person qslng
strong drink where fifty years ago you Wouiu nave
Had il not been for the vast increase Of popula-
tiOn from the Old World during the past half cen
tury the results Of the great temperance move
me1i would have been more apparent. But those
of ms who have watched it feel that Its progress
has been most encouraging. RI.
| have just returned from an absence OF Two
months, in which | have travelled tnroigh ten
states and over 1000 miles. and L have seen
less drinking and fewer drlnkaris than ever
before in tho same tmo and distance. -.
Rut the longer live and the more examine the
subject tine more fully am | convinced that the only
hone for one who has appetite Tor strong drink
=, al /, Nh sup
can ever save him. And knowing this, feel II my
duty to take PauPs position" touch iot' taste nor
handle notD-lest by my example make my weak
brother to offend :,
But, while this new movement is IN the night d.
recton and vet does not 20 the full length, wish
If cod speed, and trust that many OF IT'S nieMerS
Lii taic the nledpe which stands frst-the pledge
of total abstinence. Yours in the good cause
Ner- York. April -. 1879. NM f. DODGE.