, 1879-03-09
THE ANTI-TREATING SOCIETY.


York, recently announced By the New York
Herald, has many features which commend it
to people who ara not fanatical and who are
not welded to the idea that drinking can be
stopped by compulsory legislation. We
printed some Of the detnils of this organiza-
ton fortnight ago; but, as they may have
been overlooked by some Of our readers, We
refer to them again on this occasion for the
sake of once more putting in plea for the
adoption Of some practical measures that ap-
peal to reason and good sense. The idea of
the new Society had its origin in 1876 at q
meeting Of the Congressional Temperance
Society, shortly after the death Of HENRY
WILSON, which event was ascribed to i'm
moderation at q banquet given hun at DEL
MoS1co's. The idea was at that time dis
cussed, not of advocating total abstinence or
prohibitory measures, but moderation iii in
du1gence, except in cases where men cannot
drink without getting intoxicated. While the
plan does not deny the right Of men to
manufacture and sell intoxicating liquors, or
to drink them, it leads up to total abstinence
by gradual steps, and it reaches all classes
of drinkers. 4 nucleus Of Trustees has
a1rendy been appointed. and, as the Con-
gressional Temperance Society has given its
cordial approval Of the idea and its promise
Of corporation, We may look forward to
some practical results when the Society gets
fairly into working order.
From the very general description Of the
Society which was given by the Herald, it
would appear that it has three ends in view,
and requires three p1edgss,-the red, white,
and blue. The red pledge is intended only
for those who will promise total abstinence
for certain period "a pledge which has
more binding force and is more easily kept
than q lifelong one. The child or
young man who solemuly pledges himself
for lifetime usually does SO in sentimental
moment, or under the excitet,ent and pres
sure Of those about him, without fully re-
alizing what such q pledge implies, or the
impossibility of foreseeing whether the
events Of the future will SO shape themselves
that he can keep it. The white pledge is
worded so that those who take it renounce
drinking during the hours of the day that
are devoted to business. The white pledge
will thus secure saving Of time and money,
rs well as an immense saving Of business
energy, and it is pledge which business
men not only ought to take themselves but
require Of their employees. as they have an
urdoubted right to demand that their clerks
shal! give them the best Of their ability, and
shall not spend time in saloons that belongs
to business. The reform that such
pledge would inaugurate on the Board
Of Trade alone would be Of incal-
culable benefit. The blue pledge covers
very important point, md will be one of the
strongest attacks that have yot been made
upon the evils of intemperance. 1t re-
nounces the practice Of !" treating" Every
one who takes this pledge promises never to
ask any one to drink with him at his own ex-
pense, or to accept M invitation to drink at
the expense Of another. It is safe to say
that there is not one person in q hundred
who would not confne his drinking within
the limits Of decent moderation, if this ab-