New-York tribune., 1879-01-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
ITS RELATION TO THE GENERAL wELfARE-NEAL
DOW REPIIEs TO TIIuRLow WEED.


To the RdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: We Temperance men are all glad that
Mr. Tburow Weed seems disposed to enter the temper
ance field worker, but are unwilling TO let any
thing OF his pass which we think calculated to under-
mine the only possible foundation which the temper
be built 10 sand-that is prohibition 10
tho liquor traffic That policy Is the result of the con-
vctOn tnat the drink trade is in deadly hostility TO
every interest Of the State and people, and therefore
ought to put under the ban OF the lsw like obscene
books and pictures like brOihes and gambling dens,
which latter not thousaudth part 80 mschievous
the former to the peace, good order and purity OF
society
know rs much OF Father Mathew and of his work
as Mr.. Weed have been many times in Ireland and
all over IT. every direction, and know well what the
effect was of Father Mathews teaching. The drinking
habits OF almost the entire nation were changed; |;
millions Irish people took the pledge, with solemn
resolve before God to live and die by II /;
the grOgShOps were shut for want OF custom
distilcries and breweres were closed ana
silent windows broken, doors and shutters of their
hinges and the roofs rotten and fallen IN. How Is 1t
now Breweries, disteres, and grOg-shops more nl-
mcrOus and more fourishing than
Where are the results OF Father Mathews great
work2 Gone where the wOodblne twineth - vanished
into thin smoke. Whyl Because his plan did not con-
template putting temptation out of the way. Father
Mathew did not think OF tna until II too late, and
III
only thought Off," he said, when public opinion was
all on side, TO have obtained law 10 keep cOstd
tue suOps dlserics and breweIIrs whose doors were
shut aud whose fires eXtinguished, the results of
our laOOrs would have been assured" But, as IL was
that really good unsesh aud devoted man lived 10 see
the Irresistible temptations to drink and drunkenness
start once INTO active life aud the flood of nem
peranCe pour upon the iand once more and overflow
1t. And to-day Father Mathews statue stands in
small square In Cork, surrounded by grOg shops on
every hand.
Pray excuse for saying that we old temperance
men perfectly well understand why Nr Weed should
81 warmly tor what Is called the Murphy movement"
Mr. weed mas always been sterny opposed the sup
precision OF the grog,hOps by law, and his movement
has quarrel win liquor Sellers" IL afirms tnat
- men have as much ght To sell TO sell flour"
and declares that there good and nOblehe
men salOou-Kecpers walk Gods green earth" The
old temperance follow Jonn Wesley, who said they
are PRISONERS general >" Lord Chesterfield who said In
House Lords III l727 tey are artists III human
slaughter" old Dr. Bcccher, VINO said: DEFY any
IN to prove that they are NOT murdcrer5;' Canon
FarTaF who recently said In Westminster Abbey, they
degrade and bruufy the people :" Mr. Morrill,. OF Maine,
IN the United States Senate who sad " the liquor traf
gigantic crime OF crimes and whO six months
alter, spoken to about 1t said: Yes. stand by
that."
We old temperance men believe all that, OF the
luuOr traffic, consequently, We have quarrel
with bitter e.d and 70 The deatn A warfare
against intrn that does not include the liquor
trafic absurd go INTO battle with blank cr'-
ridges against bold, powerful, uuScruPnlOus enemy
win shoi'ed guns. NEAL DOW.
Portland Me- Dec. 80, 1873.