The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-12
MODERATION IN DRINKING.
"SOMETIIING, At LAST, THAT LOOKS
MUCH LIKE BUSINESS"
Business Men Discussing New Temperance
PrinctpIes-PIedges Against Treating, and
Exce.-Peter Cooper's Opinion Expressed.

something that at last looked like business"
1t was the first public meeting OF the society
that will its orginators believe, do more for the
temperance cause than any OF tho numerous
plans that have been tried for the past genera
tion. Chickerine Hall was packed. Business men.
young and old. were therc No secdy drunkards
were to bo sees-a fact that was commented ms
unusual for temperance meeting. Sitting
on the platform, the sparkle OF diamonds
upon the brokers' and merchants linen could
be seen. and the ladies' who were there were
richly dressed. The applause was frequent,
and often vehement The skilfully played or
gan voluntary. and the nicely sung glees did
not bring out the enthusiasm that tho appear
ance OF the venerable DR.. Peter Cooper on tho
platform did and when DIR. Cooper and Thur
low Weed shook hands with great vigor. tho
applause was deafening. In the conspicuous
seats on the platform were DIR. Howard Crosby
with Thurlow Weed on his right and DR.. Petor
Cooper at his left: also. the Rev. Mr. Frothing-
ham. Mr.. +. i. Thurber. and MIR. Henry II.
Hadley. the latter the originator Of the society.
Mr.. Thurber said. In opening, that the meet
ing had been called for the purpose OF announc-
ing and forwarding the objects OF lhe Busi-
ness Mons Society for the announcement OF
Moderation iu the uso Of Intoxicating liquors.
Mr.. Thurber added that extreme abstinence
ews will not be entertained by n large class.
whose instincts and habits enti;le them to the
name OF good citizens. aud 1t was time that the
influence Of this class should be utilized instead
OF negatived in the mitigation Of tho evils OF
| intemperance. At this sentiment DIR. Crosby
vigorously applauded. and the audience also.
When MIR. Thurber said that II was not
| 10 be wondered Rt that human nature jig
I mart refuses to be governed by IN iron rule laid
! down by those who, by inith or education. are
! superior to the frailtes which in larger por-
tion Of mankind are inherent. then Dr; Cooper
| took up his cane and rapped upon the nppr
nodding npprovingly at the same time 10 Thur
| low Weed But the audience responded most
| literally 10 Mr.. Thurbers statement that ono OF
| the objects OF the society was to dis
courage the absurd custom Of p, trent
ing" so common with Americans ne also i,
| cultivating of taste tor lighter aud moro whole
some beverages 80 that work ~ true temper;
ance that NIL good citizens could commend
would be effected. -
Mr.. Hadey, the secretary and founder oi the
society detailed the ggbp9se OF sne Of 73Soy Se a
temen on the platform who relieved the rigor
| Of their dress by buttonhole bouquet. Mr.
parture The old ways had been tried 10y tho
total abstinence army. and he was sorry to say
untriumphanty. The difference between The
! new movement and the old lies in the fact that
| the Business Mems Society are willing TO
take half loaf Il they cant get whole one.
| ing" The time has passed continued Mr.
Hadley. with spirit. the time has passed Tor = =
| thinking audience. expecting 10 be believed.
| and say that those who deal in alcoholic drinks
are murderers and all who drink 1t are on the
| downward road to hell"
Here DR.. Crosby, again led the applause.
| cess and yours against the existence or use of
| alcohol in any form. What We want TO do that
| drunkenness may not increase j. 10 reform the
| customs Of people who drink. that excess may
cease or at least become unpopular You have
tried prohibition. and II has iailed Drunken
danger. and something must be done" After
the encouragement that Mr.. HALEY received
ent ceased he said that the society had prepared
four pledges. and in them had purposelY omit
ted all mention " the Deity SO that should q
sensitive man allow his enemy 20 get the better
Of him he would not become melancholy and
sink back into his former condition. One OF
the pledges requires that a person shall not
drink during business hourst another that he
shall never use any intoxicating liquors as a
meal time only a third requires the slgner
neithcrtO treat " nor 10 Rcrrpt any llquor NJ
anothers expense; and the fourth is total alb
stinence pledge. ~
There are many people said Mr.. Hadley,
holding up yellow card, who Tor reasons oi
their own will drink and can with moderation.
We respect your evenly balanced manhood.
For these the wine and ale pledge IL provided.
But Won know that everybody can't You
wouldn't sell a man drinks. why, then, do you
give him liquorY Stop treatlng.' Here Thur
low Weeds and Peter Coopcrs canes beat tat
toos on the floor in unison. predict that
thousands will seek this antl-treaiing pledge as
rescue from preposterous custom
when Mr. HhOley UulsuFl ne WIS chlru 70 tnt
front and nm exquisite arrangement Of flowers
in the form of star, was given 10 him.
The Rev DIR; Howard Crosby then came for
ward and with his face hraming with pleasure
said that the meeting was the most encour-
aging sign that he had seen for thirty years
When men. said DR.. Crosby. like the ven.
ernble ThurlOw Weed and Peter Cooper. whom
| may call the Cato and Ncstor OF our Common
weath"-here Dr. Cooper and Mr. Weed laughed
! heartily, ana looked at each othcr-' and when
such other men as l see are conncctcd with
this movement, come forward and unite IN the
work on this basis. / tell you II means bust
ness Tho totnl-abstinence people have beer
working on "A false theory. they have made
against drunknrds SO temperance men. whC
have not believed IN nor pra"tsed total alsti'
nence. have been Kept out oi me Temperance
work for years. And now. ana here DR.. Crosby
rubbed his hands to show his great Joy anl
now the moderate. The temperate people are
going into the work themselves and | look io
very great results. As for me-. must confess
that | like the antl-treating pledge the best
| Trentlnr isn't moderation and IL makes thou,
sands and thousands OF drunRards. stop treat
ing and you'll stop influences which lead a large
proportion oi those who drink hubllually lo eN
cess to incur such habits. Your movement .,
one that viii make the liquor seller regard you
AZ his greatest enemy
| Mr. Elwood l.. ThOrne. who mad been con
cealed from the audience 10y the upliued lld OF
the piano, here came forward and attempted I,
read three letters, hut he had read only n few
limos in the first. when h. suddenly stoppel unC
adjusted his glasses, Then me- hed the letter
closer to the light, and, ut last IN despair, an
nOunced To the audience that the letter was moi
in his handwriting. but in that Of adi,tln.
guished man Thcreupon the audience. already
In the best OF spirits. laughed aud encouraged
MIR. lhornc to 20 on. This led To the llardh
ever catch word from Pluaiore' and ther
there was merrimcnt, Mr. Thorne M last mas
tered the chlrOgrapny. The letters wore from
Mr.. Clinton B FISK. Mr., Victor Mauger and
the Rev. Or. Potter. and were all encouraging
in tone for the new movement
The Rev. O. b. Frothnghum said that the
movement met with his corll0l assent and Ap
prova. He WAS not "a total ahsHinrr but he hr
lieyed that II was better for al men t. abstain
He especially liked the antl-treutiug pleigr he
cause drunkenness was, IN it's lu'plrnt stage
a social vice. and II took more rourug" for
business man 10 say. Will never treat nor
be treated, than II did for man To- take The
total abstinence pledge NJ. Frothiughnn
believed IN law. too. for hr said that many peo
pie had great Respect for that which il or
duined. You know that we have all heard,
he said. drawing himself up very erect. an,
looking very solemn. TINT It Is one OF the hap
piest characteristics Of this happy country tha
i official utterHncrs ara regarded as unanswer
able" Iherrupon everybody laughed except
ing DR.. Peter Cooper.
| The venerable gentleman was himself callef
in ma 80 soon ~ the storm of applause witt
which he WAS received subsidized, he said that hl
wished 10 prad for the hahluHl drunkard. ll
, then related the circumstances of a cnuyrrsa
ton which he had with the late Dr. Gurdne
| Spring, on board the ship which was prospect
ing of Newfoundland ior the proper plar
to lay the ocean cahlc. " told DIR, SprIug.' sale