New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-05
4 NEW TtyPrR1NCE MOFEMENT

The tenperance reform always has been, perhaps
ALWAYS will be- a reform of experiments. Thelc
will be fresh departures and new plans. and eh"rts.
wise or UNIV Sc to hasten the lime when everS body
will be totally absuucnt-a time whlch pro,"nN
will not come Tomorrow or next week. meeuuS
to consider the subject was hel1 III B'oloh hot
long ago, which attended by many able ana
distinguished men. Governor Long presided Inc
postmaster of Boston. Mr.. TObey was yce-presl-
dent The tone of many of tue speeches may be
inferred from that of the Rev. james Freeman
Clarke who favored temperance salOOns-brgh'er'
warmer pleasanter than the drinking slloons-"lin
pleasant music coffee, lager beer, rooms tor smok-
ing roading-rooms. with entertaining lectures anu
strreoscopIc pictucs." DR.. CiarkeS toierdtioh oI
beer occason.d some dissatisfaction but he said
pleasantly that lie was not particular ABOUT
that, What he most wanted WAS that the prosper
Gus clssses who could not JOIN the total abstinence
society or the prohibition movement should do
something in their own way" The Rev. DR.. Dur
yea. formerly OF BROOKLYN spoke warmly If attacks
upou Dr. II ward Crosby. of NcN-YorN-" one OF the
M lost men God ever made" DR.. Clarke also SAID
Il W., cannot have entire prohibition, Will 1t not be
something if we can have the restrictions OF the
license law fully enforced. as they have been to a
larr, extent IN New-York by the efforts OF Dr.
Or sbyp
The difficulties Of enforcing what is called The
Maine Law" are nowhere found t. be greater than
IN Maine itself From that state come constantly
reports of the way In which the law Is cvaded or
disleearded altogether A hundred difficulties
occur aud some of them are curiuus. The Civ Of
Calf has tried for years TO stop the sale OF ardent
spirits within its limits, and has always failed TO 90
so. Il was argu, d that the end could not be fully
accomplished because just across the river, In 81
stephen d New-Brunswick Town. people had only 20
ms, q bridge 10 get what they desired. Now ST.
stephen has a stiff prohlbltory law OF its own. while
IN Calais liquor is sold quite freely in spite OF the
law The facts may be stated az illustrative OF the
difficulties winch p1ohlbitory laws encounter.
Il has long been evident that there Is strong and
important Temperance feeling, IN the strict sense Of
the word temperance outside the ranks Of the
totally abstinent ana of the prohbtionis's. Hereto
for. the extremists have regarded tins moderate
class with dlsapproval, If not W tn contempt. rat
ing those composing it "a little ter than
the liquor dealer o. the drunkard. They hay" been
denounced ~ much the old Abolitionl~ts used 10
denounce those who, whatever Their view oi
slavery. did not entirely relish the Garrsonan
methods Moderation in drinking was held to be
unsafe and considered example to the weaSer
brethren sinful. The whole docirine OF Prohlbl-
ton IL based upon this theory. which IL IS
reasonably certain will never be universally ac-
ccpted.
II is question whethcrthe temperance cause can
afford to lose the countenancc and support OF men
who do not accept the views OF more Jealous re-
formers. The former, however. though they may
be misunderstood or nlsrcpresented. ought 10, and
probably will. continue their labors after the fash
ION which seems best to them, being directed by
their own consciences and governed by their own
honest lew of the whole matter.