The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-30
Temperance Reading.
THE TEMPERANCE OUTLOOK.

There has not been any period since
the first efforts were made to stay the
tide of intemperance, and to arrest the
enormous evils with which intoxicating
liquors have been flooding society, when
the prospects of the temperance cause
were so full of encouragement as they
are to-day. 1t may be questioned
whether the work of obtaining sigma
lures to the pledge of total abstinenceis
making so much progress as in some
former years (unless it be among the
young who, after all, are the most hope
full class for this branch of the effort);
but, regarding the subject in its most
comprehensive aspects, there can be no
question that the cause stands upon
higher vantage ground to-day than it
ever did before.
The great object which the most Judi
ciouS friends of temperance have had in
view, as preliminary to success, has
been to secure a correct public senti-
ment in regard to the drinking usages
of society, and more particularly in re-
gard to the measures for removing the
evils which the free indulgence in in
toXicating liquors has brought and must
bring upon the community. There has
never been any doubt in the public
mind in regard to the nature of the vice
by which men brutalize themselves with
drink; but society has been wont to look
upon it as personal matter for which
each one is responsible by himself.
Many. too. have looked upon the evils
of intemperance rs something inevita-
l1n ,,vitl ,,l 10, L., L,.
sion to deal, or they have regarded all
efforts to stem the tide of incompetence
as hopeless.
But a great change has come over
the public mind within the last few
years in regard to these questions, and
with reference to some of them most
notable change has taken place within
the last year or two In England,
where habits are more fixed than in this
country, and where different classes in
society are kept more distinct, mar
velous revolution has been going for
ward. The imperative necessity of do
ing something to save the people from
the ruin which strong drink has been
bringing upon them has made earnest
advocates of temperance of many hold
ing the highest rank. The noble stand
which has been taken by the Earl of
Shaftesbury has brought out strong
supporters of the cause among the no.
bility. The personal example and ad-
vocacy of the Archbishop of Canter-
bury and of several of the Bishops of
the Church of England has given a
great impetus to the cause in England.
The following paragraph, from for
eign paper Just received, shows the
position of not a few in the highest
walks of life in Great Britain:
Last week ut Kitcreggan, in Argyleshire,
the Duke of Argyll let it be known that he
was a staunch supporter of the temperance
cause, and a practical observer of Local Con-
troll. He said he had leased land to many
gentlemen who had built splendid mansions
on the understanding that no whiSky-shOps
We're to be allowed in their ncghborhOOd. He
| could get any amount for land for public
| houses, but he would not tolerate them; he
| would keep faith with those who had become
| his tenants on the condition that the whisky
| shop was not to be introduced"
The most significant and the most
| important evidence of the progress OF
the cause in this country is to be found
in the growing sentiment in favor of
constitutional and legal measures for
| shutting the flood-gates of crime and
poverty and all forms of wretchedness
that flow from the sale of Intoxicating
| liquors. The time was, and not long
| ago, when such measures were GEN
orally regarded as an unjust restriction
of mans right to sell or to drink what
he chose; when it was difficult in almost
every part of the country to secure the
enactment of laws that would interfere
| II, with hA 6
making and killing off drunkards. The
liquor interest has been 50 strong
as to overawe legislation or to
purchase legislators enough to de-
feat the passage of any law
that would afford protection to society
and that would help to save men from
becoming drunkards. And even when
such laws were enacted, the same in
terest has been powerful enough to pre-
vent their enforcement, especially in our
| large cities. No mans memory runs
back to a time when in the city of New
York even Il License law has been put
in force for any length of time.
But the apathy that has 50 long pre-
vailed in regard to the curse of strong
drink, and the innumerabe curses that
flow from it, has been broken. The pub
lie mind has at length been reused to
consider the eXpediency of drying up
the streams of evil by cutting off the
source. The progress of public senti-
ment in favor of putting stop to the
traffic in Intoxicating liquors, as q just
measure of defense against the enor-
nous burdens which it imposes upon
the entire community, as well as the
enormous evils which it brings upon
the families of the drinkers, has been
very rapid. The example of Maine,
which has steadily maintained noble
stand in favor of Prohibition, an ex-
ample which, Notwithstanding all that
is said to the contrary, has been success
full, is telling upon the country at large.
The whole of the United States are
more or less agitated with the subject
of Prohibition. Kansas has settled the
question on the same side. The people
of Iowa, friends and foes of the traffic,
were startled few weeks ago by the
rousing majority with which Prohibi-
ton was grated upon the Constitution
of the State. 1t has been predicted by
the advocates of free rum that the re-
suit would be a heavy blow to the pros
perity of this thriving Western State,
that it would turn aside to other
States tho tiJo nf conformation Tho Col