Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-08-24
Progress of Temperance Thought.

Progress Of Temperance Thought.
The abuse of stimulants ante-dates
history. When man first encountered
the dire effects Of intemperanee is
not known; but its Consequences can
be traced in every age OF his exist
ence. Nothing has attracted more
attention, and nothing has caused
more evaporation than interminable
controversy over the best means of
rescuing innebriates from their de-
plorahle folly.
|. At present, to many this contro-
yersy seems to have assumed new
phases; but that appearance is more
seeming than real. The church has
ever denounced intemperanee Of all
kinds, and governments have ever
sought to reduce the number of drunk
ards by every conceivable method of
justifiable restraint. In this state
heretofore, temperance Aas not been
a political question; but in other sec
tions there have been temperance Or
ganizations holding conventions, form
ulating platforms and making nomina-
tons. Temperance ought never to
have been dragged into politics, still
less ought it to have been made the
basis of party organization and ifpos-
sible it ought to be remitted to the
domain of morals. Drunkenness is
an offense and as much an object OF
punishment as other crime; but it
forms no better basis for party organ
ization than would assault with at
tempt to kill.
From the first, the natural ally Of
the temperance reformer has been
the family. OF all portions of socie-
ty it is most interested in the recov-
cry of its lapsed Or failing members.
The agitator may be actuated by many
motives thatwi not bear exposure
but the concern of parent for child
and child for parent and brothers, of
wives for their husbands is a natural
and holy affection that is worthy of
universal admiration and lies at the
bottom Of ready cooperation with
agitators however venal at heart they
may be. Over all their imperfections
it casts the veil of charity. It enters
enthusiastically into all their plans.
1t stops not to inquire what rights of
others are invaded, so its darling is
saved. The partisan agitator may
strike at the foundations of par
ties, intensity by incendiary harangues
the animcsities Of classes, and even
sap the foundations and defenses
human liberty itself, without Of
fense to the ties of family love. Thus
far too, it has been the family, that
has been most benefited by temper
arnce progress. Through it the bot
tie has been removed from side boards
and closets and out of the reach Of
children and the drunkard banished
to the saloon. But however much
the saloon relieved the family it was
soon discovered that temptations
to drunkenness were increased by the
public exhibition of its devotees. The
saloon too was and is a constant and
continual hinderance to reformation.
1t is also centre of organization for
influencing the selection of candidates
and securing their election. This has
been particularly the case since asso-
cations were formed for their sup
preston. But agitation against them
has. always been spasmodic while they
are ever in blast and generally come
out ahead at least in pocket, let the
other results be what they may. In
some sections however the agitators
have suppressed them and success has
wrought an infliction upon the family
from which it recoiled. 1t, was bad
enough for husband and son to spend
their substance at the bars; but when
they caroused at home with their in
nebriate associates, the condition of
the family became intollerable, and
led to demand for the suppression OF
Ithe manufacture of as we'll as Of traf-
ffic in spirits.
For years in this country these ques-
tions have been agitated and wherever
controversy has prevailed they have
been carried into the domain of poll
tics, because the solution of them in
wolves principles of constitutional con-
struction, that divide the two great
parties of this country. To the gen.
eral government belongs jurisdiction
over foreign and domestic commerce
with power to levy excise on home
productions. These rights involve
oversight of the importation and man.
ufacture of spirituous liquors, both
Of which the general government Ii
icenses and taxes through its tariff
and internal revenue laws, which are
constantly matters of variance be-
tween democrat and republican. As
long as Temperance agitators confined
their demands to the regulation and
suppression of the liquor traffic, there
was no need Of dragging temperance
into national politics. The police Of
every state and municipal corporation
in the country was sufficient for that,
whenever and wherever it was deemed
expedient but impatient and fanatic
al reformers demanded mere power,
and entarad ;nto nOlitica1 cOmbina-