New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-20
PROHIBITION AND MORAL sUAslON.
THURLow WEED REPLIES TO NEAL BOWS CRIT.
ICISMS.


TO The Edftor Of The Tribune
SIR Assuming the truth of a paragraph read to
me from New York journal some weeks since, an
nouncing the retirement OF Mr. Neal Dow as a tenn
perance lecturer, referred to what supposed to be
fact. In letter to The TRIBUNE Mr.. Dow not
only cOntradicts this statement, but arms that he
ia still devoted to his Prohibition labors and is
cheered on by tho knowledge that Prohibition has
not only entirely suppressed the liquor traffic in
Maine Lut is making rapid progress many other
States Nor is this all. Mr.. Dow adus in buOyant
spirit that Prohibition laws are Tedeemng Eng
land, w ales, Scotland and Ireland If this glowing
picture is not too highly colored-f Prohibition is
really doing its work so uriumphantly, there is
abundant for general rejoicing. IL Mr. Dow s
statements are to be relied on confess to all the
ignorance in relation to temperance imputed to me
by that gentleman.
Without questioning Mr. DOw's ayerment that
prohibitory Jaws have stopped liquor sci ing In
Maine, will content myself with saying that no
such advantages have been gained by prohibitory
methods in th,s State. | will also venture pIedic-
ton that the constitutional movements IN Kansas
and Iowa will lead to dissensiOns and excitements
which all good citizens will deplore The Legisla-
lures of those States will be called upon for
ments carrying the constitutional mendments into
effect. The real issue between Prohibition and
Moral Suasion" will then be tried.
In my TRIBUNE letter | remarked that if liquor
prohibition was possible the constitutional move
ment was a step in the right direction" but ar
firmly convinced by observation and experience
that communities cannot be made temperate on
compulsion. The laws of kindness and sympathy
are constantly dOihg their work in winning men and
women from ntemperance.
Above all other influences in working out temper
ance refOrmatiOns religion is the most potent. The
frcsh and gratifying impulse now manlfestnR itself
in favor Of temperance in England and Scotland is
attributable to the evangelical labors of Moody,
Sankey, Murphy and sawyer, supplemented by the
Please accept the inclOsed $l5 check a cOntrbu-
ton TO your Fresh Air tund. Among our numerous
charities few if any commend themselves more ten
DERBY than that which HE TRIBUNE 80 war--ly
espouses I. w.
TO TRIBUNE reporter who called on Mr.. Weed
he said further in regard to Neal Dow's letter:
al can't but think that he has drawn largely
upon his Imagination when he says that prohi-
bltion laws have not only been a success in Maine
but are rapidly diminishing the evils Of intemper.
ance in England Wales Scotland and Ireland.
have no snch information. The resolutions of Re
publican State Conventions i'll Maine quoted by Mr..
Dow certainly very strong corroboratlon OF his
assumption that prohibltOry laws have not proved
useless in Name. | was not prepared. however,
for the information now furnished by Mr.. Dow that
prohibition is a settled policy IN New Hampshire,
Vermont, Kansas and Iowa, and that it il rapidly
Ohio, PENNY lvania, Nebraska, Maryland, Delaware
and in mahy other States | shall rejOIce as
heartily as Mr. Dow or any other friend OF temper
ance if his rosy view of Inc question should be
found correct. My ow: opinion is however, that in
most of the States just named Mr.. Dow believes
what he hOpes'
Mr.. Dow's statement that Great Britain Is being
emancipated from the thraldOm Of alcoholic and
malt liquors will occasion general surprise. The
contem OF nous language in which Mr. Dow dis
mi. SEES the suggestion of promoting temperance by
furnishing cheap and heathfnl wine as substitute
for bad whiskoy. is characteristics. The fanaical
advocates Of prohibitory laws would welcome uni
versal drunkenness rather than that temperance
should be achieved by other methods. Mr.. Dow.
while he cannot deny, lacks the candor to admit
that with wine as "a universal beverage among the
peasant an laboring classes France enjoys the dis
tncton of being Industrious frugal prosperous and
femneratcU