New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-09
W1yE as 4 REMLDY F0R IyrruPER4ycE.
LErTER rROM TnuRLow wEED

A
To me razor Of The IribUHe.
SIR: The Temperance question is assuming new as
poets and larger proportions After more than forty
years of earnest anu persistent efforts, prohIbItory
quor laws have signay failed to promote the cause
of Temperance. " Name Laws have been so gen
orally either violated evaded to satisfy calm
thinkers that druukards are not TO be reformed by
PROM bitOry enactments The great champion oil
Prohibition, Neal Dow. worn out by long years OF
ndomitable efforts has announced his intention
to retire. But what the old States ha virtually
given up as hopeless our younger brethren have
espoused with all the enthusiasm which charac-
terzes youthful communities. Legislation having
proved abortiye III Maine Kansas and Iowa resort
to an amendment of its Constitution prohibiting
not Only the sale but the Installation Of Intoxcat-
ing liquors TIN; strikes at the root OF the evil,
and if Prohibition were possible is a blow Ia the
right direction The danger Is that Iowa has en-
tered upon a warfare alth, ugh in the highest de-
gree laudable. which will Aggravate rather than
diminish the horrors OF lntemperance.
With the keenest sense of all the wretchedness
and degradation occasioned by intemperance. l
have been an ANXIOUS observer for half a century
of all the methods ny which 1t was hoped these
evils might he mitigated | have conyersed fire.
quently on the subject with Chancellor Walworth,
the Rev. DR.. Beecher Mr. Deayan. aud many other
distinguished ProhIbtiOnsts and while giving
them credit for phanthropic convictions. | be-
lieved and still believe, that they were wasting
their time ana their talents. All that has ever
been done for Temperance IN our city or State was
accomplished by domestic, moral and religious IN
auences OF these forces re igiOn is the most po-
tent While the refusal OF licenses and other pro-
hibitory methods have aggravated instead OF NIT
lgated the mseries Of incompetence, real reforms
reforms which have restored drunken husbands and
fathers to rejoicing wives and chiidren-have been
going on under the auspices OF Moody and sankey,
Bliss. Murphy Bunting, McAuiey, Sawyer and
Others.
1t has often and very properly been urged
that those VINO oppose reform measures should
offer something better. This now propose to do,
and presumptuOus as my scheme may be regarded,
am prepared not only 10 suggest but to demon
strate that by the concerted action OF the people
and the Government we can become. nation,
"A distinguished for sobriety now are tor in
TEMPERANCE By the acquisition of new territory
we can become as extensively a grape growing
country as France OF Switzerland. Let California,
Kansas and other States with soils adapted to
prape-cnlture, turn tncir Industries II that direc-
ton: and the practical remedy tor intemperance
will soon be reached. When the grape produced
i'm sufficient quantities to furnish cheap wine as a
beverage for all classes II viii be within the scope
and duty of Congress 10 perfect reform that NH
ctnanClpate people rom the nofftfs anu our
nation from the TtpIoach. Of intemperance Con
,rr-,oual laws eiicctually prohibiting tne ahuler-
alton Of whlskey and other alcoholic drinks should
he enacted nder such laws experts should he
ap1oiuted 10 test the putty OF such liquors Other
laws should be passed imposing duties so Onerous
upon imported liquors ~ either to exclude or TO
render them expensive that the rlch only could
purchase them "
II the time labor, money and talent that nave
been since 1880 devoted to well-neant but ut
terly fruitless efforts favor OF prom rlton had
been united IN favor of the measure here briefly
outlined the curse of intemperance would have
been removed from our borders. Light ana
paI,tabe wines would have been substituted for
inebrlating and poisonous alcoholic liquors. ms
reform Is 10 be accomplished by furnishing wine
abundant and cheap. while, by legislation,
win, KEY rum brandy. etc. are made so dear rs u
be ont of the reach Of the aDoring classes. France
and England are divided by narrow channel;
France produces wine as beverage; England
crows hons and brews beer. The French people
are industrious, frugal aud sober in England the
labnrInr classes are imprOvldent inteTuDcrate and
DEGRADED I'nhappilv. our social and domestic
habits and tastes with our ancestors from
England Let US now rise above them ana adopt
measures which will 10 the rising ana futnre
generations the blessings which confer prosperity
snd L9nniness upon the French people. 1. W.
Atr- ! Ork, July Z, looZ