The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-05-24
Temperance Topics.
TEMPERANCE IN GEORGIA

The Savannah News says: . The growth of
the temperance sentiment in the West has been
phenomenal. Opposition to the liquor traffic
has long been strong in New England and other
sections of the North. Agitation upon the sub
ject in the West has sought remedies in prohb-
itory or high license laws, and a system of edu-
cation is being applied in the public schools
with the view of acquaintng the young with
the evil effects of liquors upon the human SyS-
TEN. The temperance cause in Georgia has
been quietly conducted. but the results of the
work done are so striking as to attract wide at
tentlon elsewhere. A surprising aature of the
movement Is the fact that where the traffic has
been abolished or curtailed it has been effected
with degree of sp0ntaneity upon the part of
voters not witnessed in other sections.
"Many of the counties where the change has
been effected were noted for the amount of
liquor consumed and the reign Of violence to
which drunkenness gave rise These commu-
mites are now recognized as the most orderly
and progressive in the State The testimony
of citizens of Washington, Scriven. Liberty.
Spalding. Pierce. Wayne, and other counties
proves the wisdom of the change. A gentle
man who has a large store IN town in one of
these countless and who for many years sold
liquor. speaking about The effect in his county,
said that he was drinking man and had made
considerable money i'll selling liquor but he
had advocated and voted for prohibition in his
county. Previous 10 the passage of the law his
store was crowded with men who spent their
money for liquor and would quarrel and fight,
and occasionally a man would be shot. They
would 60 home with nothing for their wives
and children, and were always in debt. Now,
there was radical change Farmers came
and exchanged their produce and bought what
they wanted and went home sober. They We're
raising better crops, We're better clothed, and
were getting out of debt. This merchant who
is one of the shrewdest Of the many who visit
Savannah, added that now it was a pleasure to
do business in his town. Before he was anX-
ious to quit the place on account of the dis
agreeable necessity Of trading with unreason-
able drunkards.
1.-The work has been gradual but the results
are significant Forty-four counties are now
under prohibition or high license laws, and in
many of these the latter are virtually prohbi-
tory"
TEMPERANCE IL DEXTER.
A temperance meeting was held in Dexter
last week and efforts will be made to revive the
Reform Club of that place. The Eastern State
says:
The town of Dexter has some 1000 nhabi-
tants-if the Reform Club goes down, not Il
single temperance society will remain no
Good Templars. no Sons of Temperance, no
Juvenile Tempars. There is fine hall here,
made eXpress y for temperance meetings, own
ed by the town, and supplied with piano, which
is free, and will be for all time to come, for
any purpose connected with temperance; this
hall should be used for such purpose every
Week-there is as much need of it now as there
ever was. We hope to be able in due time to
announce TO the world that the Dexter Reform
Club is in tlourshing and healthy condition,
that its efforts are supplemented by a strong
Ladies' Aid Society; and if we can also tell the
world that Lodge of Good Tempars is at
work here, 50 much the better.
GOOD REPORT FROM BIDDEFoRD.
Some weeks ago the journal predicted that it
hp hlr fn thn I,r,in
the recent large seizures Of liquor show that
our predictions We're we'll founded. Last week
we chronicled the largest seizure, with one eX-
ception, ever made in this city, and this week
it has been followed up by another nearly as
large. Such treatment as this, steadily and
vigorously pursued, very soon will result in
driving every seller in town out of the business.
[Bddeford Journal