The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-27
TEMPERANCE.
THE TEMPERANCE SENTIMENT
IN CANADA.


IN CANADA.
what the LOcaI-Opton Law Has Accom-
plishcd-The Continued Growth of the
Temperance Sentiment, and the Causes
Contributing Thereto - The Imperious
Demands of the Liquor Interest.
Some six years ago, st the instance OF
a petition bearing half a million sigma
lures, the General Government passeS
a Local-Option Liquor law, known
commonly as the Scott act, and sim
liar in its makeup to the Local-Option
law enacted by several of your State
Legislatures.
Almost Immediately on its passage,
the provinces down by the sea began tS
avail themselves Of its provisions. They
continued to do so with varying sue
cess till 1882, when the whole province
Of Prince Edward Island, tu Give cOun-
ties in Nova Scotia, nine counties and
one city in New Brunswick had adopt
I'd the measure, and were working siren
uously to enforce its saiutary provis-
ions. The central and more populouS
provinces of Quebec and Ontario had
meanwhile done little toward bringing
the law to a vote of the people. But
within the past year a Temperance cam
paign has been entered on in these
provinces, which has seldom if ever
been equaled in the earnestness with
which it is conducted and tue success
thus far atfet4ass5s the he 4ii.-zzs7e-FsstIce
lorers.
During the past nine months not less
certainly than five thousand men, and
at least half as many women, have been
engaged in over fifty counties. circu-
lat ny petitions, distributing literature,
addressing electors at central points
and canvassing the people III their
homes. SO far, during the past half
year, ten counties in Ontario and two in
Quebec have declared for the act, willis
in forty others preparations are going
on for IFS submission at an early date.
Altogether, since 1873, there have
been fifty-fow contests, the act has
been successful in forty-fvC, and the
total majority for it is now nearly
twenty-sevcn thousand.
The full significance of this movement,
however, can only be seen in the light
of a resolution passed by the Dominion
Government at its last session, by vote
OF one hundred and twenty-five to forty,
pledging itself to prohibit the importa-
lon' manufacture ana sale OF lntoXl-
eating liquors as beverages so soon as 1t
;an be shown that the majority OF She
electors favor such measure; and 1t Is
confidently expected that within five
years the Sub-tance OF the resolRtlou
II
VII nave become constitutional law Tor
The dominion.
Several causes have combined to Sc
cure TINS favorable result.
The deiiyerances OF science. while not
taught IN our public schools, have been
read IN magazines and newspapers, 80
that the majority OF the electorate knows
that science speaks against the use Of
alcoholic liquors as beverages.
Besides this there have been IN exist
ence Tor many years temperance OF
ganizatlonsy which, while they eXerted
little influence directly in the political
arena, eXerted q strong influence on
thousands within their own boundaries,
and have all along been powerful edu-
Gators on the question of the removal of
strong drink.
ih0i 'AiN St.'i''N'is'iA NHN' S'i'''' ''iihoo'
without exception, have taken the mat
ter up, and Tor years have thrown the
weight OF their combined influence on
the side OF Temperance; 80 that fron
thousands OF pulplts have gone forth
burning words about the evils OF the rum
traffic, and a generation thus educated
stand now with ballots in their hands,
ready to cast them against the great
curse.
Further, the liquor interest has
grown Iatterly' more imPerlois in It's
tone and clamorouS IN ITS dema1ds. II
assumed the role OF dictator. 1t woH!d
nave It's say IN all legislation affecting
the moral and social lite or the people.
1t nominated our law-makers, ard hoo
often, by It's united influence, elected
them, till whisky ruled in all political
indeed. il was far from w iSe GE0;l in its