The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-02-21
TEMPERANCE.
THE NEW ORGANIZATION.

OniciaI Address of the National League for
the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic.
Impressed with a deep conviction
that an urgent exigency has arisen in
the history of the Temperance cause,
large number of persons in all parts of
the land have expressed the opinion that
a new organization of the Temperance
forces should be effected ON a broad
basis, to conserve and give direction to
this important reform. For this pur-
pose, after extensive consultation, a
meeting was held in Boston, January l,
1885, at which National League (non-
partisan and non-sectarian), for the
suppression of the liquor traffic, was
organized, under whose direction we
now address the public. A great con-
test is upon us. A dire and barbarous
foe seeks to throttle the Republic, and
no weak. doubtful, or one sided meas
ures will suffice. The times call for
combination on u broad basis of unity.
History abounds in instances of the
usurpation and tyranny of oligarchies
which were overthrown only by the up
rising of the people. A formidable in
stitution, Familiarity called the liquor
traffic, eXerts dominant, deadly infu-
ence in American society. Its tyran-
nizing power is felt in politics and legis-
lation, in courts and juries, in trade and
finance, in literature and science, in
schools and colleges, in social and re-
ligious life. An oligarchy of nearly
200, 900 men engaged in the sale of in
tOXicants presume to claim the respon-
sibilities and privileges of government
over 10000 600 of people. How far it
has succeeded in exercising its fatal
sway is only too palpable in the evil
dences of Indebtedness, crime and ruin
all around Us.
Only a united movement of the peo-
pie can overthrow this malignant deS-
potism. 70 combine, so far as possible,
all present efforts, and to create new
agencies for delivering society from the
evils which have proved inseparable
from the trade in intOXicants, this Ma
tional League has been formed. Its
members do not think it wise to commit
the organization to any political party,
nor to form Il new one. AS Il matter of
ulSGOINy llltF lClltllb L llIttl OIlG dl CIlltS
are usually overthrow by the people,
and not by divid d partisan action.
The members of this league, therefore,
do not favor entangling this reform with
partisan affiliations. They believe
their purpose VIII be soonest and best
secured by keeping it clear from all
such endorsements. The work of the
league must be largely to create and in
tensify public sentiment, seeking 10
build it up from the bottom line of true
reform. Intelligent convictions in the
hearts of the people, with Gods bless
ing, afford the only sure basis on which
deliverance from tie alcohol curse can
be reasonably expected To pro-
duce, strengthen and enliven such
convictions will be a large part
of our work, The needed legis-
latiou and enforcement of law will
surely follow. Public sentiment soon
shows itself in legislation and admins
tration. We propose to build the pyra-
mid, not from the apex, but from the
base. This league also invoke5 and ex-
poets to maintain the sanction of the
law, in what they are willing to call a
crusade against this great organized
evil so much to be dreaded in the land.
The dealers in liquors ask that they may
be left to the same laws which govern
other trades. But when a man sells an
article, the use of which takes away the
Judgment of him who buys, he must
not expect to be left to the laws which
govern other tradesmen, for the State
must interrose and insist upon protect
ing those who are thus made unable to
protect themselves.
1t is said that a common business and
a common peril unite the dealers in
liquors with a bond which makes it
sure that they will act as one? We pro-
pose to unite against them a hundred
times as many men and women who be-
lieve that the liquor traffic brings griev-
Gus calamities to the land We shall
use every prudent and right method to
carry out our purposn, and ask all good
people, men and women, of all parties
and creeds, to join us in such endeavors.