Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-20
THE WAR ON RUM.

OT1sln OI TIC ffOn1Dlt1On PARTY.
The first temperance movement in the
United States was made at Litchfeld,
Conn.,, in 1889, where 200 farmers agreed
together mot to use any distilled liquor in
doing their farm work the ensuing season"
The first temperance society was organized
1903, by DR.. B. j. Clarke and Rev. Leb-
beus Armstrong. Forty-seven male mem
beers signed the pledge, under the name of
the Moreau and Northumberland Tenn
perance Society,"" A fine of twenty-five
cents was imposed for every violation of
the pledge. The pledge prohibited rum,
gin. whisky, wine, or any distilled liquors
whatever. 1t did not, therefore, go as far
as q total abstinence pledge of the present
day. The American Temperance Reforma-
ton was organized at Boston, in 1926, on
the principles of Micajah Pendle-
toms Pledge. It permitted the use
OF cider, wines, and malt liquors in
moderation, but required total abstinence
from distilled liquors. In six years over
1000 societies were organized, and distilla-
ton ceased to a great extent, for merchants
gave up the trade. Twenty thousand fam
lies became connected with the society.
This was the beginning of the modern
Al ' Va SOAApCxduCCs n liz
tional temperance convention was held at
Philadelphia in May, 1888. Four hundred
delegates were present, from twenty-one
States. After long discussion, a resolution
wa passed declaring the trade in ardent
spirits to be morally wrong, and that it
ought to be universally abandoned. The
American Congressional Temperance So
ciety was formed at Washington, about the
same time, with Lewis Cass, then Secretary
of War, as President. Ardent spirits were
about this time prohibited in the army.
The National Temperance Society was
organized in 1865, its special object being
to circulate sound temperance literature.
The Murphy temperance movement started
in 1877. In March, 1879, a petition
signed by 100000 persons was presented
to the Legislature of Illinois, asking that
women night be allowed to vote on all
censes for the sale of liquors. In 1888 the
Massachusetts Society adopted a new con-
stitution, with a pledge of total abstinence.
This feeling continued to grow, and the
agitation of the question of license resulted
in a strong public sentiment in favor of
prohibition. In March, l847, the Supreme
Court unanimously decided that prohibitory
laws "were not inconsistent with the Con-
stitution of the United States, nor with any
acts of Congress-" and that it was within
the police powers of the States to re-
strain or prohibit the traffic in Intoxicating
drinks. Maine was the first State to pro.
hibit by law the sale Of strong drinks. A
prohibitory law was enacted in that State
in 1916, with only ordinary fines for its VIC.
lation; the Dow law (much more stringent,
went into effect in 1851: this was repealed
in 1856, and o license law substituted; after
an experience of two years the people gave
a majority of 2 1852 in favor of prohibition
The Legislatures Of Delaware, Rhode Isl
and, Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan
Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, New York
New Hampshire, and Illinois have all passed
prohibitory laws. Some were vetoed, some
pronounced unconstitutional, and some ig.
nored. National conventions continued to be
held. The sixth convention, ct Cleveland,
Ohio, in 1868, urged the friends of the
cause ito refuse to vote for any candidate
who denies the application of the just pow.
ers of civil government to the suppression
of the liquor traffic." The seventh con-
v%ention, held at Saratoga, in 1879, de.
clared "that the time had arrived to intro.
duce the temperance issue into State anc
national politics." and ito cooperate witt
existing party organizations where such
will indorse the Legislative policy Of pro.
hibition and nominate candidates pledged
to its support, otherwise to organize and
maintain separate Independent party
action" The eighth national convention
was held in Chicago in 1875. 1t resolved
ito nominate and vote for such candidates
only, State and national, as will unquali.
iedly indorse and sustain the prohibition
Of the liquor traffic" Political action was
early taken by temperance organizations
In 1854 the candidate of the temperance
party for Governor in New York, Myro1
H. Clark, was supported by the remnant Of
the Wing party, and elected. In 1872
James Black, of Lancaster, Pa, wal nom
mated for President, and received votes il
New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.-TO
Zed0 BLADE.