Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-10-06

The Origin and Growth Of the Temperance
Reform


Reform
Through the untlriug efforts Of great
men aud women the temperance work
Of our country has been carried on
admirably, and prominent among
these heroic spirits is Hon. Neal Dow.
The following extract IL a summary of
his labors In Maine:
During the Washiugtonisn move.
ment in Maine, Mr.. Dow took a deep
interest In the reformed men and
their families. He saw their struggles
with dram shops on every corner.
after some local efforts, he resolved to
go TO the legislature and enlist the
power OF the state against the 'infa-
NOUS traffic In 1916, he travelled
over 1000 miles in the state, address,
ing the people, and appeared before
the legislature with 10000 names ask
ing for IA pr%ohibitory statute. The bill
passed, tut was Inefficient. In lS4S, a
more efficient bill passed the legisls-
iure but WAS vetoed by tie governor
10 1850. Mr.. Dow went before the
Legislature with what has since been
known as the Maine Law IL was
lost, but was enacted in 1851. Mr.. D. "
was ut that time mayor of Portland,
aud the question was. will the mayer
do his duty, or will he fear mobs al d
riots? He issued a proclamation de-
claring that he should enforce the law.
He gave the dealers sixty days to dis
pose of their liquors. At the eDd Of
that time he seized two thousand
dollars worth of liquor and had it
publicly destroyed. No resistance
was made. The world was amazed.
Tipping shops were everywhere
closed and very few druDksrds were
seen on the streets. That law has re-
NAMED in operation IN Maine until
the present time, with the exception
OF a short { me about 1857, ana IN 1854
by the largest vote eve a for an
amendment TO the constitution OF the
state declared for total prohibition"
During the civil war the liquor
gained, for popular enthusiasm was
swept in another direction. In 1866
was organized the National Temper.
ance Society and Publishing House,
with headquarters IN New York city.
In 1869 women began TO form ssso-
ciatious for the suppression OF the
traffic. The first were organized in
r itland, VT, Clyde, Ohio, aud in
Jonesville End Adrian, Mlcb.
A halo of interest VA heis about the
rise Of the Temperance crusade. One
cold winter day, Dec. %, 1873, Il few
ladies whose hearts were burdened
on account OF the misery and destruc-
ton that were being wrought 10y The
liquor traffic, met ia u quaint old
church, in the beautiful little city OF
Hillsboro, Ohio, to talk and pray over
the matter, and, If possible, institute
some plan for staying the ravages o.
the alcoholic monster. The evening
previous, DR.. Dio Lewis had addressed
q public meeting on the subject o
temperance, and had contended thaI
the temperance reform mig hi be sue
cessfully carried on by women. The,
ladies, after meditation ana prayer
decided TO band themselves together
in a crusade against the liquor traffic
Mr.. 7. j. Thompson, whose name Il
reveled all e the land, WAS the Que
who led in the c~rusades, and promi'
nent among the workers was tn,
noble mother OF Gov. Foraker, ot
Ohio. As soon as the plan of Norl
wa known, others Joined the rank
aud seventy women began sv.sitatioi
OF the hotels, drug stores, and faloon
OF Hillsboro. In eight days, all tn,
saloons were closed. The spirit of til,
crusade spread all over the oountr,
and great good was accomplished
Springfield o., was among the first Z,
: follow the example OF Hillsboro. an,
! the leading spirit there was "Mothe
Stewart" Out OF the crusades, gre "
the Womsn's Christian Temperance
. Union, which was organized Novem
: Der. 1874, the influence of which, hat
thrilled the whole civilized world. |
7 is rightly named by Mise Willard
"The Whirlwlnd Of the Lord" II
! growth is one of the wonders Of th,
: age. II has no parallel In history.
: Two years ago there were thirty
eight state and nine territorial orgmi