The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-08-24
Friday. Aug. "a, lsSS.
The Logic of our Teaching.

have been making crusade against
LIQUOR drinking. A few philanthlopic
people observing the dangerous ten
dency of the universal use of.spirituous
LIQUORS of that day commenced to OPP
crate against it by forming temper
ance societies. in which pledge was
prepared enjoining the signers to alb
stain from brandy, gin, whiskey and
the stronger alcoholic drinks. Wine
and lighter liquors were excepted
these liquors being considered benefic-
especially wine-as a beverage.
The pledge societies were encouraged
by ministers of the gospel generally,
who often spoke at the school house
meetings, and fthe movement made
quite preceptible impression on 1.-THE
drink habit. Many farmers banished
it from their harvest fields, and the de-
canter was removed from the side
board and public view. 1t was soon
discovered that such mild measures
were inadequate to cope effectually
with the growing evil. To taste wine
was to renew the old appetite in the
habitual drinker who had signed the
: the pledge lin his efforts to get away
from the habit.
Next came the Washingtonian Society,
an organization of reformed drunkards, who
preached total abstinence, "Touch not, taste
not, handle not" being their motto. They
spoke from actual experience, and assured
the public that there was no hope of reform
or ofstaying the curse of the drink habit
but in total abstinence. The Washington
ians made a strong impression on public
sentiment, and for time stayed the food of
intemperance and perceptibly diminished
the receipts Of the tavern and grog shops
"a Icons -.Rsss. not known in those days.
Some bold spirits with logical, incisive
minds, at that early day advocated sterner
measures than ''moral suasion," insisting
that the only way to squelch the whiskey
evil was to stop its sale by legal methods.
They were met by a storm of opposition,
the clergy lending their influence to this
opposition, declaring that through the
church and spiritual Regeneration was the
only hope of staying the evil, the heart
must be regenerated, and ."moral suasion,"
moral s,.asiom! was the plan and only plan;
to touch the evil by law would aggravate
the moral cancer; if men couldn't be per-
suaded to quit their evil habits, become
converted and members of the church, here
was no hope,for them. This teaching which
was false in, logic and false in fact as the
results continually demonstrated, was held
10 for long time, and the grog shops were
licensed by law and allowed to destroy all
the good resolves aud good influence these
earnest teachers brought about.
Secret orders were founded, the Sons Of
Temperance, and Daughters of Temperance
which were followed by the order Of Good
TempIars. These orders held the ground
and kept the field which the first charges of
the battalions of moral suasionists had
gained, and continued to teach and preach
against the drink and grog shop evil.
Father Mathew, Catholic priest, made
a crusade;on the side of Temperance and
strong impression in favor of the cause by
his speeches and pledge which was exacted
from his converts with imposing religious
ceremony. Father Mathew was perhaps the
greatest apostle of the moral suasion plan Of
temperance which appeared and did i'm
mence good in the way of educating public
sentiment, which in fact was the measure Of
all Of these early efforts in temperance work.
Temperance harvest homes were fashion
able and had quite run under the auspices
of the Sons of Temperance. Music and
banners were made striking feature, and
the uniformed members of the order march
ed in procession with appropriate notices
on their banners, good speakers were en-
ployed to address the crowds who assembled
on these occasions. These efforts against
king alcohol, served to hold him in check
somewhat. They resembled the frey rush
of patriotic militia against well paid, dis
sciplined army, which when hard pressed
would retire to its -intrenehed camp, till
the opposing enemy would disband or cease
lis organized efforts, when the army of his
majesty would continue its depredations
upon the country, capturing individuals,
raiding homes and destroying families.
Still the moral suasiorists insisted that if
their medicine wouldn't cure the patient he
must die i That patient be it observed was
The whole christian civilized race, for they
are the people who manufacture and drink
alcohol. Heather nations do not, until
corrupted by the christians grog shop
A powerful ally was employed by Amer
Jean army of king alcohol, brought from
the same country which the British brought