New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-08
rr,fpEP1NCE METHODS.


The call for National Temperance Con-
vention ought to mark the beginning Oh lie"
ora. With keen regret, and with more IMAM
suspicon that methods chosen have oeen III
some way defective, the sincere friend OF TEN
nerance is obliged to acknowledge that the
cause has not made such progress OF late years
ne he has desired or expected. steps nave
boen taken forward but also steps backward.
Nucb has been done, in one sense. But the
octual consumption of liquors has not de-
oro,sed nor has it diminished in proportion TO
ponulation. TO the candid and sincere nina
tbe conclusion is well-nigh inevitable. Inc
cause is good. II appeals to all that is nooiest
and best in social domestic or religious lie,
and if the people are making progress anu
rising m q higher plane in either or all OF these
relations. increasing temperance should be one
suro and visible result. The same good cause
,nnoals to all that is least unworthy in human
ambition or desire for gain. But, in spite OF
all these motives and of much appeal 10 'nen''
the consumption of liquor increases.
II is not easy t. escape the conciusion 'n"'
in some way the methods OF advocates oi 'oi'-
ncraucc have been in error Inc hrso sup
toward better things would seem to be irai'N
and cordial conference among those VINO SIN
oorolv desire the reformation of men, bur nave
80, hoon unitod rs TO the means to be en-
Moved In such "A conference the reasons io'
or against each line of action may be larry
stated and weighed by men who are pio"s",
torother by common desire to hcIp anu
benefit their fcllow-mcn.
It the very threshold of such conference
e il is truly representative, it must be per
cciyed that only small proportion OF
,bo o,rncst and sincere friends Of the temper
ancc cause arc in accord with measures "hich
have almost monopoized public attention Inc
email hand Of ardent ProhbitionistS declare
,hot ovorvbodv who does not go with them
rust he rcckoncd an ally of the saloons ana
Of the devil But other temperance men, ""V
arc NJ least rs sincere and As intelligent anu
many times as numerous. are prolouiiu'A ''''
WINGED that they are best serving the cau>c "
temperance by refusing 10 vote for frohlp''Io"
c,pdidatcs and large proportion of them Tor
,ho .omo reason has refused 10 support pro-
bibitorv legislation. If there Is no common
ground upon which these opposing eiomeN''
can meet. End no effort in which all can hoar'-
uv ioin. what wonder that the cause OF TEN
pcrance makes Scanty progress
This broad rupture. between men VINO "''
respected 10y the communities III when 'n''
live as upright sincere and CONSCIENTIOUS meh'
: = cause unite sufficient 10 account tor matt
IN rho work Of reform. Ii must be sad too'
In. tho r,pturc is tho work Of those who IN
.ist mon Prohibition or nothing; and who re.
f,.o 70 credit Others with tho sincerity ana
consc;cntionSncss which they claim for them
7 ~ from that attitude
union Of Temperance men IN any pIa'u|a'
/ effort is impoS,ihc Without such union the
/ cause must lose a great part OF ~ m'rt l9r''
/ 40 IMPRESSION will over be made upon thchoh-
/ sciences OF the great majority OF men, "he"
mon whom they know to be among the pureSI
and noblcst of their generation arc boSpattcred
with the har,hcst cpithctN of censure III the
name of tho temperance cause.
There * ono form Of effort about which no
sincere friends Of temperance ought to as
,rrcc The personal appeal of individuals 10
tboir friend, and ncighhors. the earnest ana
kindly persuasion which seeks 10 win, has IN
II. favor the brightest OF all examples u
,.mncrance mon cannot agree that this Is IN"
richt and the duty Of every one Of them
,ybotber they approve more or loss compulsory
,,o,bod, or not. they surely care for something
else more than for the cause of temperance
Rut has ANYBODY stopped to think. amid all
the clattcr Of late years about amendments ana
laws and candidates. what tremendous power
vould hc cycrtcd if all the sincere temperance
men and women in the country should set them
selves patiently and rcSolutcly to the work oi
winning others by persuasion, reasoning ana
= consistent example?
When the advocates OF temperance rely moi
# all upon this most direct, most natural ano
most truly Chrst-llkc Of all methods. but de
vote their whole time and energy 10 some dc
vice for compelling men 10 he temperate against
their will is there not something obviousl!
wrong? Must not the verdict he that, what
eyer good thing they have done, they ough
not 70 have left the other undone? II they dc
not care enough for the cause 10 exert persona
influence and make personal efforts wherever
they can. do they care enough for II To enforce
any law whatever, whether mild or stringent
Not until men have done their best in Strivinl
70 arouse the consciencoS and the better i'm
pulses Of Others, can they expect public scnt
mcnt 10 exist which will make legislation o
practical value.
AN VNFORTUNATE CENSUS ENTNERdTOR
ponnrts of tlc trials and troubles of censu