Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-02-06

clitutipilttI Il IOulDltlOD Ntlc SttuI
ed in the Emerald Isle! In the
absence of any reason given by
the esteemed Doctor for the diff
ference between his home and for
cign prescription for the same
malady, we are left to decide, each
for himself, what there is in our
situation that demands Il remedy
differing from, that required by
rum-curscd Ireland.
/ Read carefully his splendid ed
itorial of Nov. 10, 1898. With
the exception of some expressions
| heartily endorse what he says.
Here it is entire:
FATHER MATHEWS MISTAKE.
The name of Father Mathew will
ever command the grateful homage of
all generations. AS an apostolic cham
pion of temperance he wrought right
eously, and reared for himself monu-
ment lasting as the eternal hills. The
movement he inaugurated "swept over
Ireland like some great wave of the
sea-" and effected a reformation
amounting to revolution. His temper
ance apostolate was begun at the sug-
gestion of Quaker. Into it he flung
the energies and sympathies of his
whole being, with no ambition but the
redemption of the fallen, and no hope
of reward but their benedictions.
Through his labors thousands we're
reclaimed from besotted habits. Des-
olate homes and hearts were made to
blossom as the rose. Crime decreased
everywhere until jail-keepers were al
most without an occupation. In the
course of five months, in the city of
of Cork, he administered the pledge
to 10000 persons In Limerick thous-
ands fiocked to him even from the
furthest parts of Connaught." At
Galway 100000 signed the pledge in
two days. In recognition of his refor-
matory labors Queen Victoria gave
him an annuity of f300. TO more ac-
curately estimate the strength and
popular influence of his reformation
note the following facts and figures ::
Criminal otfenses of all kinds in 1887
amounted to twelre thousand and nine
ty-SiT; in 1888 one thousand and nine
ty-seuen, while in 1910 there were on
ly one hundred and seuenty-three. The
Father Mathew movement began in
1885, During these three years the
consumption of spirits fell from D.,
100000 gallons to 100000, and the ex
else ON brandy decreased some f750,-
600 The number of prisoners confined
in the Bridewell and Dublin Jail in
one year fell from 1876 to D, and 100
cells stood empty The Smithfield
prison closed it's DOORS
What grand and gratifying achiev
ment! But just there was Father
Mathews fatal mistake. When he
held nation in his hand, he let the
supreme moment pass unimproved,
and Ireland again lapsed into whisky
and crime. Just then q prOhibitOry
lar should haze been passed, rhich
rOuld haze perpetuGted the refOrma-
ton and sealed for all time the redemp-
ton Of the land of the Shamrock :
Seeing the enthusiasm chilled and the
cause declining-a cause inaugurated
and sustained by his personal magnet
ism and popularity-Father Mathew
acknowledged his mistake and bitterly
recognized the necessity of prohibito-
ry legislation. He said: THE prin-
ciple of prohibition seems to me to be
the only safe and certain remedy for
the evils of intemperance. This opin-
has been strengthened and confirmed
by the hard labor of more than.twenty
years in the temperance cause"
That is the mature judgment of one
certainly authorized to speak, if man
ever was, by career of unparalleled
achievement. The CONVICTIONS AND
ENTHUSIASM OF A PEOPLE MUST BE CRYS-
Tailed IN STATUTORY AND CONSTITU-
TIONAL LAW TO MAKE THEM PERMANENT.
But for it's wonderful checks and re-
strictions accumulated by the preset
ence of a marvellous craftsmanship
national constitution would have been
| torn to shreds long ago. Ireland
could not and did not long endure the
strain of that enthusiasm. But if re-
pressive legislation had have imme-
diately followed, that land, so sorely
scourged with drunkenness, would
have rejoiced in blessed deliverance.
We hope, therefore, that in all
States and communities where
reform is agitated, the lesson of
Father Mathews mistake may
not be unheeded and unimprOy-
ed. When the people are arOus-
ed, let them petition for legal
protection. Let public senti-
ment once be expressed i'm CON
STITUTIONAL LAW, with its
provisions faithfully enforced
one year, and no people will ever
return to license or free liquor
Editorial by Bishop Galloway IN N. o.
Christian Advocate, Noe. 10, 1888.
CINE CONVICTJONS AND ENTIIIT-