Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-04-10
FATHER MATHEWS MISTAKE.
Does This Article Sound Like "a Plea for
Local Option

Does This Article Sound Like a Plea for
Local Option?
The name of Father Mathew will
ever command the grateful homage of
all generations. AS an apostolic cham
pfon of temperance he wrought right
eously, and reared for himself a monu-
ment lasting as the eternal hills. The
movement he inaugurated "swept over
Ireland like some great wave of the
sea-" and effected reformation
amounting to a revolution. His temper
ance apostolate was begun at the sug-
gostion of a 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 were
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 hocked 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 az
curately estimate the strength and
pCpuiar influence of his reformation
note the following facts and figures !:
Criminal offenses of all kinds in 1887
amounted to tlrelre thousand and nine
ty-sir; in 1888 one thousand, and nine
ty-sevcn, while in 1910 there were on
ly one hundred and seventy- three. The
! Father Mathew movement began in
1888. During these three years the
consumption of spirits fell from r.,
$4,000 gallons to $4,000, and the eX-
else on brandy decreased some $780,
600. The number of prisoners confined
in the Bridewell and Dublin Jail in
one year fell from 136 to %, and 100
cells stood empty. The Smithfeld
prison closed it's doors.
What grand and gratifying achiev-
ment! But just there was Father
Mathews fatal mistake. When he
held a nation in his hand, he let the
supreme moment pass unimproved,
and Ireland again lapsed into whisky
and crime. Just then q prOhibitOry
lac should haze been passed, which
acould haze perpetuated 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-
~ legislation. He said: "The prin-
oiple 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
ENTHUSIAST OF PEOPLE MUST BE CRYs-
TALI2En IN STATUTORY AND CoNsTITU-
TIONAL LAW TO MAKE THEM PERMANENT.
But for it's wonderful checks and re-
strictions formulated by the preset
ence of a marvellous statesmanship--o
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 reioiced in a blessed deliverance.
We hope, therefore, that i'm 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 ARGUS
ed, let them petition for legal
protection. Let public senti-
ment once be expressed i'm CON
STITUTIONAL LAW, with it's
provisions faithfully enforced
one year, and no people will ever
return to license or free liquor
Editorial by Bishop Galloway in N. O, |