Year: 1867




Temperance Reform among she Negroes.


LETTER FROM GEN. HOWARD.


The following communication appears over
General Howard's signature, in the Mentor,
a Temperance paper recently started in Wash
ington: 5ll -ul ns5l-


have noticed Of late some comments with
regard to the political duties Of temperance
men as such, and have been considering the
subject with view to determining nv own
position upon the question. 1t is well for us
to inquire the object of tempe rance alliance
or society. As / understand it, it is to save
men from drunkenness by every proper means.


Legislation in the direction of restraining
or prohibiting the use and sale OF strong drink,
is DOUBTLESS proper subject Tor consideration
and discussion by such associations. But it
IS evident there must arise in a country like
ours, and In times like these, issues Of unusual
importance affecting the very existence and
perpetuity of our institutions, which have not
the remotest connection with the subjects that
concern us as temperance men. With view
to remove local difficulty, grievous it may
be in the extreme, 1t is possible to leopard
vital interests of the republic. 'nA - : 81


The question with regard to the temper
ance organization among colored people il
one which is creating much discussion and
awakening some of the bitter feelings that al
ways arise upon issues touching these people,
There seems to be no difference Of opinion
as to the necessity of the thorough organiza-
tion of temperance associations among them.
But there are questions as to whether or not
old organizations shall open their social
boundaries so as to admit them, and whether
or not they shall be absorbed in present So
c'eties or form new ones with general organ
ic connection. ioaiNs
Now, it seems to me that temperance men
should keep in view the general principles
which govern their action. If the object of a
single division, society or lodge is simply So
cial one, 1t is evident that that division, socie-
ty or lodge may receive one man and reject
another; but ii the object is to save hui
man being from drunkenness, without re-
gard to his status in society, it seems to me
that social enjoyment in the temperance or
ganization becomes merely secondary and
auxiliary to the main purpose. .,st. s


have regarded the principal object of the
Church as coimcident with that ofits Founder,
% save the souls oil men-to save them from
sin-that is, it is the object to be aimed at
NOW IT would be great wrong to exclude a
man for any other reason than that he did
not comply with the conditions which our
Lord has imposed; and no true disciple dare
limit himself to class of mankind, or TO a
race, when pointing out to sinners the way OF
life. Social gatherings in the Church are sec
cndary and auxiliary to the main purpose.


1t is evident that any social connections
which defeated the main purpose, or were o5-
stacles to its accomplishment, would necessa
rily give way as the light OF truth penetrated
them; else the social principles would neces-
sarily supplant the Church. ~ -


As understand temperance organizations,
their relations to society and to individuals
throughout the entire brotherhood of man are
very much the same, the difference being this,
that temperance is but one element in the re-
form demanded by the Church OF Chrisc. 1t
Is, indeed, a very important element and es-
sential in the individual to any degree OF com
pleteness OF his character. do not suppose.
however, that il is expedient to make church.
es out Of temperance societies. Yet it
certainly is expedent and right that
societies organized with view to saving men
from the debasing influences of strong drink.
should not !ose sight OF the fundamental object
OF their organization, and should not allow
matters entirely secondary and auxiliary,
though doubtless very important, to absorb
Their attention and destroy their aim.


AS to any political question in this connec
tlon, there Is none. None can arise so long
as the temperance society keeps its own
ground and fights its battles under the prlnci-
pie Ofthe brotherhood OF man. The manner
of grouping may well be left to mutual under
standing and a. reement, as in the church.


That all men can be brought to dead lev
el and absolute equality of possessions and
requirements is, to my mind, abnormal and
absuri trace no where any such principle
in nature or among men. But to exclude
man from the church because he is an Enc
lisbman, an lrishman,a a Frenchman. a Chi
nese, or an African, is flying in The face of
the bread principles laid down by our Saviour
In MS sermon on the Mount.n He does not
even say that the pure Jews alone shall see
Goa but the "pure in heart shall see God"
which applies to every being with SOUL
The same principle must necessarily apply to
every temperance organization that claims to
be catholic in its objects and in its opera
tions. 5,r..@ .,t III sga-..5 /.
,r have thus, in a few moments of leisure.
indicated to you the principles that govern