Year: 1872

ELkTONs JANUAhA AOs 1870
The Temperance Movement and the Rum


Trade.


We are often in receipt. from Jealous
advocates of Temperance, of articles on
the subject of Temperance, many of which
we publish The zeal of the writers to
bring rum drinking into bad repute, is
evidently foremost in their mind; but we
very often doubt the means they seem to
consider the most effective. 1t is the mis-
fortune with people to incline to copy
too closely originals, and not think suffi-
ciently for themselves. When the origi
nal temperance societies sprang into exist
ence, the work which was to engage their
attention was to show the alarming evils
which attended rum drinking and the rum
trade. Its horrors were depicted by speak
ers and writers in the most vivid and revolt
ing colors, and the public were for the first
time brought face to face with the growing
evil, in all its naked deformity. No Society
did such an effectual work in this field as
the old Washingtonians. These old topers.
by reforming, at least for season, and
relating their naked experience, gave the
Temperance cause its greatest Impetus
Their crusade popularized Temperance,
and made intemperance and the rum trade
odious with the masses, and wine and
brandy drinking, at private parties and
4. c,eI,s Thn
speeches of the Washingtonians created
snch Il furore in the Temperance cause.
that for time the rum trade was percept
IDLY injured, and its total overthrow threat
ened by the power of a public sentiment,
crystalized in the popular Temperance
Societies and the pledge. These early
Temperance movements did much in the
cause of Temperance, but there was limit
to their aggressive power: that reached, the
rum trade, and rum-drnking rallied and
gained some of their lost ground. Since
then there has been no forward or offensive
movement on the side of Temperance, that
has gained much territory from the enemy;
but the efforts of the Societies, since the
days of the Washingtonians, seems to be
mainly consumed in holding their ground.
and in many neighborhOods it is doubtful
whether they do hold their own. 1t is Ger
tain that advance is impossible, under the
old system of tactics. The old Washing
tonians, who, for time, seemed to bear
down all opposition, whose progress was
irresistible, could not now get together "A
respectable audience in numbers, to listen
to their gutter adventures. The reason is
very apparent. TIE public mind has ad
vsncsd beyond this primitive stage of the
Temperance cause, and has ripened fur
more mature and permanently effective
action in the cause of Temperance reform.
Unfortunately, great many of the most
earnest temperance men, and women, too,
seem to be unable to see or understand the
situation, and go on repeating the primer
lessons taught them by the first Societies.
One of the most popular of these lessons
is to soundly berate the rum-seller, all of
which he may perhaps deserve, or he may
not; there are clearly two sides to the
question. 1t is well enough, perhaps, to
ban the traffic and tratficers; but this
method of attack has long since ceased to
produce anything more than negative
result. The rum business is branch of
the popular business of the country, stands
on an equal footing with the trades and
callings, in the eyes of the law, which gives
it, aud those who pursue it, equal protec-
tion with any other. business. This being
the case, those who engage in it can plead
lawful right, fostcred and sanctioned by
the government, to pursue the business
The government which protects this inter-
est, and receives subsidy for its protec-
tion, is declared by us all to be founded in
justice; creature Of the whole people. who
revise and supervise it annually. Under
such encouragement and protection, the
trader in spirituous liquors cannot be ostra
cised; cannot be ruled out of society. Hi,
business is placed on an honorable basis
with all other traffics, by the government,
and by that power he maintains his pres.
ent position in the business world, and will
be able to maintain it so long as govern
ment aud law are on his side. To abuse
and attempt to prescribe the grog-seller,
does not, at the present time. advance the
cause of Temperance. That stage has
been reached and passed, long since, by the
popular mind. The temperance mission
ary must take broader and more compre-
hensive view Of the work. The grog-sel
Ter follows the business because it is lawful
for him to do SO. If it were lawful to rob
on the highway, there are plenty of men
who profess to despise him, that would
take to the road.