Year: 1870




| 1t is the general testimony of our City Press
distinguished by extraordinary and excessive
drinking. "New- York was drunk yesterday
| is the rather strong expression of one OF them
with reference to New-Year's; but that the
drinking of that day was general and immod-
crate, even for New-York, is the concurrent
assertion.


Drinking was once all but universal; now it
is not. There is a very considerable minority,
even in this metropolis of sensuality, who
Systematically and on principle reject every in
tOxicating beverage. These are hundred
times more numerous than they were fifty years
ago. But, apart from the rigidly abstinent, 1t
is our conviction that there was more drinking
and deeper drinking here in the year 1869 than
in any of the 2G0 preceding years since Hen
drick Hudson discovered this island.


The fearful consequences can here only be
glanced at. Destitution, sQualor, vice, profil-
gaoy, robbery murder-these are more preva-
lent in New-York to-day than at any former
period. Beggary and harlotry, crime and in
fanny, crowd our streets finding in the grog-
shop theirsource and their inspiration. Very rare
ly is novice drawn into a gaming house or n



fluence of liquor. 1t is our firm conviction
that, if Alcoholic Beverages could be wholly
and permanently banished from our City, and
all our Police and machinery of Criminal JUS
tice went with them. there would thenceforth
be less crime and far less misery in our City
than there is.


There is a very considerable body of respect
able citizens who cannot shut their eyes to
these horrors, yet who are not converts to
Total Abstinence. They drink rarely and
cautiously-at least, they thinl. so-are in no
danger of falling into drunkenness, and do not
feel constrained to give up what they deem an
innocent and pleasurable exhilaration because
others abuse liquer to their own hurt and that
of their families They arc not convinced that
our way of fighting what they admit TO be a
great evil is the right way. We do not pro-
pose at this time to discuss our more palpable
difference, but to ask them whether they ought
not to resist Intemperance in some way.
Grant that our way is wrong, how does that
excuse your seeming apathy, your practical in
difference Here are tens of thousands annu-
ally swept on to ruin by the use of strong
drink: how does our error, if it be an error
excuse your heedlessness7 Admit that, with
your cOnVlCJlOuSJ you CtllOI dCJ WIFI US WIN
stand for Total Abstinence, does that excuse
you from acting at all


In Massachusetts and other States where Pro-
hibitiOn has been strongly advocated, these
moderates profess to favor stringent Excise
law, which they say would do more for Temper
ance than Prohibition can, because it can be
enforced, while Prohibition cannot be. Yet in
.s State, where no serious effort for Probi-
bitiOn has been put forth for years, the moder-
ates raise no voice in favor of our mild and
liberal Excise law, but generally help elect
legislators pledged to abolish all Excise laws
cor render them imperative The Sunday Mer-
cury demands, as one result of our late Demo
cratic triumph that the sale of liquor shall be
made as free here as that of sugar, beside
having Sunday given over to 1t, as it is not to
the sale of sugar; and this seems to be in
accord with the spirit now dominant, and GER
tain to prevail in fact if not IN law.


Men of convictions and of moral principles,
who are not Total Abstainers! what is you
way of repressing excess i'll drinkingl Let
yOur acts answer!