Temperance

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 93, 12 February 1889, Page 3

Temperance

Sib,— As*, great many of the reader? of the Star; who are temperance people, or friends of the great temperance movement, are .not in a position to be en raport, with all the jphazes of this increasingly; important queßti6n, : it is my intention, with your kind* permission, to contribute occasionally somej interesting items as ft opportunity will permit. That temperance is forcing itself on the attention of all classes, ia nearly all Civilised countries, as a panacea for human ills, is a trueism that scarcely requires stating.- The statesman, moralist,* preacher, or teacher who does not throve .in his influence with temperance reformers, wiU henceforth.be looked upon as'uiiworthy of his position, or decidedly^tehind the times. America, as usual, is taking rapid, strides in legal repressloii^irprohilntion of the liquor traffic. Wlien I say America,. l mean the only p. arts of that great continent, which are Worthy of mention in connection with any great progressive movement — the United S^tes «id Canada. The virtuous and patriotic in the Old Country are also awaking to the occasion and rubbing from their eyes the dust of political expediency. The formation into companies of the Brewery concerns of Great Britain and Ireland, doubtless was intended to be a blow at the temperance cause, by increasing the numbers^df those financially interested in upholding the traffic. It is believed now that the result will prove the other way altogether, very many have been tempted in those companies who will be ashamed to own that they are at all concerned, and the interest being widespread, looses the power that belongs to concentration. . As an indication that temperance light is dawning hopefully on Old England. We are told that, though the population is increasing, licenses have decreased to tune 0£5490 within the last 6 or 7 years. Glasgow must be still notorious for its <irinking.. conveniences, as Baily Gray, in the Pblfce Court, said recently that—" The continual march past the bench of prisoners brutalised by drink, often led one to wonder whether, he was really in a Christian laiwL" at temperance reformer of Edinburgh Bays^'A few membero of the House shall not much longer prevent thetpeople of Scotland from having theipower to deal with, and prohibit the traffic in strong drink, they must either have the power, or there would be another jßanribckburn." '■ .., Crystal Spring.