TEMPERANCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 404, 20 August 1866, Page 3

TEMPERANCE.

[To the Editor of the Hawke’s Bay Times,"] Sib, —With pleasure I have read, in the columns of your valuable little journal, that a society has been formed in Napier for the suppression of drunkenness. Its formation reminds me much of an old saying, the frequent repetition of which would lead one to believe it was a truism, viz., “ tell me the company a man keeps and I will tell you the character of the man.” What is said of the individual may justly be said of associations, for societies are formed and made up of individuals. Therefore it may truly be said, tell us the objects of the Teetotal League and Temperance Society, and we will tell you of the probable results. It is true, both agree that drunkenness or immoderate use of intoxicating liquors are detrimental to health and social order. Both professedly have for their object the cure of the evil; but differ widely in the means to be used to effect the change. Temperance treats the evil of drunkenness as an abuse of the principles of the society; for temperance says, “ use the good things of this life, but do hot abuse them.” If you can allow such a latitude in relation to intoxicating beverages, it will be very difficult to define temperance at all, for no rule but that of the constitution and habits of the person will apply. A man may be a moderate man who only takes his four glasses per day. Another man, taking four, would be quite drunk, and therefore, immoderate with four. But daily practice would coon fit him for four and entitle him to the character of a moderate man. The folly of temperance is to be found in the fact that the use of such beverages necessarily leads to their abuse, let a man get a glass or two of grog: the coats •of his stomach get inflamed; and he feels a strong inward craving for more. Thus, the temperate man becomes the regular tippler ; and in nine cases out of ten, the moderate man becomes a drunkard. Therefore, ten-peranee may, in my opinion, be considered as nursery for the greatest plague that ever visited any community ; —it is the wife’s woe, and children’s sorrow; —its effects are too well known and too keenly felt to need description. With an evil of such magnitude to grapple with, is it not surprising that the people of Napier should hesitate for a moment to Join the Teetotal League for its suppression; and restore man to his dignified position of rational creature. Wishing success may crown the efforts of the noble-minded few in Napier who are manly enough to show the beauty of self-control by their own example of self-denial; and fearing I have already trespassed too much on your valuable space,— I am, &c., A WELL-WISHER.