THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCES OF MR. CHARLES REID, M.P.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 21 March 1874, Page 3

THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCES OF MR. CHARLES REID, M.P.

At a meeting of the Pgrmissive Bill Association held lately, Mr. Charles Reid, M.P., said : " I have lately hid the advantage of visiting America, and' I nust confess that one of the objects leading ne there (one being the cause of education} certainly was the cause of temperance. 1 desired very much to see with my own eyes the work carried on there by the friends of temperance, and to see how the state of things has been brought about in that marvellous country on the other si.le of the Atlantic, which, has conduced so much to the prosperity of the people and to the security of those Stata. I made an extensive tour, and certainly never witnessed in my life such results as ma/ be seen in almost every town in that part of the globe. In three months I can certainly say I never saw two persons who were flic worse of liquor — that is, drunk in the streets. I saw amniked difference in the state of the population, arising, I think, from this great cause. I heard far less — indeed no — bad language in the streets. I heard very little rough and uncouth language between man and man, such as often pains us in the streets of London, and I witnessed that which was to me most satisfactory, that in all the hotels, and as far as I could ascertain, with some exceptions, in public places of resort, there were not tho temptations put m the way of young people to drink that there are in this country. In a public the beverages put before you are of the most inviting description. Yqu get the purest water, and in the summer time, with the most beautiful ice. You get the purest milk, with ice also, and you can have ice even with your tea if you prefer it. The wineglass is not put before the guest, nor is it considered necessary to drink for the good of the house. The consequence is that throughout the length and breath of the United Stales people as a rule do not take intoxicating liquors. I admit there is a great deal of spirit-drinking. I admit that there are places known to men wuo wish it where they can obtain that which they desire, but as a rule the influence of temperance has been so great through the land that the young especially are free from the great temptations which present themselves in this country. The poor are far happier and more contented, aud for the money they would spend in drink they get nutritious food. The whole people are a stronger and more contented people, in consequence of the prevaling habits of temperance and virtue."