Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors.

Date:
[1874?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    103 only by simply turning a d jaf ear 1 o what was said, but by openly objecting, and in some cases scoffing at the arguments that were used. I can see all through society a greater willingness to examine into this matter, and I can see that even those who are not prepared as yet to say anything in our favour, nevertheless quietly, in their own persous, do a great deal to discourage very much of the mischief that is now done by the drinking customs of society. Those customs are surely but gradually giving way. Those customs are already modified to a very great degree, and the modification is unquestionably due to the exertions of those who have given themselves to this cause. I regret to say that I cannot think that the drinking or the drunkenness (when you take it as a whole) is diminishing. I am afraid that in very large districts of the country it has even in- creased. I am afraid that the larger wages paid to the labour- ing class have to a very great extent been diverted into this channel, and that what ought to have been the greatest possible blessing to them has become one of the worst of curses. (Hear, hear.) I regret to say that I think every day’s expei’ience of the working of this matter on both sides shows very plainly that we are approaching a real crisis, that there is a very real danger, that before long it may become a very serious political question— (cheers)—a far more serious political question than it ever was before—how it shall be possible to deal with those great interests, those great pecuniary interests, that have been allowed to grow up in this country— (hear, hear)—and to be enlisted on the wrong side. (Cheers.) It is always ridiculous to find fault with those who are defending their pecuniary interests ; it is ridiculous to expect that men will not contend very earnestly for that which touches their means of livelihood ; it is absurd to suppose that men will not feel it a positive duty to do their very utmost to secure that the bu siness in which they have staked their pro- perty should be not only protected, but encouraged—to the utmost of their power to procure that protection and encouragement ; and therefore it is a very serious thing that such interests as these have been allowed to grow up. (Hear, hear.) It is a very serious thing, and, I am sure, will give us very serious trouble. (Hear, hear.) Indeed, I am afraid that that trouble will be of no ordinary kind, because I fear that many who would be quite willing to support our cause with their utmost power will be exceedingly unwilling to touch great interests, and will feel a very real hesitation lest, perchance, in the attempt to do right, they should be driven to do wrong. But all this on both sides makes it the more important that we should not slacken in our endea- vours—(cheers)—that we should still persevere in the attempt to enlighten the public mind ; that we should endeavour not only to influence the Legislature—for that we must undoubtedly do—
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