An Address To The People Of The United States

Impressed wltli :i deep eouvietiou that an urgent exigency has arisca in the history ot' the tcmpurancu cause, a large number of persons In all parta of the land lmve expresied the opinión that a new organisatlon of the temperance foroea shoultl be effected mi a broad basis, to conserve and jtlye dlrectlon ti this Important reform. Kor this parpóse, alter extenslve cousnltatlon, a meeting wus held in Boston. Jan. 1. lbiJö, at whicli "A Nailonui League, (non-partlsau and nongectarlun.) lor the Snppresslon t' the Liquor Trafile," was orgaulzed, iimler nrliose directlon we bow address Uu pnb lic. A great content is upon us. A diré and barb&fons foe seek.s to throttle the ri-puiilic, and do wrak, dojibtfoi or one-sided nieasuies will iifnYe. Tlie times cali for marton, "i a broad basis of unity. lIL-toiy aDounds In. instances of the HSUrpation and tyianny of oligarchie?, whicli were overthrown only by tho uprising of the pcople. A formidable institution, famiüarly cilled the Lifjuor Traffic, exerts a dominant, deadly influence In American society. lts tyrannizing power 3 lelt In politics and legislaüon, in ;ourts and juries, in trade and finalice, in literatura and science, in schools and colleges, in social and religions lite. An oligarchy of nearly two hundred thousand men, engftged in the fale of iutoxicants, presume to claim the responsibilities and privilejjei of government over üfty miliions of people. How far it has succeeded In exurciinL its fatal sway is only too palpable in the evidencesof wictohcdnesa, oiime and ruin all around us. Only ;i uniti'd movfiuent of the people can overthrow this niaügnant deipotisffl. To combine, 90 lar u pOisible, all present efforts, and to cíente new agencies for delivering society tïom the evila whicb huve proved inseparable from the trade n IntozlcanU, this National Ieague bas been formed. lts members do not think it wise to commit the organlzatloo to any political party, nor to lbrm a new one. As a matter of h story, they remember tlnit oligarchies are USually overthrown by the people, aud not by divided partisan action. Tbe members of this League therefore do not favor eniangling this reform with partlsan afflllattona. They belieye Iheir purpose wlll be soonest and best secuied by keeping it clear of all surh embarrassments. The work of the league must be largely' to créate and intensify public sentiment, seckiiig to build it up from the bottoin line of true reform. Intelligent convictions in the hearts of the people, witli God's blesslng, afford the only sure basis on whicli deliverance from the alcohol curse can be reasonably expeeted. To vlcttons will bé a large part ol our woik. 'J'he needed legislation and enforcement of law will surely follow. Public sentiment soon shosvs itself In legislation and administration. We propose to build the pyramid, not from the apex, but from the base. This League also invokes and expecU to maintain the sanction of law. in what they are willing to cali a crusade against this great orgunized evil so niucb to be dieaded in the land. The dealers in liquors as-k that they may be left to the same laws whlch goveru other trades. But when a man sella an article the use ot which takes away the judgment of hiin who buys, be uiust not expect to beleftto the lans which govern other tradesmen, for the state must luterpose aud insist upon protecting those wlio are thus made unable to protect themselves. It is said that n common business and :t OOnrmoo pcril nntte Uie Ueuleis In llqUUK with a bond which makes it sure that they will act as one. We propose to unite against them a, hundred times as niany men and women, who believe that the licjuor traftic brings grievous calamitk's to the land. c shall use every prutlent and right method to carry out our parpose, ana Bfek ail good people, men and women, of all partlee and creeos, tojoln us in sucli endeavois. Daniel Dorciiestkr, Boston, President. Alüert II. Plumb, Boston, Beoordlng Seciotary. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, Clinton, Ia., General Sccretary. Joseph D. Weeks, Pittsburg, Pa., Treasiirer. 36 Bromfleld St., Boston. Jau. 12, 1883.