TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
26th July 1831
Sui—In consequence of the remarks on Temperance Societies in your paper for Saturday the 21st, I am induced to send you the following observations, with a view to explain the difficulty you have in conceiving why a Temperance So- ciety should want money. It is quite true that "their purpose is saving, not spending ;" and there can- not be a doubt that, in the degree in which the principles of the Society prevail, there will be a saving to the nation. The money which is spent in the purchase of ardent spirits, while it may enrich a few, such as distillers and publicans, im- poverishes the many who are the sinews of the state. It thus destroys national wealth and prosperity, by changing the character, weakening the energies, and wasting the property of the productive classes of the community. If the labour- ing man and the mechanic save the money which is now spent in the purchase of spirits, will they not be individually the richer ? And if, instead of spending it on a "superfluity," they spend it on a necessary, will not manufactures be en- couraged, and national prosperity revived, and national wealth, which is the ag- gregate of individual possessions, he increased ? Such is the effect which the operation of Temperance Societies is designed and fitted to produce; and such being the case, they deserve the support of every friend to his country. But though the Temperance Society teaches men to save the produce of their labour for necessary purposes, instead of wasting it in the purchase of a noxious superfluity, it must be perfectly manifest that the money thus saved does not fill their coffers. They ask it not--they leave it to the un- controlled disposal of its possessor, and they encourage him to spend it in pur- chasing real comfort for himself or family.
What then becomes of the question— What has a Temperance Soci , ety to do
with money ?" Being a Scotchman, I may, perhaps, be allowed to answer this and similar questions by asking others. How are the community to be en- lightened on the principle of Temperance Societies? Shall it be left to the daily, or weekly, or monthly press of England, to take up the subject, and cir- culate information through the land, and inculcate the lessons of temperance? or must it be done by means of lectures, public meetings, and the distribution of tracts? If the latter, what is to become of the expense of lectures and lecturers, public meetings, and the printing of tracts? Can these operations be carried on without superintendence and direction ? If not, can that be done without incurring expense ? It is for such purposes the Temperance Societies want money. They make their appeal to the wealthy and the benevolent; and they rest their claim to support on the desirableness Of the great and good and noble object they aim to accomplish. Your insertion of the above in your next paper will greatly oblige A MEMBER.
Previous page
