turned to diffuse the poison of their principles through the community.

In some places there has been a great reaction, in reference to the work among reformed inebriates. Many have returned again to their old habits; and so many have fallen, that the faith of good men in the efficacy of the movement has been shaken.

The efforts of some able men, to prove the unconstitutionality of the laws that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages, and the repeal of such laws in some cases when they had been enacted, has caused a temporary triumph of the opponents of our

cause.

The state of New York, after condemning the licensed traffic by a majority of 68,000 votes, has again bowed to the tyranny of Alcohol,-and the vender pursues his business unmolested. In the state of Vermont, a majority of 8,000 of her hardy sons had said "Let us strike for liberty;" but at a second election, she had an even balance. In Pennsylvania and Delaware, the judges of our courts have come under the rum influence, and pronounced the laws enacted against the traffic unconstitutional.

Other states, again, have done nobly, and have acted upon principles of true philanthropy. Maine holds on to her integrity, and shuts out the traffic. Rhode Island has resolved to be free. Ohio and the enterprising states of the West are shaking off this vampire, that is sucking out their life blood.

Too much reliance has been placed by some on organizations. Organizations are needed, and

are good in their place. But if the heart be placed on the organization-if that be the idol-and if we suppose there is any talismanic power in that, independent of the great principles of the cause, we shall be disappointed; the work will not progress, but will actually decline. What is really needed, where there is a declining interest in the reform, is a deeper sense of the evils of intemperance; new impressions of responsibility in relation to it; and a willingness to make sacrifices for its overthrow. Such an awakening of the public conscience-such a creation of true principle, and self-denying action, could not do otherwise than secure happy results. Under this influence, organization would take its proper place—would be regarded as secondary; and by it organization would be sustained. The truth is, the principle of temperance is immutable--it is indestructible-having truth for its foundation, love for its aliment, and human felicity for its end. Temperance will prevail, although organizations may change, or become extinct. It is based upon truth, and linked in with the progressive advancement of our race. Its triumph is certain; its star will be in the ascendant; its final victory is sure. Intemperance will cease to curse; its rivers of evil will be dried up; tears of bitterness and grief cease to flow; broken and disconsolate hearts be healed of all their

woes.

2. The cause at this time demands exertion, especially with reference to the legalized traffic in intoxicating drinks.-This is the mighty barrier that now stands in our way. This traffic is carried

on with great system and success all over the land-enticing and corrupting the unwary-recruiting the wasted ranks of the fallen-adding thousands of victims every year. Opposed to this, are the movements of the friends of temperance: they are circulating tracts, books, and periodicals, informing and rousing the public mind: they are sending out lecturers-framing and putting in operation different organizations. Still, with this traffic in successful operation, but little progress is made. What we gain is slipping from us, and comes rolling back on our hands. We accomplish much, and lose much. While things continue as they are, the traffic is nearly a match for all our measures combined. And in many localities, while the friends of temperance intermit their exertions, the enemy is busy, and makes considerable headway. This aspect of the cause should be seriously considered. As things have been moving, our exertions after all have only tended to limit and gradually diminish the evil. We do much to prevent, mitigate, and repair; but the grand supply continues. There is a grand selfperpetuating power in intemperance-and this is found in the traffic. It has a vigorous system of operations. Its dram-shops line our thoroughfares, and float on all our waters. While this system continues, we can never gain a complete triumph: we shall have perpetually woe to alleviate, pauperism to provide for, crimes to punish, and victims to rescue from impending destruction.

There is a call now for united and vigorous effort, to oppose the traffic. While this enemy continues,

we shall be powerfully resisted at every point in our movements in the temperance cause. And further, this traffic tends to sap the foundation of the whole economy of society: it interferes perpetually with all the rights and happiness of society. If a manufacturer should set up an establishment that should send sterility into its neighborhood; if a physician could live only by creating sickness; if a mariner, in order to pursue his business, must introduce infectious disease on every return voyage; if a man can live only by piracy and murder; if one gains a livelihood only by sundering the tenderest ties, and separating parents and children, husbands and wives, on the coast of Africa, in order to consign them to hopeless bondage-who would tolerate such business? Who would regard it as moral to pursue either of the above named kinds of business, invading, as they would continually, the most precious interests of society? And yet, the man who is dealing in alcoholic beverages for gain, is equally invading the great fundamental principles on which men must agree to live together in society. The traffic, then, must be resisted, for the sake of success in our cause, and to protect society from its baneful effects. And it seems to be assuming greater interest in the public mind. Men are now turning their attention to this point. In various states of the Union, wise men have mooted und agitated the question, and have gone to the ballot-box to say, whether the protection of law shall be thrown around this traffic.

In pleading for effort here, we are not to forsake other methods of advancing the cause. The public

mind must be enlightened-moral suasion must be employed-in order that the people may be prepared to demand and sustain right legislation upon this subject. And the grand object of law, is simply to clear the path for the legitimate and unimpeded operation of moral means. We shall be called to redoubled exertion by entering upon this new field of effort. We shall find it necessary to call into requisition the whole system of argument, persuasion, personal influence, and legal restriction.They are but parts of one great scheme of operations. We must bring law to bear on the traffic, and moral means to win over to virtue those who have become victims of the great enemy. While effort at this point creates opposition among those who, from appetite or avarice, are interested in perpetuating the traffic, yet we are encouraged to effort by various circumstances. In large sections of the country, the numerical strength is clearly with us, as indicated by every judicious issue that has been made for a considerable time. We have also the advantage, infinitely, of comparative worth and weight of moral character. We have truth, and powerful arguments on our side. We need but united counsels, singleness of heart, and persevering effort, to carry our points. I have previously shown that there is an inherent moral right in the Legislature to restrict and prohibit the traffic.—We have looked at the terrible evils that grow out of it, and have seen that in this lies the great strength of the foe.

But it may be objected—that all our efforts