IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) k 'o ^% w. ^ l^.r :/. l/.A 1.0 I.I 1.25 Ir'. 128 |2.5 Ui 1^ 12.2 u mm £ HI 12.0 1.4 1.6 V] <^ A ^# .'^ iV <^ :i>^ N> ^ O ;\ r^s \ I CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical Notes / Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. D D D D Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couleur Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6coior6es, tachetdes ou piqu6es Tight binding (may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serrd (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure) L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 4tA possible de se procurer. Certains difauts susceptibles de nuire 6 la quality de la reproduction sont notts ci-dessous. D D D D Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Coloured plates/ Planches en couleur Show through/ Transparence Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes Th€ P09 Of 1 filrr Thi cor on app The filn insi Ma in i bot foil D Additional comments/ Commentaires suppldmentaires Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibliographiques D D D Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque D D D Pagination incorrect/ Erreurs de pagination Pages missing/ Des pages manquent IN^aps missing/ Des cartes gdographiques manquent D 13 Plates missing/ Des planches manquent Additional comments/ Commentaires suppldmentaires Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming. The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Las images suivantes ont 4tA reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la netteti de I'exemplaire filmi. et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -h^ (meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la der- niire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: Library of the Public Archives of Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAce A la ginArositi de I'Atabiissement prAteur suivant : La bibliothique det Archives publiques du Canada Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour Atre reproduites en un seul clichA sont filmAes d partir de Tangle supArieure gauche, de gaurhe d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mAthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 * 6 t '1* ^mrno itf^. ID 03s^i3sr xoisr ::f^i '^^m I 7 ir' I PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW (^ ^ • CONVENTION. * . "• HELD IN MONTREAL ox THE isth, i6th IXn tjtfi OF SEPTEMBER, 1873. REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. I.IST OF MBHBBRS. SOCIETIES REPRESENTED. With a resume of Report of Commissioners appointed by the Dominion Goiter nment 1874, and other ei^dence in favor of Prohibition. ^ontrral : jPf^nted by John Wilson, 47 3t John jStf^eet. 1875- mk:^' :^; '^^^=\^m mm^^mmmmemti I DOiuriisrioiT PROHIBITORY LI9UOR LAW CONVENTION. f **— ' — -» »»» » HELD m MONTREAL O.V JW.^ /j^M, /<5M AJ^D lyth dP SPPT£M£ER, 187J, ■■ ■- -■"•■- REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. LIST OP SiBBtdBRSt SOCIETIES REPRESENTED. iVith a f^esume of Repott df Comttiisiiofiif-s Appointed hy the Dominion '^oDef'nttieAt 1874, and other evidence in favor ef Prohibition, €8.7Sv ,• % '} I (US J? Ay// Dominion Convention OF THE FRIENDS OF THE Prohibiiory Liquor La'w Movement HELD IN MONTREAL W'ednssd^j-, Thursd&j I Frid*jr, Sept. 15, 19, k IT, im First Day — Afternoon Session. In response to a circular issued by sixteen members of the House of Commons in the month of June, 1875, a large and influential repre- sentation from the various Provinces of Canada assembled in Mon- treal on Wednesday, 15th of September, 1875, at 2 p.m. Said circu- lar was in the following terms : — To the Friends of the Prohibitory Liquor Law Movement. The igitation begun in Canada many years ago, with a view to secure such legis- lation as would more effectually check the evils of intemperance than the license laws under which intoxicating licjuors have always l)een sold in this country, has at length reached I'arliamenl, and has commanded the attention of members of both Houses to a degree never before known in the history of the temperance movement. As proof, the House re.iclily agreed on two several occasions to the appointment of committees on the question, — recommending Commissioners to be appointed to visit the United States, to report upon the operation of Prohibitory I.icjuor Laws — abolished the sale of liquors within the precincts of the House, and passed a Prohibitory Liquor Law for the Northwest Territories. The Senate has taken even more advanced grounds than the House of Commons, and on the 31st of March last, affirmed the principle of Prohibition on a division of 25 to 17: While these favorable indications are very encouraging, there are several matters on which such differences of opinion exist among the friends of the movement that it is desirable to take some steps by which these differences may be reconciled, and the whole temperance force of the country united on one common basis. The points of difference may be briefly sun ^rized as follows : — 1. Would a Prohibitory Liquor Law, il now passed, be effective? 2. In order to secure the necessary combination of influence to bring about legis- ation, is it desirable to make Prohibition a distinct political issue at the polls ? 3- Would the passage of a Prohibitory Liquor Law, dependent for ratification upon the decision of a majority of electors of the Dominion by a Plebiscite, accom* plish the object in view ? 4. Wov-H a law that merely prohibitml the manufacture, importation and sale of ardent spirits lie sufficient just now as a preliminary step towards Prohibition ? 5. Would the abolition of tavern, shop anil saloon licenses, without interfering with the domestic use of intoxicating liquors, meet the wishes of temperance men at the present stage of the movement ? While these statements are given to the public, without any expression of opi- nion on the part of those whose signatures are appended, it is desirable that such consideration should be given to them that when the proposed meeting is held at Montreal, an agreement may be arrived at, and legislation sought according to the basis that might then and there be agreed upon. In order that the meeting might possess as much weight and influence as possi- ble, it is designed that members of both Houses of the Dominior. Parliament, and members of the local legislatures of the Provinces, together with the Clergy of all M. Barratt. MANiTonA— Rev. Alex. McDonald. British Columbia — Mr. James Cunningham, M.P. Hon. A. Vidal to be Convener. The President and Secretaries were authorized to revise and correct the minutes for publication. Messrs. G. W. Ross, G. M. Rose, and T. Gales were appointed to arrange for printing the report. A motion was made that when the Convention adjourns, it stands adjourned to meet at the call of the President ; it was, however, deemed best to leave the matter in the hands of the Council. Mr. G. M. Rose, treasurer, submitted the final report of the finance committee, showing that 198 members of the Convention had paid 12 the $2 tax ; 28 had contributed $67 additional to the tax, — maTcmg a total of $463.00. The disbursements were $200 to Mr. Gales for three months services, $191.63 for postage, stationery, printing, rent, and other incidental expenses, leaving a balance of $71.37 to be ex- pended in publishing the Report of the Convention, Report adopted- On motion of Secretary Gales it wa» Resolved, — That the President and .Secretaries be and are hereby authorized to prepare and submit to the Dominion Parliament a petition embodying the views of this Convention, and praying for immediate action. A motion recommending the friends of Temperance to take Elec- toral Action, was, after a brief discussion, withdrawn. Votes of thanks were passed — To the Montreal Witness for papers gratuitously supplied to members of the Convention. To the Press of Montreal for the excellent reports and kindly notices. To Railway and Steamboat Companies, for granting reduced rates to person^ attending the Convention. To the Members of Parliament attending the Convention, To the Secretaries and Treasurer. To Mrs. Youmans of Pictorr, for her stirring addresses. To Mr. G. W. Ross, M.P., for his earnest efforts on behalf of prohibition, both in and out of Parliament. To Gen. Neal Dow, and others, who kindly came from the United States to take part in the Convention. On motion the President left the chair, which was taken by Mr.- Knowlton ; when it was moved by Mr. C McDougall, M.P., seconded by Mr. G. W. Ross, M.R, and Resolved, — That the thanks of this Convention be and are hereby tendered to the Hon. Mr. Vidal for the able manner in which he has presided over the delibera- tions of this body. The President then addressed a few earnest and encouraging words to the Convention, after which all joined heartily in singing " God Save the Queen," and the Convention was closed with prayer by Rev. Mr. Carmichael. A. VIDAL, President. TkomasGales, )^^.,^^, James McCaul,) -^ Secretaries. 19 D :monstration » THl VICTORIA SKATING RINK. On the evening of Thursday the i6th of September, .he menibers of the Convention attended a demonstration, arranged by the temper- ance societies of Montreal. The following extract from the Montreal Gazette in relation to the meeting will be read with interest : — " Notwithstanding the unfavorable state of the weather last evening, the rain descending in torrents for continuous hours and turning the streets into muddy 3agoons, the gathering at the Victoria Rink, l)Oth of delegates and citizens, was the largest and most successful that ever assembled in Montreal for a like ol)ject. While the pattering of the rain on the roof told of the damp discomfort which pre- vailed without, inside the scene was one of impressive beauty and grandeur.. The Rink had been tastefully and commodiously arranged for the occasion, and the display of earnestness, intelligence and moral power on the platform, combined with the fair and smilling faces of the choir of nearly 300 youths and children, all inspir- ed by one common and noble purpose, was a triumph for the cause of temperance which this city has never l)efore witnessed. The contrast between the tumultuous and conflicting elements of the outer darkness and the brightness and gladness and warmth within irresistably suggested the idea of conquest over the ruthless, des- olating, murderous sway of intemperance by the united strength of reason and con- science and religious faith. A little after the hour of eight the members of the vari- ous Bands of Hope marshalled by Mr. Robinson, took their seats on the extem- porized amphitheatre of benches in the front and on either side of the platform. On the latter were the Hon. Malcolm Cameron ; the venerable and world-renowned father of prohibition on this continent — Hon. Neal Dow; the Rev. Dr. Miner, of Boston, the Very Rev. the Dean of Montreal, the Rev. J- Cannichael, the Hon. Mr. Vidal, the Rev. Mr. Scott, Mrs. Voumans, of Picton, and other prominent workers in the cause of temperance. The Bands of Hope represented were the St. George's (Episcopal), St. James (Wesleyan), Zion (Congregational), St. Jude (Episcopal), West End (Wesleyan), Ottawa (Weskyan), .St. Marks (Presbyterian) and the Baptist, the membership of no single band, however, being exclusively composed of any one denomination. The Zion and St George's Bands bore banners. The Sons of Temperance, Good Templars, Montreal Temperance Society, St. George's, and various other temperance organization were well represented, and union, earnestness and energy seemed to be the watchwords of them all. The Hon. Malcolm Cameron presided, and, in a few fitting forcible words, stated the the object for which the meeting had been summoned, A temperance song was then sung by the Bamds of Hope, under the leadership of Mr. Barwick, accompa- nied by a band of music, after which the Rev. Mr. Scott, long well known through- out this section of the Province of Quebec, as a zealous advocate of temperance, offered prayer, beseeching God's blessing on the work in which they were engaged. Interesting and instructive addresses were then delivered by Mr. Knowlton (London,Ont.), Dr. Miner (Boston), Mrs. Youmans (Picton), Gen. Neal Dow (Portland), Mr. D. C. Fraser (New Glasgow, N. S.), and Mr. E. Carswell (Oshawa). In addition to the Societies named in the above report, t'- t. Bridget's Total Abstinence Society, and Perseverance Tent of Rcu. • bites were represented at the meeting- LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE Dominion Prohibitory Convention. Montreal 2 OO New Era Division S of T Carmichael Rev James <4 2 OO I OO St George's Church Temp society Carpenter !' \\ I'h U tl 2 OO tl It i< Cattanach John C (Quebec 2 OO Stadacona Lo-ociation Moulton, O M Coaticook 2 00 Hope Lodge 1 O G T Nighswaiider, Rev D D Granby 2 t» (iranby Division S of T Oliver, John Montreal Inspector St 1 empcrance society Prince of Wales Lodge I G T Paul, Waller St Johns 2 00 Planche, H A St Sylvester Xo Surrender Lodge '* Porter, James S Quebec Stadiicona " •* Raitt, Jas W I-ichute t 00 Victoria Divisioii S of T Reed, Ihos D, M D Montreal 2 00 Perseverance Tent I O R Robinson, T ii 2 00 Howard Division S of T Rose, Henry Waterloo (Jrand Rose, Daniel Montreal Granil Lodge I O G T Rosevear, W H 41 C J rand Trunk Temper'ce League Sarj^ent, G A l( Montreal Temperance Society Schneider, T H <( 2 00 I'enip Electoral Association Scanlon, Rev J (( 2 00 Scrimger, Rev John it 2 00 Smeaton, Alex (Quebec 2 00 Gough Division S of T Smyth, C C Montreal t Shaftesbury Lodge I O G T Stafford, Rev E E t« 2 00! (irand Lodge H T (Ont) Stewart, Wm S it Rescue Division S of T Summers, Hardy it - 00 Prohibition Lodge I O G T Swain, James Bedford Dominion Division S of T Tanner. Henry J Montreal 2 00 Royal Victoria Lotlge I O G T Taylor, Joseph Granboro 2 CX) 2 00 Duke of Wellington "BAOGT Tees, David Montreal Temp Electoral Association Timmis J H it Grand Lodge BAOGT Thompson, John If 2 00 Hope Lodge I G T Webber, R N, M D Richmoryl St Francis Lodge I O G T Whitten, James Adamsville 2 00 Adamsville Division S of T Willard, Charles Mawcook Mawcook " " Wiley, G W Montreal 2 00 Mount Royal Lodge I O G T Woods, Alex (99) Qu '"'c 2 00 St Lawrence L>ivision S of T nsTEi ^ BRXJ2srs"'57-iOK:, Babbit, R T Blair, A G Dudley, W W Freeze, E C Haddow, Geo McPherson, S D Patterson. S B Smith, T B Willianis, Rev W (9) Gagetown Fredericton St John Fredericton Dalhousie Fredericton St John Montreal 2 00 I 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 Grand Lodge B T Grand Division S of T I ft ti New Brunswick T & P League Dalhousie Division S of T York M W Grand Lodge B T M W Grand Lodge B T Sheffield Union Lodge B T - 1 ' «0 List of Members. — {Continued!) Name. Residence. Am't. Paid Societies Represented. Burgess, Rev R D Yarmouth Yarmouth Co Lodge I O G T Coaldwell, Marsden (( 2 00 County Lodge B T Coffin, Rev Jos S Banington 2 00 2 00 County Convention B T * Corning, Bowman Yarmouth 2 00 Milton Division S of T Fraser, D C New Glasgow 2 00 Grand Lodge B T Graham, W S Halifax 2 00 Halifax Lodges I O G T Kaizer, Alfred G (( 2 00 Athena'um Division S of T McGregor, P A New Glasgow 2 00 4 CX) New Glasgow " " Parsons, Jonathan Halifax 2 00 5 Grand Division 8 of T I New Era " Robinson, J Millen (( 2 00 Halifax Lodges I O G T Taylor, H A l( 2 bo Halifax Divisions S of T Woodland, J B (12) Oxford 2 00 2 00 Grand Lodge I O G T Barratt, R M iCharlottetown I2 ooli ooiQueens County League McKay, Rev N (2)ISummerside 1 2 ooli ool Prince County League Gen Neal Dow John N Stearns Rev Dr Miner Mrs A A Miner Rev R M Nott Rev W W Atwater G W McMuUin H Mellins W C Maughan Rev J C Ryan Hugh Furneaux Peter Christie J T Eddy C G Jones W H Lyiich W H Orr J E PattingaJe John Wilson A Friend •VISITORS. Portland, Me New York Boston, Mass ^ * Wakefield, M.s Burlington, Vt Chicago, 111 Jersey City Scotland England St John, Nf'd Martintown O Newcastle O Montreal Danville P Q Montreal 00 00 00 00 00 00 $432 National Division S of T National Division 8 of T Massachusetts Temp Alliance Vermont State Temp Society I 00 2 00 5 00 $72 Total Receipts, $504.00. iie) M. ,. a. | r - i. « ^.^ wni | l> 'J"w * " T . oy»i' j.»tii ' l i W fc M 21 FINANCIAL STATEMENT. To cash received during sitting of tiie Convention - - - To cash received since the close of Convention - - . By cash paiu Rev. Mr. Gales, for his three months' service as Secretary -- $200 oo By cash paid advertising, printing, and other e ipenses con- nected with Convention 191 63 By cash paid Rev. Mr. Gales, to meet expensc^ of printing and distributing Proceedings of Convention 112 37 $463 0<9 41 00 $504 00 504 oa (E. & O. E.) Toronto. November 6th, 1875. GEO. MACLEAN ROSE, Treasurer of Convention. LETTERS FROM ABSENT FRIENDS. Government House, Fredericton, N. B., Sept. 10, 1875. Rev. and Dear Sir, — Your note of the 25th ult. reached me a day or twa since. G. W. Ross, Esq., M. P., wrote me about the middle of last month, urg^ mg me to be present at the Convention to be held at Montreal on the I5lh inst., and in reply I had to express my great regret that I could not be present to take part in the important proceedings. There are two courses that, in my opinion, ought to be avoided. The one is, premature action ; the other, partial and imper- fect legislation. My experience has taught me, that to secure the enforcement of a Prohibitory Law, we must have a strong Prohibition and Temperance sentiment in the Dominion, and any half-way measures will not materially check, much less remove, the great evil we hope to have eradicated. I will look with deep interest for the report of your proceedings, and repeat your hope, " that a wise Providence will guide your deliberations," Yours, very truly, S. L. TILLEY. Rev. Thomas Gales, Montreal. ARCHBisHor'a Palace, St. Boniiwce, Manitoba, Sept. 7th, 1875. Rev. Thos. Gales, Secretary of Committee of D. P. C, Rev. Sir,— I am directed by His Grace the Archbishop of St. Boniface, to acknowledge receipt of your favor of l8th of August last, which he got only this morning, and inform you that he is most sincerely willing that the Government should take some very severe means to help the clergy in effectually checking at length the evils of intemperance in Canada. His Grace hopes the Convention will succeed in their good work and deserve the approbation of all. I remain, .Sir, Your obed't servant, A. A, FORGET DESPATIS, Secretary* FrederictoN, N>B., Sept. 13th, 1875, Rev. T«os.' Gai.es. Dear Sir, — I veiy much regret that professional duties prevent my meet- ing with you at your Convention. My heart is with the temperance men of our Canada, and my prayers go up for wisdom and divine guidance to you in your deliberations, There are wide results hanging upon this Convention, and I shall look eagerly for the conclusions arrived at. Dont make any compromise with the •evil, dont take /ial/-way measures ; stand on ligh ground and trust God and the moral sense of Canada for support. Yours very trnly, GEO. E. FOSTER, President of the N.B T. & P. League, M. W. G. Chief Templar of the Order of British Templars. i Ontario Temperance and Prohibitory League. Office : 32 King Street E. Toronto, 14th Sept. 1875. Hev. Thos. Gales, Dear Sir, — I very much regret that circumstances over which I have no control deprive me of the pleasure of attending the Montreal convention as a delegate from this League. I sincerely trust that the meeting maybe able to agree on some definite line of action, that will secure at an early day the overthrow of the liquor traffic, by the enactment of a law prohibiting the manufacture, import^xHon, and sale of all intoxicating drinks. Anything short of this will not meet the rea- sonable expectations of the friends of Prohibition in Ontario. " Coming events cast their shadows before." The signal gun has been fired a few days ago in the County of Prince Edward : the Dunkin Act, with all its defects, has been carried there by a majority of 615. Wishing the Convention the greatest success !n their important Work, I am, dear Sir, Yours very truly, ROBERT McLEAN, President. Sherbrgoke, 24th Aug. 1875. Rev. Thomas Gai.es, Secretary of the Dominion Prohibitory Conventioiu Sir. — I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter, inviting me to send deputies to an assembly of all friends of a law prohibiting the use of spirituous liquors, with a view of examining in that convention the different questions on the printed paper which accompanies your letter. I am happy to inform you that I have made an agreement with the other Cath- olic Bishops of this Province to send one or several representatives to the meeting which shall take place in Montreal, the 15th, l6th and 17th September next. I desire with all my heart that the Convention, whose object is so praiseworthy and Christianlike may come to some pratical result, and succeed in putting a stop to the devestations caused by the evils of intemperance. I have the honor to be, Mr. Secretary, your humble and obedient servant. t ANTONY, Bishop of Sherbrooke, % 23 Quebec, September 13th, 1875. Dear Sir, — I regret having to inform you that the St. Patriclt's Total Abstinence Society of Quebec will not have the pleasure of being represented at the approaching Prohibitory Convention. Through an unfortunate oversight, for which the Society was not to blame, the meeting to take action upon your invita- tion was not duly announced; and yesterday, when it did come up, there were some few members less than a quorum, so nothing could be done, and it is now too late to remedy it for this time. However, we will be with you, in spirit at least. I am glad to tell you that the members of this Society sympathize deeply with the Prohibitory movement, and I trust nothing will prevent our delegates attending the next meeting. In the meanwhile, we will not remain passive specta- tors in the struggle against the dread scourge of intemperance. It is to us a source of much gratification to see delegates from ever}' quarter of the Dominion wending their way to Montreal to enter into a league for the purpose of exter- minating one of our deadliest common foes. May the fullest measure of success crown the movement you have set on foot, and may its benign influence be felt throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion, until the social curse is rooted out, and drunkenness is banished from the land ! Again assuring of our heartfelt sympathy with your praiseworthy undertaking, and wishing you God-speed in it, I remain, dear sir, yours most sincerely, THOMAS J. MOLONY, President St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society of Quebec. *^ [From Rt-;.\ Father Murphy of Montreal. ] 30 SeatoN Street, September 22d. Rev. Thomas Gales, Secretary, 6^^. Rev. Sir,— Only on last Saturday night did I return from Washington (D. C, United States), where I had been staying for the three preceding weeks. During my absence it was that your very courteous invitation arrived here, and till my return I did not see it. This will. I hope, account satisfactorily both for my non-attendance at your meeting and for my non-acknowledgment of the receipt of your letter. I beg leave through you to thank your committee for the proffered invitation. That invitation, had I been in Montreal, I would have most cordially accepted. With the Prohibitory Liquor Law movement I am in the fullest sympathy, and will always think the opportunity providential which gives me a chance to speak in its favor. I am, reverend sir, with great respect, your always, JAMES MURPHY] ■ I* ^ RESULTS OF PROHIBITION. Compiled from the Report of the Commissioners and other official sources, by G. W. Ross, M. P. In order to set at rest the doubts so frequently entertained by mary persons in regard to the success of Prohibition in Maine, Vermont, and other States where such laws were enacted, the Dominion Govern- ment appointed a Commission consisting of Rev. J. W. Manning, of Almonte, and Col. Y. Davis, of Sarnia, with instructions to visit the States above named, and other States if thought desirable, and report the result of their enquiries with all convenient speed. The Report, which is a very valuable and impartial summary of the opinions of many of the leading men of the States visited, covers 133 pages. The quotations which follow are made with a view to meet objec- tions to the feasibility of Prohibition as a remedy for the evils of the liquor traffic. The advocates of Prohibition allege that it is capable of accom- plishing two things — I St. A reduction in the consumption of intoxi- cating liquors ; and, 2nd. As a natural consequence a diminution of the evils attending such consumption. If Prohibition failed at all it could only fail m not accomplishing these two results. Does Prohibition reduce the consumption of intoxicating LIQUORS? Gov. Dingley, of Maine, says : — •* Taking into consideration the increase of our population, the consumption of intoxicating liquors is not in this State one-fourth as great as it was thirty or forty years ago. Leaving out of consideration the l.irge foreign immigration which has poured into our State in that period, I do not believe that our native population use one-eighth of the intoxicating liquor which they once did. Neither has secret drinking taken tile place of open drinking." An ex-Mayor of Portland says : — "The closing of open bars certainly did diminish drinking ; and the effect of the law, when enforced, was good. For the country it is the best law we can get, there is not a better law on the statute book." Altheus Lyons, (Police Court Recorder) said : — " In Waterville, where he was residing, he was conversant with the fact that 30 years agb one merchant in three months sold three hundred barrels of rum, and now he doubt^jd if in that same place you could get a glassful. " ; i \A '1 9» Alderman Crosby said : — " He was quite satisfied the law did diminisli drinking." Mayor Blake of Bangw : — *' The absence of the open sale certainly did diminish drinking." Robert Hamilton, one o£ the Selectmen of Orono, a town of 3000 inhabitants, says : — " He does not think any liquor has been sold in the only hotel in the town for the last ten years." J. J. Bennoch (Trial Justice) says : — " The law is a success ; the consumption of liquor has very largely decreased.'" H. W. True, (Judge of Police Court) says : — " My experience tells me the law (Prohibition) is a success." Extract from Governor Dingley's Inaugural Address to the Legis- lature, January 8th, 1874: — " This system has had a trial of only twenty-two years; yet its success in this brief period has, on the whole, been so much grejiter than that of any other plan yet devised, that prohibition may be saitl to be accepted by a large majority of the people of this State as the proper policy towards drinking-houses and tippling- shops. , » It would be unwise for any oi>e to claim that prohibition has entirely suppressed, or can entirely suppress the dram-shop. That is no more possi- ble than for human enactments to entirely prevent theft, robbery, arson, or even murder. Indeed, any effective enactments against practices which are exceptionally profitable, and at the same time pander to men's appetites and passions are peculi- arly difficult of thorough enforcement, as has always been found the case with statutes prohibiting gambling saloons and houses of ill-fame, as well as drinking- houses and tippling-shops. The true test of the merits of such legislation of what- ever character, is not whether it entirely uproots the evils prohibited ; but whether, on the whole, it does not rep>ress them as effectually as any system that can be devis- ed., In more than three-fourths of the State, especially in the rural portions, public sentiment has securetl such an enforcement of these laws, tlia^ tPiere are now in these districts few open bars ; and even secret sales are so much reduced that drun- kenness in the rural towns is comparatively rare. Hon. Woodbury Davis, Judge of the Supreme Court for ten years, in a letter from which we extract the following, said : — '* Previous to the passage of the Maine Law nearly every tavern, in country and in city, had its " bar ;" at almost every village and " comer" was a grog shop, and in most places of that kind, more than one, where old and young men spent their earnit^s in dissipation. Men helplessly drunk in the streets, and by the way side, were a common sight ; and at elections, at military meetings and musters, and at public gatherii^s, there were scenes of debauchery and riot enough to make one ashamed of his race. What has become of this mass of corruption and disgus- ting vice? It seems so much like some horrid dream of the past that we can hardly realize that it was real and visible twenty years agow The Maine Law has swept it away forever." J. S. Wheelwright, Mayor of Bangor, says i — " It is safe to say that in our city not one-tenth part as much is sold now as in ten years past." i ! i t i I lii^ 26 « The Hon. Wolcott Hamlin, Supervisor of Internal Revenue for Maine, in 1872, says : " In the course of my duty as an internal revenue oflficer, I have become thor- oughly acquainted with the state and extent of the Hquor traffic in Maine, and I have no hesitation in saying that the beer trade is not more than one per cent, of •what I remember it to have been, and the trade in distilled liquors is not more than ten per cent, of what it formerly was. Where liquor is sold at all, it is done .secretly, through fear of the law." For still further proof that prohibition reduces the quantity of liquors consumed, we refer our readers to the following statement prepared for the Commissioners by Mr. Yoimg, Chief of the Bureau of Statistics at Washington. The amount of duty paid per head by the under- mentioned states gives a pretty clear idea of the relative consumption of liquors. The following is the amount of duty per head, omitting fractions '. — Connecticut $0 62 Indiana 2 70 Kentucky 3 89 Maine o 08 *Massachusetls I 50 Michigan , o 40 New Hampshire o 51 New Jersey O 94 New York I 42 Rhode Island q 40 Vennont o 05 * Senator Stone, of Massachusetts, in the last Congress, in a speech delivered hefore that body, ■"protested against these figures being taken as a test of consumption in that State, as Boston was a distributing mart, and imported the supplies for nearly all the New England States, and the same t.ibles would show th-.U every inhabitant of the State consumed 127 pounds of sugar, and 80 pounds of silt." > For this reason, it would be unfair to compare Massachusetts with the other New England States, and therefore draw the comparison betweea Does prohibition diminish crime ? Gov. Dingley, in his address to the Legislature, January, 1875, says "It is significant that during the last nine or ten years of increasing efficiency in the enforcement of the laws against dramshops the number of convicts in the State prison has fallen off more than one-fourth. " In his address of 1874 the same Governor said : — " One good effect of the enforcement of the law is seen in the fact that while in 1866 there were 83 convicts committed to the State prison, List year there were only 22." Hon. W. P. Frye, member of Congress, and ex-Attorney General of Maine, says :— - " The Maine law has done more good than any other law upon our stature book, and is still al work," 87 Hon. George G. Stacy, Secretary of State, Augusta, said : — " I have known the city of Augusta fifteen years ; there were then open bars, bvit now not one, and the law has been a success, though of course selling is not entirely suppressed. The effect of the law has been to largely reduce crime, espe- cially that class of crime such as gambling, fighting, etc." H. Clay Goodman, Judge of Police Court, Bangor, said : — " In some years the law was better enforced than others, and during the year in which it had been most stringently enforced, crime had decidetlly diminished," Nathan Frost, one of the Selectmen of Orono, said : — •' The enforcement of the law has had a great effect upon the social and moral condition of the people, and has very materially reduced poverty within the last five years since the law was better enforced. " Hon. R. C. Pitman, Judge of the Supreme Court, in an eight-page tract showing the practical workings of prohibition in New Bedford, presents statistics from official reports, showing an increase of 68 per cent in the number of crimes, and 140 per cent in cases of drunken- ness, under license laws as compared with prohibition. J. H. Drummond, (Councillor, formerly Speaker of the House of Representatives, Attorney-General of the State of Maine, and now Republican candidate for Congress) said : — " Crim* had diminished materially under the operation of the law, even where only partially enforced. " Mr. Brydges, Deputy Marshall of Portland, said : — " At the present time Portland needed twenty more policemen ; but that if the liquor law was enforced as it should be, they could largely reduce their present force. During the four months the Sheriff enforced the law in 1872, they were seven days without an arrest. " General Dyer, of Bangor, Inspector General of Militia, said : — " It was the best law they ever had, and that it materially improved both the moral and social condition of the people, as it reduced crime and poverty." Average annual commitments to State Prison, Maine, under License 60^ '• Prohibition.... 38X J. AVilder May, (District Attorney for Suffolk County) said : — " I am satisfied from my own experience, that three-fourths of the crime is attributable to drink directly, and three-fourths of the remaining fourth to the same cause indirectly ; do away with the sale of liquor to be drunk on the premises, except at hotels, and then only to guests, and you may reduce your police one-half, and your criminal expense fully fifty per cent. From Governor Washburn's Inaugural, 1872 : — " Let Prohibition be rigidly enforced and crime and pauperism will be reduced fifty per cent ; a great burden of taxation would be removed from all citizens ; a new impetus would be given to every branch of legitimate industry ; a heavy weight would be lifted from the hearts and hands of our laboring people, and a most important step taken toward their permanent elevation and improvement. " — 28 The Boston Chief of Police reported : — ■• i For the last quarter of 1867, the year of enforced prohibition. ' Number of arrests I.5.30 Lodgers 2,6'7 4.147 The last quarter of 1868, the year of license : — Number of arrests 5, 596 Lodgers 7,617 13.213 Total, quarter of 1868 13,213 1867 4,147 Massachusetts repealed her prohibitory law in November, 1867, and substituted license. Governor Clatiin, in his Message to the Legislature, January, 1869, said: — "The increase of drunkenness and crime during the last six months, as com- pared with the same period of 1867, is very marked and decisive as to the opera- tion of the law. The State prisons, jails, and houses of correction are being rapidly filled, and will soon recjuire enlarged accommodation if the commitments continue to increase as they have since the present law went into force." The Chaplain of the State Prison, in his Annual Report for 1868, says : — " The prison never has been so full as at the present time. If the rapidly in- creasing tide of intemperance, so greatly swollen by the present wretched license law, is suffered to rush on unchecked, there will be a fearful increase of crime, and the State must soon extend the limits of the prison, or erect another. " Connecticut enacted a prohibitory law in 1854 by a vote of 148 to 61 in the House, and 31 to i in the Senate, which went into operation in August. In 1855, in his annual message to the General Assembly, Governor Button said : — " There is scarcely an open grog-shop in the State, the jails are fast becoming tenantless, and a delightful air of security is everywhere enjoyed." Governor Miller, in 1856, said : — '* From my own knowledge, and from information from all parts of the State, I have reason to believe that the law has been enforced, and the daily traffic in liquors has been broken up and abandoned." The New Haven Advocate said : — " From all parts of the State the tidings continue to come to us of the excellent workings of the Connecticut liquor law. The diminution of intemperance, the reduction of crime and pauperism, the better observance of the Sabbath, are the themes of rejoicing from every quarter. Men who voted against the law, and who have been its bitter opponents, are now its firm friends. " Rev. W. G. Jones of Hartford, in 1854, said : " Crime has diminished at least seventy-five per cent " »»JP« w 99 Rev. Mr. Bush of Nonvich said : " The Jails and alms-houses are almost empty." Rev. David Hawley, City Missionary of Hartford, said "That since the prohibitory law went into effect his mission school hftd increasect more than one-third in number. The little children that used to run .and hide from their fathers when they came home drimk are now well dressed and run oUt to meet them." Mr. Alfred Andrews of New Britain said : " This law is to us al)oye all price or valuation. Vice, crime, rowdyism, and idleness are greatly diminished, while virtue, morality, and religion are greatly promoted. Rev. R. H. Main of Meriden, Chaplain of the Reform School, tes- tified that " crime hud diminished seventy-five per cent." In New London County the prison was einpty and the jailers out of business. In New Haven the commitments to the City Prison for crimes aris- ing from intemperance in July, 1854, under a license law, were 50, while in August under prohibition, there were only 1 5. Rev. Dr. Bacon of New Haven, after the law had been in operation one year, said . — " The operation of the Prohibitory Law for one year is a matter of observation to all the inhabitants. Its effect in promoting peace, order, (juiel, and general prosperity, no man can deny. Never for txvcnty years has our city been so quiet as under its action. It is no longer simply a question of temperance but a govern- mental question — one of legislative foresight and morality." The Legislature of 1873 repealed the law, however, substituting license, and the official records show that crime increased 50 per cent in one year under license. Afa public hearing before the Legislative Committee in 1875, ReV, Mr. Walker of Hartford presented official returns showing that crime had increased four hundred per cent in the city of Hartford since the prohibitory law was repealed. The report of the Secretary of State shows that there was a greater" increase of crime in one year under license than in seven years undei* prohibition. The report says : — " The whole number of persons committed to jail during the year Is four thou* sand four hundred and eighty-one (4,481). being one thousand four hundred and ninety-six (1,496) more than in the preceding year." " The two counties most clamorous for license in 1872 show the greatest increase of the crime of drunkenness in 1 874. Hartford County has an increase of com- mitments for drunkenness of 115 per cent., and New Haven County 141 percent. That is, Hartford County shows 215 commitments for dnmkenness this year foj" every 100 made two years ago, and New Haven County shows 241 for every loO of two years ago. " »WW" *- i In 30 In 1865, the law known as the Metropolitan Excise Law was passed designed to apply only to the City of New York or Jirooklyn. It was merely a Prohibitory Lifpior Law so for as Sunday was concerned and remained in operation thirty one months. The first thirteen months under the operation of the law 6,021 arrests were made for intoxication on the Tuesdays, against only 2,514 on the Sundays of the same week, showing an excess of 3,507 of Tuesday over Sunday arrests. They had been nearly even previous to the passing of the law. From January i, 1867, to October i, 1868, there were 5,263 Sun- day arrests, to 11,034 Tuesday arrests, showing an excess of 5,771 in favor ot prohibition. During all the time of the operation of this law the Sabbath was quiet and peaceable, free from disorderly scenes and bacchanalian revels. The testimony of ministers, religious papers, public meetings in both cities, was hearty and enthusiastic over the good results of the law. The liquor-dealers knew that prohibition prohibited effectually, and that on the most profitable day of the week for them. They went to work at once to secure its repeal. Large sums of money were raised and sent all over the States, to elect a legislature which should wipe it out of existence. 'J'hey raised $50,000 and went to Albany, and were ready to give it if the Sunday prohibition could be rei)ealed. Had the law been a " failure" they could have saved their money. Had " more liquor been sold under prohibition than license," as is falsely claimed, they could better have paid their money to have kept the law in force. This law, and the'prompt and decided manner in which it was executed in this stronghold of the rum-power, are the strongest evidence that prohibition can be enforced anywhere in the country wherever there is an honest effort among officials to put it into execution. In Maine under prohibition, the convictions for crime, in 1P70, amounted to 431, or one for every 1,689 souls; while in New York, exclusive of the city, the number of convictions was 5,473, or one in 620 souls. The Hon. William Fox, ex-Prime Minister of New Zealand, in a speech recently delivered in London, England, refers to his own per- sonal investigations regarding the success of prohibition in the State of Maine After many enquires, extending over a six week's tour in the State, he says : — ' • The effect of prohibition on the general condition of the people is truly marvel- lous : a total absence, externally at all events, of all those vices and crime which you meet with amongst drinking populations, which is very agreeable and very surpris- ing. The impression left on my mind by my visit to these States was that in Maine and Vermont, on the whole the prohibitory law has been a great success, notwith- standing that it has been more difficult to carry out because of its non-permissive character. " 9t ' Mr. Garrison gives the following facts to the ** solid men of Boston:" ••From NovemVer to May. 1868, after the election, the sale of li(|uor was iinres. tricte'l. Durinjj that yoar there was a falling off in the valuation of the State as compared with the two previous years of nearly $33,000,000, most of which was in jiersonal proj)ety. During the t\Vo years of prt>hil)ition the personal pro- perty of the State increased nine and a half per cent.; h\ 1868, undc.- the license law, it in':reas>;il two and two-thirds per cent. From i86o to 1865. Boston increased her valuation $12,000,000 annually; while from 1865 to 1867, during two )ears of prohibition, the increase reached $36,500,000 annually. During the two years of prohibition her increase was 7 percent., but last year, tinder license, only l^ per cent." PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY, ENGLAND. In February, 1869, a Committee of the Lower Hotise of Convoca- tion of the Province of Canterl)ury reported 1,475 parishes where prohibition prevails, and say that — "Few, it may be believed, are cognizant of the fact — which ha» been elicited by Ihe present en(iuiry — that there are at this time, within the Province of Canterbury, upwards of (Mk; thousand parishes in which there i.s neither [mblic-house nor beer- shop, and wlvere, in consequence of the absence of these irHlucements to crime and pauperism, according to the eviilence now before the committee, the intelligence,, morality, antl comfort of the people are such as the friends of temperance would have anticipated." TYRONNE COUNTY, IRELAND. This County contains 61 square miles and 10,000 people. Right Hon. Lord Claude Hamilton said in 1870 : — " At present there is not a single policeman in that district. The poor rates are half what they were before, and the Magistrates testify to the great absence of crime. " BEER brewers' TESTIMONY, In the Fifteenth Annual Report of the United States Brewers' As- sociation, held at Cincinnati in June, 1875, a great wail was sent up on account of the reduced consumption of liquors because of j^rohib- itory laws. Mr. Louis Shade, of Washington, D. C, editor of the Washington Sentinel, and the special agent of the Brewers' Congress in Washington, in an address before the Convention, explained the cause of the reduction. We copy the following from his address : — " Very severe is the injury which the Hrewers have received in the so-called tem- perance States. The local-option law of Pennsylvania reduced the number of Breweries in that State from 500 in 1873 to 346 in 1874, thus destroying 154 Brew- eries in one year. In Michigan it is even worse ; for of 202 Breweries in 1873, only 68 remained in 1874. In Ohio the crusaders destroyed 68 ouc of 296. In Indiana the Baxter law stopped 66 out of 158. In Maryland the Breweries were retluced from 74 to 15, son^e few of those stopped lying in those counties in which they have a local-option law." Mr. Shade also refers to the reduction of the number of barrels ma- nufactured during theyear of 35,966 in Pennsylvania, and "in Massa- chusetts, in consequence of the prohibitory law, of 116,585." He then T I. 'I I I 32 refers to the increase in certain States, and, speaking of the general reduction throughout the country, says : "There is no tloiiht that the temperance agitation and prohiliitory laws nre the chief cau^es of the (iecfease ci^mpared to the |>rece(iinK year. Had our friends in Massacluisetts been free to carry on their business, and had not the Slate authori- ties constantly interfered with the latter, there is no ttouU that instend of showing D decrease of 116,585 liarrels in one year, they woftld have increased at the name rate as they did the preceding year." It is Very desinible that the Irfcnds of Prohibition shmild give as wide a circulation as possible to tire foregoing facts. We must rest t)ur ca.se on evidence. The evidence being conclusive, why should it not be in everybody's possession? RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BV THE CONVENTION. That the manufacture, iiviportatron, and sale of intoxicating liquors to be used as common beverages, are found y aupetisnn, Alike subver- sive of public Morality and social order. That all attempts to restrict the traffic h^ license la^V iite unsatisfactory, inas- tnuch as intempefance, and all the evils connected therewith, are constantly 4ncreasi«g. That nothing shoft of the entife prohibition of the manttfactute, importation and ?ale of intoxicating liquors as beverages Would be satisfactory to this Convention. That in ordeir that a Prohibitory Liquor Law, w'hen passed, may have the sympathy and support so indispensably necessary to its success, it is the opinion of tfiis Convention that the Dominion Parliament should be urged to frame such a law, subject to ratification by popular vote» That the President and Secretaries be and are hereby authorized to prepare and submit to the Dominion Parliament a petition embodying the views of this Con- V«BtioH, and praying for i».rflediate actiotK \ ^^ilp PiMi ■ I III i ' 1 ' J' a!!ii' I: K I I ■fTT?^ Dominion Prohibit ory Council, A)'»'OI\Ti:i) HV THK COWK.VTION. ONTARIO. Hon. Alex. Vidal, Sarnia. Mr. M. Knowlton, London. Mr. G. VV. Ross, M.P. Strathroy. Mr. T. McNaughton, Coboiirg. I Rev. Wm. Scott, Smith's Falls. Mr. J. M. 1'. Hannum, Ottawa. Mr. Roht. McLean. Toronto. \ Q u b: B E (• . j Very Rev. Dean Bond, Montreal. Rev. Thomas Gales, Montreal. ^ P. P. Carpenter, Ph. D., " Mr. James Boutelle, Danville. i Mr. D. Macdonald, " Mr. Wm. Brodie. Quebec. NEW BRUNSWICK. Prof. G. E. Foster. Fredericton. Mr. W. W. Dudley, St. Jolm. Mr. A. Ci. Blair, Fredericton. Mr. E. C. Freeze. Fredericton. NO \'A SCOTIA. Mr. John A. Kirk, M. P., Glenelg. ' xMr. D. C. Fraser, New Glasgow. Mr. A. Longley, M.P.P.^ Paradise. Mr. J. B. Woodland, Oxford. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. Rev. N. McKay, Summerside. Mr. R. M. Barratt, Charlottelown. MANITOBA. ^ Rev. Alex. McDonald, Winnipeg. BRITISH COLUMBIA. Mr. J. Cimningham, M.P., New Westmjnster. Hon. a. Vidal, President. Rkv. Thos. Gales, Secretary, Box 892 >^ Montreal. J