comforts, their domestic happiness, are all involved. The ques- 

 tion is, whether millions of our countrymen should be helped to 

 become happier and wiser — whether pauperism, lunacy, disease 

 and crime shall be diminished — whether multitudes of men, 

 women and children shall be aided to escape from utter ruin of 

 body and soul 1 Surely such a question as this, enclosing within 

 its limits consequences so momentous, ought to be weighed with 

 earnest thought by all our patriots." 



These men cannot be considered biased or fanatics. No, 

 their statements are true to the letter, as experience has shown 

 that the liquor traffic is the enemy of God, of man, and of all 

 social and religious progress. It has always been a mystery to 

 me why the Bishops and Clergy, the Landlords and the upper 

 classes generally should have been so opposed to the great tem- 

 perance cause. Whether they know it or not, they owe much to 

 it. One of themselves has said " The more I examine and travel 

 over the surface of England, the more I see the absolute and 

 indispensable necessity of Temperance Associations. I am 

 satisfied that unless they existed we sliould be immersed in such 

 an ocean of immorality, violence and sin as would make this 

 country uninhabitable." — Lord Shaftesbury's Speech at Norwich. 



II. ITS BEARING UPON THE TENANTS. 



I fear it may give offence to some of my readers when I say 

 that farmers have been great sufferers from intemperance. I don't 

 mean from the vulgar drunkenness of tbe sot, btJt from free and 

 heavy drinking, which has led to a serious waste of valuable 

 time and money. I have travelled in many parts of the country 

 during the last 25 years, and paid special attention to this question, 

 and I am obliged to arrive at the above conclusion, and from the 

 nature of things I do not see how it could be otherwise, for till 

 recent years we were all taught to drink, it was the one thing that 

 special attention was given to, we were told that drink, above 

 every other thing, was what we needed to make us grow, to make 

 us strong, to keep us in health, to enable us to enjoy life, nothing 

 could be done without it, no bargain could be made without drink, 

 when and wherever friends met, they must drink if it was within 

 their reach ; when the farmer went to see his landlord, drink was 

 offered him, at the rent audit it occupied the chief place at the feast, 

 when he went to market he was surrounded by inducements to 

 drink. There can be no doubt but that thousands of men can 

 trace their ruin to the temptations of the market. I have seen 

 families brought to ruin and have watched with sorrow the 

 process. In some cases it has gone on for ten, fifteen, twenty, or 

 more years. I feel sure that the reader, if he reflects for a moment 

 will be able to call to mind many cases within his own experience. 

 The process is as a rule gradual, but sure ; and many know it, but 

 few have the the moral courage to cut themselves off from it, 

 which is their only safety. 



