[Illustration: "_There are many Radicals who take a great deal more
than they can carry._"]
When I talk of temperance I mean temperance not only in drink, but in
all things. There is temperance in eating, and temperance in life. In
the present case there are three sections--the temperance people, the
Sunday closing people, and the total abstinence people. I cannot see
how the question of religion can enter into party politics. I have
known many Tories who were habitual drunkards, and there are many
Radicals who take a great deal more than they can carry. There is
always a difficulty in drawing the line between the enthusiast and the
fanatic. Enthusiastic gentlemen generally get what they require.
Fanatics, on the other hand, by the way they advocate their
principles, turn people away.
_Opening of the new Temperance Hall, Newport,
May 2nd, 1889._
I believe that if the medical men of the country published their
opinions concerning the cases which come under their notice, it would
be a revelation to the general public how great a proportion of
illness is due in one way or another to alcoholic drink. I cannot,
however, help noticing that a great improvement and advance has taken
place in the cause of temperance. A good many years ago, when there
was going to be a great family festival--a wedding or something of
that sort--one of the family retainers was asked if he was going to be
there. "Of course," was his reply, "and won't I just get drunk." That
seemed to be the prevailing idea of enjoyment--to get drunk. But that
attitude has been changed.
_Band of Hope Festival, Newport,
May 3rd, 1900._
[Illustration: "_Coming out and making themselves disagreeable to
their neighbours._"]
I have no doubt there are several in the hall who, like myself, are
not total abstainers, but we are all one in our endeavour to promote
temperance generally. To those who cannot be temperate, we advise
total abstinence. There is nothing, I am sure, so fruitful of good as
the advocacy of temperance amongst children. When children are taught
to advocate a particular cause they do it more effectively than older
people. But we are sometimes apt to become too much imbued with one
particular idea, and it is never well to be too much of a bore to
those around us. A little child was asked not long ago what she knew
about King John and Runnymede. She had evidently been a worker in the
temperance cause, and replied, "Oh, yes; he's the man they got down to
Runnymede and made him swear to take the pledge." She had forgotten
about Magna Charta, and thought of only one kind of pledge. There is
nothing that disturbs the general happiness and comfort so much as the
action of those who persist in going into a public house when they
need not do so, and coming out and making themselves disagreeable to
their neighbours. I only hope that some of the younger portion of you
will live to enjoy a Bank Holiday without seeing a single drunken
person.
_Band of Hope Union, Newport,
May 29th, 1901._