From the Baltimore Patriot.
TEMPERANCE.
{"character_count": 2578, "word_count": 429, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9743000268936157], "ccnet_perplexity": [2102.800048828125], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
| The Legislature of Massachusetts, at its last
session, took the field in earnest in the effort to


stay the progress of intemperance, by removing


temptation and opportunity as far as possible from


those likely to give way to their seductions. A


law was enacted which prohibited, under suitable


penalties, the retailing of spirituous liquors in the


Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This, il must


be admitted, is root and branch work. 1t is said


that the innkeepers of Taunton, in that State, by


way of showing their resentment at the passage


of this Total Abstinence Law, took down their
signs and closed their houses and stables, during
the late court week; upon which public meeting
of the citizens was called in reference to this ac-
ton Of the landlords, and arrangements were
adopted by which all strangers were well accom-
modated with private lodgings. In noticing this
movement of the innkeepers. of Taunton, the


United States Gazette remarks that s'perhaps be-
fore another term, the gentlemen Of the lower
bar will think that half loaf is better than no
bread"


The signs Of the times denote, we are glad to
say it, that the cause of temperance, as well as
that Of good government and of political reform, is
onward. AS pertinent to the subject, and as one
Of these most marked temperance signs, we would
refer to the movement Of Mr.. Webster, in the
United States Senate, on Monday. On that day
the distinguished New England Statesman pre-
sented "with particular pleasure" memorial from
certain officers Of the army, praying Congress to
repeal that part of the law which allows whiskey
to soldiers on fatigue duty. This memorial de-
clares that the substitution of sugar and coffee
for the whiskey part Of the ration, in ordinary
circumstances, has been productive Of great good,
as well to the service, to the efficiency, health
and happiness of the soldier. And from prac-
tica demonstration Of its advantages, the memo
Iial now asks that the whskey ration may be dis
pensed with in case Of fatigue duty, and there
fore discontinued altogether. The memorial was
referred to the Committee on Military Affairs,
and noted in our paper of Wednesday. The
signs, we repeat, are alike favorable to the pro-
gress of the Temperance cause, and that Of good
government, conradstinguished from Loco
foco and Agrarianism. And we hold that neither
of these good causes of Temperance and Poiti-
cal Reform can advance single step, perma-
nently, without giving increased stability to the
body polite and corresponding advantage to the
well-being Of society.