Teetotalers and teetotalism : a letter to the Rev. Dr. Campbell, in vindication of teetotaliam and the teetotal body from the attacks made by him and his anonymous correspondents / by Thomas Beggs.

  • Beggs, Thomas, 1808-1896.
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Teetotalers and teetotalism : a letter to the Rev. Dr. Campbell, in vindication of teetotaliam and the teetotal body from the attacks made by him and his anonymous correspondents / by Thomas Beggs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1/16
    TEETOTALERS and TEETOTALISM. A LETTER TO THE REY. DR. CAMPBELL, IN VINDICATION OF TEETOTALISM AND THE TEETOTAL BODY FROM THE ATTACKS MADE BY HIM AND HIS ANONYMOUS CORRESPONDENTS. By THOMAS BEGGS. PRICE ONE PENNY. To THE REV. DR. CAMPBELL. My dear Sir, You will no doubt think it strange that I should address you, and especially in this manner, upon the subject of your present quarrel with the London Temperance League. It is not my intention to undertake the defence of that body: as they have men among them quite capable of entering upon such a work, it would be impertinent for me to volunteer it. I am not a member of the League, have taken no part in its counsels, nor have I been identified in any way with it, beyond that of occasionally taking part in its meetings, when invited to do so fcy the Committee, and this I have done in accordance with a rule I have adopted for years, not to refuse any aid I can render to any body of Temperance Reformers who are honestly seeking to promote the cause, however I may object to their methods of management, or differ upon minor matters. Belonging to no particular Temperance organization, I refuse my aid to none. I deplore as much as you can the little extravagances into which some of the societies have fallen through zeal and inexperience, and I have sought opportunities to express to members of the League my disapproval of many of the public displays which, although they might be well meant, could not fail to make the judicious grieve. I am the last man to deprecate, or object to criticism; I use it freely, and invite it on all occa¬ sions. When I have heard others speak in tones of anger or distrust of your former animadversions, I have always vindi¬ cated your right to free speech. However I might regret the severity with which you used the rod, I felt that chastise¬ ment being deserved, many of our earnest but imprudent friends would be all the better for knowing that your eye was upon them. But I fear that in this instance you have been betrayed by your feelings into an act of injustice. You have suffered a trifling indiscretion, which would have been adequately punished by a passing criticism, to goad you into sweeping condemnation of a large body of men who had no part in that folly, or fault, whichever it may be; and you have given a sanction to attacks upon the principles of _. -v__:_____~_~_'_