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Genesee County History
Genesee County Biographies
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TEMPERANCE.
OLD people of this and other counties remember distinctly that in their youth the use of spirituous liquors
as a beverage was almost universal. Nor was it confined to the laymen. Very many of the settlers of Genesee County
had such a habit, and it was thought no harm in those times, for it would be a breach of hospitality to not offer
it to visitors. It was the necessary help at the “bees,” and the failure of such "bees" and gatherings,
from its absence, is well remembered.. It was at. home, in the field, everywhere, in olden days, and was the universat
panacea for wet weather and dry weather, for real and imaginary ailments.
Distilleries sprang up early in many of the towns, and liquor was cheap and pure ; the country stores kept it for
sale the same as codfish and molasses; and its use was sanctioned by all classes—the laborer, the clergy, the bench
and bar.
Indeed, the words of a modern poet,
The power enslaved in yonder cask
Shall many burdens bear;
Shall nerve the toiler at his task,
The soul at prayer,”
seem very apropos of the customs of former days. With the well founded ideas of the time is it to be wondered
that no moves were made for a reforth in regard to its use? It is not known definitely when stringent measures
were taken in Genesee County; the pulpit always taught temperance, but that was not the temperance—strict prohibition,
touch not and handle not—of the present day.
It is known that about 1830 a reform gradually swept over the land in the form of signing a pledge; but this was
only a general restriction not to use it to excess, and was not sufficiently effective. In this county, in 1836,
a society was formed, and after a discussion of two days, with a negative vote of two (who voted so, fearing the
advance was too rapid), the total abstinence pledge was adopted. At the present day it hardly seems credible that
a temperance reform could have encountered any opposition. It did receive such opposition in 1836 in Genesee County.
There were many earnest, zealous workers in the reform here, but after a half century, with no records, it is impossible
to name them. Much good was done, and a check was placed upon the increasing evil, which is felt to the present
day.
Like all important reforms it has had its revivals, its new methods of advancing the work, and these waves would
sweep over the country animating the friends to good works. The first of these waves that so greatly inundated
the country was the “Washingtonian” movement, that started in 1840 at Baltimore. A few confirmed drunkards saw
their peril and joined together in a resolution to reform; others joined; and the whole country joined in the good
work. Genesee County was remarkably active in the move, but like all superhuman efforts a reaction followed. Still
much permanent good is directly traceable to that grand movement. Its restriction by statute was then urged, and
in 1846 the first law went into effect. It was termed the “license or no-license” law, and sometimes the” five-gallon”
law, but could be consistently called a “local option” law. This, for some reason, was not generally successful;
not perhaps so much from any defect in the law, or that the evil cannot be restricted by statute; but having invoked
the aid of the law the temperance workers relied too much upon its strong arm and relaxed their efforts in educating
the public sentiment to sustaining them.
About 1855 the so-called “Maine law” was enacted, and the friends anticipated good results, but the Court of Appeals
decided it to be unconstitutional. This was followed by an act appointing county commissioners to grant licenses,
but this was not satisfactory.
The next move was the present local option statute that allows each town to determine, by its votes, if the sale
of intoxicating liquors shall be tolerated, and the election of the commissioner gives the decision. The towns
of Genesee County are no exception to others, and the excesses of either faction can be held in check by the operation
of the law.
Within a few years the Prohibition party has come into existence, which claims total prohibition as its platform.
Of its merits it is not our province to speak, and its votes will be found under another head. This fact should
be borne in mind by its friends in Genesee County: that all laws are not satisfactory in their results unless the
pebple. are educated to a sentiment of their wholesomeness, and a strong majority morally pledged to their fulfillment.
FROM:
Gazetteer and Biographical Record
of Genesee County, New York
Edited by: F. W. Beers
J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890
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Genesee County History
Genesee County Biographies
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