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The Temperance Movement and Scott Act in St. Andrews

Standard
Dec 31, 1841
Temperance Procession
The procession of the members of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society which was to have taken place on Monday last, was postponed until tomorrow, when the procession will form before the Catholic Church after 11 o’clock Mass, and after taking the appointed route, will again return within the Church when the Rev. Mr. Quin will address them on the all important subject of temperance.

Standard
Jan 7, 1842
Temperance Procession
Pursuant to notice and according to announcement in the last number of this paper, the procession of the members of the Catholic total Abstinence Society took place on Saturday last the Instant. It was a glorious sight, well timed, commencing with the New Year, and well deserving of the warmest approbation of the philanthropist, and every well wisher of humanity. it was a glorious sight we repeat, to see some hundred so persons of all ages and sexes, an indication and guarantee, that hundreds upon hundreds will follow their brilliant example, to see them by a most public act in the face of the world, ratify the promise they had previously made, ever to abandon the use of intoxicating spirits, the great source of evils and abuses.
            After the celebration of High Mass in the Catholic church, the members of the Society retired into the new and commodious School House, and having suspended their medals, appointed the flag and banner bearers, and ? on the line of route, they were drawn out into line and marched in the following order:
            Band of Music
            The solders of the Garrison, being members, with a blue and union flag,
            Male juvenile Members of the Society, two deep, with Medals suspended from green and blue ribbons,
            Females, two deep.
            Banner with a full length portrait of the Apostle of Temperance, in the act of administering the Pledge to a number of postulants
            Male adults, two deep, who composed a formidable body of well attired and respectable men.
After the procession hade gone through the appointed route (the principal streets in the town) at several of the most public place so which they were met by groups of respectable inhabitants, who to show approbation, and good feeling at the strange, but happy scene which they witnessed greeted them most cordially. The procession returned in the same manner and re-entered the Church. Owing to the excellent arrangements made for the return of the members of the Society, and . . . occupying he galleries of the Church, comfortably accommodated. When the noise and hubbub had subsided, and everybody had taken the places the Rev. Quin ascended the pulpit and in his usual free, but animate and persuasive style, entertained the crowded audience for nearly an hour and a half on the all absorbing and important subject to temperance.
            In the evening the juvenile Members of the Society, male and female, under the superintendence of Mr. and Mrs. Daly, who preside over the Parochial School, enjoyed themselves by partaking of a temperance repast, which in joyful and innocent merriment with sentiments, speeches, and songs, they prolonged to a late hour, when they separated, highly delighted with he entertainments.
            we did ourselves the pleasure of visiting them, and shared fully in their hilarity, and although the occasion was one of joy, it was to us one of serious thought;--the dangers and perils, and the wreck of virtue and fortune, from which many a youth before us were perhaps rescued by the happy circumstance which gave rise to the festive scene we were witnessing, fleeting across our mind; and whilst we envied them, for the propitious stars under which they wert born, we could not help congratulating them on the happy, prospers and unsullied life upon which they were just entering, and with these commingled feelings we returned to our home having completed one of the most interesting and we hope instructive days of our lives. [The editor at this time is A. W. Smith]

Standard
May 6/1846
Total abstinence societies seem to have superseded temperance societies here and in St. Stephen. Alex Campbell of St. Stephen a member.

Standard
Oct 7/1848
Teetotalism and cholera: piece from the Teetotal Times and Essayist: "Far be it from us to say that teetotalism will preserve a man from the attacks of cholera. But this we may boldly affirm that of three classes of persons, the drunkard, the moderate drinker and the teetotaller, the chances of escape or recovery are vastly in favor of the latter."

Standard
April 16/1851
10,000 miles of RR in States.
Temperance Soiree for Charlotte Division No. 4 of Sons of Temperance Society to be held in Long Room of bldg. formerly known as the Custom House, owner Thomas Watt.

Standard
Dec 26/1855
Queen has given assent to prohibitory Liquor Bill for NB. Editorial.

Standard
Aug 15/1866
Temperance versus cholera:--At a meeting of the N. Y. Board of Health, last week,
Doctor Crane mentioned a striking fact in the following words: “In the Stygian and pest-ridden Twelfth Ward, of Brooklyn, not a solitary one of the five hundred members of the Father Matthew Society resident therein has been attacked by cholera.” Mr. Acton confirmed the remark by adding that not a cholera case had yet occurred among the 16,000 members of the Father Matthews Society in that city.

Pilot
Aug 2, 1883
Scott Act Repeal
We understand that steps are about to be taken to secure the repeal of the Scott Act in this county. It must be admitted that the Scott Act, so far as charlotte county is concerned, has been a complete failure. Although we are in favor of prohibition, pure and simple, we are not in favor of a prohibition whose only effect has been to prohibit on paper, while it has left the county a prey to the most deplorable effects of the liquor traffic. The question may be asked, Why has the Scott Act been a failure? Our answer is, that it had not and has not public sentiment to back it up, and sustain its enforcement, and further that experience has taught us, that laws, the enforcement of which are left to popular caprice, are seldom effective in their operation. How many people would pay duties at the Custom House if the government did not appoint officers whose duty it is to enforce the revenue laws? Now believing as we do that the Scott Act is a failure, we are in favor of its repeal, and a return to a licence law, which imposes restraints to the Liquor traffic.
            Prohibition is doubtless the true and best remedy, where practical, but where its enforcement is impracticable, as has proved to be the case in this county, the next best thing is to stringent license law. It is certainly better than permitting the free and unrestricted sale. Although the license law permits the traffic in intoxicating drink it does so under restrictions and regulation that have a tendency to lessen the evils connected with the traffic.

Beacon
March 20/1890
The Scott Act.
Inspector O’Brien Opens fire on St. Andrews.
He Gains Two Easy Victories but is Repulsed by Pop in Two Other Battles
Among the guests who have been gathered around the board of the International Hotel, the past week or two, has been a tall man, with iron gray hair and side whiskers, keen, yet pleasant blue eyes, and shaggy eyebrows, whose age might safely be placed anywhere between fifty and sixty years. More than usual interest has been taken in this stranger’s advent, from the fact that he is none other than Mr. Edward O’Brien, the Scott Act Inspector for the County.
            Although the general public were not expecting a visit from Inspector O’Brien, there were some people who appeared to know of his coming, and who were closeted with him soon after his arrival. It was not long before rumors of contemplated prosecutions were on the wing, and it became an absolute impossibility to obtain anything stronger to quench their thirst than plain pop or ginger beer.
            Not until Friday was any positive move taken b the Inspector. Then two informations were laid, and summonses were issued for the afternoon of the following day. Mrs. Ann Hatch’s case was the only one tried on Saturday by Justice Hatheway. Mr. Grimmer, the County clerk, appeared in the inspector’s behalf, Mrs. Hatch being undefended. She pleaded not guilty, and intimated to the court that “since the sneaks were going to run the town it was about time to put a fence around it and turn it into a goose pasture.” Mr. Thomas Storr was the first witness. He did not know of Mrs. Hatch selling liquor for a period of twenty years. His business as truckman frequently called him to her store, and quite often he drank pop and ginger beer there. He never got any whiskey, or brandy, or gin there, and as for lager beer, well, his opinion of that beverage was not very high. Mrs. Hatch had a bar, with bottles on the shelves, but what they contained he did not know. As the other witness, Mr. Fearby, was not on hand, the further hearing of the case was adjourned until 8 o’clock. Mr. Fearby’s evidence was no stronger against the defendant than that of the previous witness. He had been in the habit of visiting Mrs. Hatch’s shop, but for six or more months past he had obtained nothing stronger than pop stuff or sarsaparilla. She had refused to sell him liquor, and he heard her refuse it to others. No intoxicating liquor was mixed with the pop or sarsaparilla he drank. He could have detected it if he had been there. At the close of this witness’s testimony, Mr. Grimmer applied for a further adjournment until Monday afternoon, so that other witnesses could be summoned, but the justice would not grant it and dismissed the complaint.
            The other cases were set down for Tuesday afternoon, the defendants being Patrick Donaghue and William Sheehan. The former acknowledged a violation and paid his fine. Sheehan pleaded not guilty and several witnesses were examined without any evidence of guilt being disclosed. The further hearing of the case was deferred until the evening. The witnesses examined in the evening all drank “pop,” so that there was nothing left for the court to do but dismiss the complaint.
            The Inspector went upriver on Wednesday.

Beacon
March 27/1890
A Miserable Business
Rev. A. Gunn Fires a Shot at “Pop” Drinkers
A Danger that Dorchester will Receive some of Our Citizens
When Rev. A. Gunn arose in the Presbyterian pulpit on Sunday evening to deliver his usual discourse, he state that at a future day he proposed to make some remarks upon Sabbath desecration, a sin, he remarked, that appeared to be increasing rather than decreasing in this community.
            There was another subject upon which he proposed saying something about, and that was “this miserable pop business.” On previous occasions he had pointed out that the man who sells intoxicating liquor in the County of charlotte violates the law of the land. He is a criminal. The man who buys the liquor and rinks it has also committed a grave wrong. He is an accessory in crime. In this case the law does not punish the accessory, but there are cases in which the accessory is very severely punished.
            The facts, said he, which have come out at late trials here, show a low state of moral sentiment in certain quarters. They show that some men have lost much of the honor the Creator endowed them with. On more than one occasion, the preacher said that he had shown that drink demoralizes a man and deprives him of honor. If there was false swearing at the trails to which he alluded, he would not say, but this he would say—things do not look well. A man may afford to pay a liquor dealer’s fine, but he cannot afford to get the dealer clear by swearing falsely. The price was too much. It was high time that the moral sentiment of this community was raised. If it does not, Saint Andrews will lose some of her citizens, and the population of Dorchester will be correspondingly increased. There will be a short turn some day. He had raised his voice, he had given a warning. His remarks were not directed particularly to his congregation. We want a high moral sentiment here. It is time the moral sentiment was raised. If a man has done wrong, let him like a man acknowledge his wrong. The law does not punish the man who buys; it does not punish the accessory. The moral guilt remains however. If a man is guilty, let him not attempt to conceal it by a greater crime. When a man takes an oath it requires of him that he shall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If he endeavours to conceal facts, or employs subterfuges, he has violated his oath, and punishment awaits him.
            The reverend gentleman then proceeded with his sermon, the pith of which was that if men employed the same diligence in seeking after spiritual things as they do in seeking after gold, or silver, or hidden treasure, it would be better for their eternal welfare. During the course of his remarks he stated that if he offered two dollars per day to people to attend church, he had no doubt that the church would be crowded, but, because he had something better to offer them, but few attended. Yet there were people who would accept a dollar and a half per day to go out on the lake at the Sabbath day and work. [directed at the Chamcook Ice business, it seems]

Beacon
May 15, 1890
The Scott Act. How it is being vindicated at the Capital.
An Alleged Lunatic
A “party by the name of Johnson”—John Johnson is the name he gives—was taken out of the Lansdowne House on Tuesday and placed in jail on suspicion of being a lunatic. When landlord Pendleton went to his room that morning he found Johnson on the floor in “undress uniform,” driving horses with the bed quilts, and having a jolly time all to himself. After going to jail, Dr. S. T. Gove made an examination of the man, and concluded that he had better remain in confinement for a period until the Scott Act Rum had worked out of his system a little. Sheriff Stuart found in his pockets a tin whistle, six cents, a lot of crackers and cheese, and a cake of soap, which goes to show that in the matter of cleanliness his mind was sounder than a good many sane people we might name. Johnson says he belongs to Pictou. If crazy he is a very harmless lunatic.

Beacon
May 22/1890
Scott Act And Temperance
Rev. Henry W. Little, Episcopal clergyman of Sussex, who appears to be a conscientious temperance worker, recently gave expression to view rather unfavorable to the Scott Act, and as a result he is being attacked right and left, and all sorts of ulterior movies imputed to him. Mr. Little takes the ground that the Scott Act can accomplish ho good, because it is badly drawn and unworkable, and because public sentiment is not yet ripe for the enforcement of such legislation. He thinks that the cause of temperance would be further advanced, if the law was repealed, and moral suasion used as a factor for promoting personal sobriety. Mr. Little’s views accord very closely with the views of this journal. As a friend of the cause of temperance, and as one who desires to see prosper, it is our honest conviction that the Scot Act is proving an injury rather than a blessing, and is retarding the work of temperance. Ardent advocates of temperance, who have become impatient at the apparently slow growth of temperance sentiment, have sought the aid of legislation to hurry the work along. That it has not had the desired effect is abundantly shown by the fate which has befallen the Scott Act in Ontario. The repeal of the Act in that province cannot be regarded as an indication that the cause of temperance is retrograding, but rather that temperance men and women have had their eyes opened to the fact that it is not what they want, and that better results can be obtained from educating the masses to the belief that the drinking habit is a pernicious one, injurious alike to body and to soul, than from compelling men to be sober. This, we maintain, is the only sound view to take of the temperance question, and it is the view that it is bound to prevail in the end. When the masses fully realize that the baneful influence that the drinking habit exerts; when fashion has set its foot upon it, and the social glass is tabooed from polite society, then and not until then will the cause of temperance be triumphant. It is useless to say that public sentiment is in favor of the Scott Act. What better evidence of this could be obtained than the case of the imprisoned hotel keepers at Fredericton, who have been visited and sympathized with by hundreds of men and women, the majority of whom would scorn to visit or extend sympathy to a person imprisoned for any other offence.

Beacon
Aug 14, 1890
“When rum is in wit is out” is a saying that was exemplified on Water Street on Friday afternoon, when one young man who was loaded to the muzzle by very bad rum made an attack on a schooner captain, who was in about the same trim. The language that was used was really appalling, and shocked the ears of many who were obliged to listen to it. A good able-bodied policeman would seem to be needed here to quell the turbulent spirits which break out occasionally.

Beacon
Jan 8, 1891
Some curious things happen at public dinners occasionally. It is narrated that at the close of one of these festive occasion sin St. Andrews some years go, one of the guests got down on his knees to put his overshoes on, and was horrified because he could not find his feet. He caught sight of them once, and tried to catch them, but every time he turned his pedal extremities turned too, and at last he was obliged to give up the struggle in despair. Another guest, who had been taking too much “turkey,” created a good deal of merriment by endeavoring to get his cuffs on over his feet.

Beacon
Nov 19/1891
Scott Act sustained by vote. Much in Beacon preceding issues. Actually St. Andrews, St. Croix, Welshpool and Lepreaux voted against the Act; in other parishes the Act was approved by large majorities. See Nov 26, 1891.

Beacon
Nov 26, 1891
The Scott Act is being vigorously enforced. The reputed dealers in St. Andrews have put on their shutters, and it is stated will go into other business. One victim has arrived at the Jail from SG, and others are expected from the same locality. Some of the island dealers had better close up their bars, if they do not wish to be behind Jail bars, as the Scott Act people are on their trail.

Beacon
March 30, 1893
What Bad Rum Did
It Causes a Brutal Fight, Qualified One Man for the Hospital and Nearly Leads to the Death of Another
Rum—villainous rum—was the primary cause of a brutal quarrel which began on Friday afternoon, and nearly resulted in the death of one man.
            Capt. Kerrigan, of the schooner “Mary,” and his brother, who is mate of the vessel, came up town on Friday after dinner, and laid in quite a store of fighting rum. So also did Steward Walsh, of the schooner, “Erie.” The three men started off for their vessels together quite peaceably, but had only gone a short distance when the two Kerrigans were seen to attack their companion. They knocked him down several times and kicked him until his face was amass of blood. Then they left him and hastened towards the wharf. They tried to pick a quarrel with Capt. Brown, who was getting his vessel under weigh, but failing in this, they returned to finish the steward, who had staggered down as far as the steamboat wharf. They resumed the attack upon the man there, when Mark Hall remonstrated with them. Mr. Hall received for his pains a tap in the nose which stretched him out on the green for a couple of minutes. The mate, fearing the crowd were going to make a general attack upon him, fled towards another schooner for protection. He mustered up courage in a few minutes to return to his brother’s side, and for the next half hour the air was blue with the oaths of the infuriated men, who expressed their ability to whip the whole town.
            Constable McQuoid, who was present, was asked by a citizen to place the men under arrest, but he declared he had no authority without a warrant. In the meantime, the “Erie” had sailed out to an anchorage over the western bar. Capt. Brown sent the mate and two men ashore for the steward, but he would not go with them, and became very abusive. They left him ashore, and returned to their vessel.
            Then one of the Kerrigans caught the unfortunate steward and dragged him own to the water side, with the evident intention of drowning him. He held him under the water, until the other brother interfered. After this incident, the steward was taken on board the schooner “Mary E” [Ellen?] for protection and a permit was obtained for him to enter the hospital. It was supposed at this time that the Kerrigans had shed enough gore for one day, but they were evidently not satisfied, for about 5 o’clock, Capt. Kerrigan went over to where Ab. Denley was working with his team and without any provocation struck Denley a blow in the face. The other Kerrigan also drew a knife, threatening to do him up. Before a second blow could be made Denley’s younger brother picked up a wagon stake and struck Capt. Kerrigan on the head with it. He fell like a log, and laid on the ground in an unconscious condition for several minutes, the blood oozing from a horrible gash in his head. Then Constable McQuoid placed young Denley under arrest and took him before Justice Hatheway. Ab. Denley also appeared before the Justice and swore out a warrant against the two Kerrigans for the assault upon him.
            When the constable went to serve the warrants, Capt. Kerrigan was on board his vessel, having partially regained consciousness. Dr. Harry Gove, considering the man’s condition dangerous, would not allow him to be removed, but the mate was arrested and brought up town. The following morning, the mate was arraigned before Justice Hatheway. Denley was represented by M. N. Cockburn. At the request of the prisoner the hearing was postponed until 2 o’clock that afternoon, when a plea of “guilty” was put in. the Justice imposed a fine of $5 and costs—in all $17.70. The charge against the captain was withdrawn. After the mate got out of the clutches of the law, the “Mary” at once set sail for St. John.
            The Injured steward of the “Erie” also joined his vessel before she sailed from her anchorage on Saturday morning.

Beacon
may 24/1894
A load of bad whiskey, with an accompaniment of revolver and knife, is what a Milltown tough brought to St. Andrews with him on Sunday night. He drove down with the wife of a Scott Act prisoner, and having been refused permission to bestow some of the whiskey upon the jail boarders, he became very wroth. He struck one young man a treacherous blow in the face. Then he drew his revolver and threatened to shoot. He was allowed to go scot free.

Beacon
Aug 2/1894
Some people profess to believe that an Irish named Quinn was the innocent cause of the word “Algonquin” being turned loose. They say that Quinn and a number of thirsty Mic-Macs sat down one day to polish off a square-face of gin, and that when it came to the Irishman’s turn to drink he found the bottle empty. “all gone Quinn?” asked one of the Indians sarcastically, and out of this grew the word “Algonquin.” But this story on the face is a lie, for no Irishman was ever stupid enough to let an Indian get the better of him that way.

Beacon
July 14/1898
The Prohibition campaign is now in active operation all over Canada. In Charlotte County, Mr. C. N. Vroom called a convention of friends of the cause at St. Stephen yesterday, the result of which has not reached us.

Beacon
Jan 4/1906
Fought with Wolves. Desperate encounter near St. Andrews. Hilarious parody by Armstrong of lurid accounts of wolves in the vicinity with a pro Scott Act twist.
Don’t tell me that there are no wolves in Charlotte county, remarked a well-known resident of the rural districts to the Beacon a few days ago. I had an experience with them going from St. Andrews not long since that I will not forget in a hurry. I had been in town buying holiday supplies and enjoying myself and had postponed by departure until well on in the night. I had not gone far on my journey when I began to see wolfish shapes all about me. They made no noise but crept stealthily after me, stopping when I stopped and quickening their pace when I tried to escape from them. Try as I would I seemed unable to get out of their sight. M actions emboldened them, and at last one, bigger, bolder and uglier than his fellows, leaped upon me and bore me down. Ina twinkling I was surrounded by snapping, snarling fiends. To my frightened vision they assumed all sorts of monstrous shapes. The one that held me by the throat was a terrible monster. His fangs dripped with bloody froth as he tore at me. His breath fairly overpowered me, while his blood-shot cruel eyes threw baleful glances at me that caused my frightened tongue to cleave to the roof of my mouth. I tried to scream for help but my feeble cries were drowned by the weight of the brutes that held me down. They trampled over me, ripped my clothing in tatters, dragged at my ears and bit me in a score of places. I felt that my last hour had come. I thought of my wife and children waiting expectantly for me and my promised Christmas gifts at home. I wondered how they would get along without me. I even wondered what my friends would say when they found my mangled body and what tune the band would play as they planted the fragments. All the sins of my life, and they seemed to be legion, came trooping up before me. The thoughts of my family gave me fresh strength and hope and I fought as I had never fought before to escape from the clutches of the blood-thirsty pack. My struggles were successful and I had the satisfaction of seeing my foes retreating one by one into the forest. When I awoke my sled was lying across my body and the empty flash of Scott Act whiskey, which I held by the neck in a deathlike grip, bore mute yet eloquent testimony, to the desperate struggle I had made to over come it. “Don’t tell me, please, that there are no wolves in Charlotte County because I know better. (cf. not by a jugful)