The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-06-14
- For the Telegraph.
Good TempIars, Festival.

I REASONS WHY IT SHOULD BE PATRoNIzED.
The Good Templars' Strawberry Festival at SIN
mons Hail. to morrow friday evening, should b
Ipatronized by every one, who delights to indulg
in healthful luxury--who takes pleasure in meet
ing friends and acquafntances@who likes socis
gathering-who enjoys pleasant and agreeable sociG
ty, and who feels it privilege to aid good enter
| prise. =,
But there are reasons besides those above named
which appeal to every friend Of temperance.
lsrge number ofthel order-loving, and church-goin
population of this city, process to be fayoraby dis
lposed towards the cause oftemperance. Indeed,
is doubtful whether respectable person can b.
found, who will say the temperance cause ought no
TO be encouraged.
| The fact ofthe evil O intemperance being admit
ted and the duty of counteacting its progress, be
ing also admitted it follows as logical conclusion
that every man or woman who admits these princi
pies, and does nothing to promote temperance, il
morally guilty. To admit the presence ofa grea
civilian evilwhichis within the power of every on,
to discourage and decrease, or to encourage and in
crease, and yet make no efortto stay its progress
is to stand condemned by the word of God, and the
enlightened sentiment of the age.
The evil ofintemperance is not thrust upon the
community by some power outside of its reach OF
control. 1t is introduced among us by human agen
cy, and thepeople of town or state are as much re
sponsible for its existence, as for any other evil
brought upon us, by the voluntary actions Of men
But it may be asked, what has this course of rea
soning to do with the Good Templars' Festival? II
is answered that the order of Good Templars, is q
recognized organization for discouraging the use OF
intoxicating drinks, and advancing the cause OF
temperance and sobriety. 1t is almost, if not en-
trely the only associated effort for this purpose in
this State, and in the western states generally All
other societies for the promotion oftemperance, have
ceased to act, and are apparently disbanded.
Nowit is fact proven by history as well as COM
mon observation that evil of society was ever
moved, or counteracted, without united and organ
lied effort Evils of this kind do not cure them
selves; the responsibility for their removal is COM
mtted tohuman agencies The tide OF intemper-
ance will never be stayed, while men and women,
however good, stand stilland merely deplore its raw
ages. Members of Christian Churches not unfre-
quently.talk wondrously solemn over the sad hav-
oc made by liquor drinking; yet these same good
men go away without lifting a finger to arrest the
e vii they complain Of No amount of mere talking
without corresponding action, will arrest the on
ward march of iHtemperance. The influences which
are arrayed against temperance are organized and
systematized. AS well could men talking about the
Wlckedness of the late rebellion in the disoyal
states, have putt down without military organza-
ton as simply bewailing the woes of intemperance,
without unity of action, can arrest its progress.
Some respectable persons, profess not to like the
plan upon which the order ofGood Templars is based
If they are really friends of temperance why, not
propose a better plan and act upon it? There are
hundreds of moral and religious persons who stand
aloof on various pretexts, from the Good Templars
and still pretend to have profound regard for the
temperance cause. There is an abundance of ma
teria out Of which to form better organization for
promotion of temperance, by those who are not sat
SIZED with the Good Templars What valid excuse
Then for remaining idle n
The Good STempars have a safe organization
to which the society in this city, as well as al |
other societies of this order in the State are auxIia
ry. The State Society needs funds to carry on its
plan OF operation. Agents who travel through the
State to assist in the organization of new societies
and counsel and encourage those already formed
cannot be expected to pay their own expenses and
give their time without remuneration No other
or phlIanthropic enterprises of the day
are carried on without funds The order of Good
Templars is now the only temperance Organization
in this State, which Systematically supports lecturers
Or agents, or eXpends money for the promotion of
temperance. The order of Good Templars in this
city, has grown from small beginning to society
quite large III numbers The members are mostly
young persons; they will soon enter upon the sfoa
ofacive life, and do much in fashioninp the nnhiic
sentiment and habits ofcommunity. They need en-
couragement, and they have right to eXpect if Mt
east from those who profess to be the friends of GOOD
order, temperance and sObrety.