The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-02-24
The Press and Temperance.
Froa the North. Western Advance.

Auang the most powerful influences
moulding public sentiment and giving
general character TO the customs and hab-
It's Of an enlightened people, that Of the
press holds prominent place. Many
assign it the first rank, and with this
class probably those whc control the press
generally take their position.
This nigh grade OF influence establish
ed or admitted the responsibility Of the
public press for the practical standard
Of civilization, refinement and morality
assumes magnitude of searful dimensions,
Opportunities and responsibilities go
hand in hand.
It is not g mere matter Of choice with
the press, whether its warning voice is
raised against that which is fatal to the
vital interests Of the people, o. whether
its weighty sentences give force to that
which is Just and profitable Duty de-
terrnines the line Of action. The positive
relation which the press sustains 10 the
welfare and prosperity of our common
humanity, calls upon it to oppose the
wrong and toadvocate the right in g bold,
outspokea, unequivccal manner, wherever
the line of distinction is clearly marked.
And in proportion to the magnitude OF
the evil, and the unquestioasblenegs OF
its character, should be the earnesgness
and tho energy with which the press
should labor for it's removal. We think
these positions will not be questioned.
What then should be the position OF
the press Of our country in relation &c
tho temperance cause? The wrong OF
rum-selling and rum-drinking cannot bt
questioned. The magnitude of the evil
cannot be gresped. Tho extent of It's
, desolations cannot be surveyed. It's scat
tered fragments Of humanity-of flesh
and blood, body and soul, line our streets
moulder in our poorhouses, decay in our
prisons and mingle with the dust in orlI
grave yards. Everywhere this fiery
tongued viper meets the gaze as man.
most subtle foe. There is no miatakine
him. His eyes are too fiery; his lips are
too foul; his breath is too foetid! Il
there be any one evil among men, against
which the press, secular, political, scien
tifc and religious should concentrate its
energies, that evil is intemperance. i
the press doing its duty<in this felds
Generally, il acknowledges and depre
Gates intemperance as sore evil. Many
of its terrible effects are published to the
in general exhibit of the news O
the day; and temperance meetings anC
movements frequently ind place in tht
same columns.
s. But do not the ludicrous accounts Civ
en.us OF drunken frolics, police arrest
and municipal proceedings, contras
Strangely with the magnitudeand deadl7
nature Of this most terrible destroyer 0
eli 3that is noble in humanity? Is th,
general manner Of treating the making
selling and drinking of this fluid 0
death, calculated to impress the youns
raWith sense OF the insidiousness of tht
( temptation which the cup presents tx
their eyes?
Do not intoxicating drinks frequently
occupy conspicuous places in advertising
columns, while editorial paragraphs com
mend dealers to public confidence, as
gentlemen Of the first grade? In such
cases are not. editors actually aiders anC
abettors IN this work Of ruin-co- partners
with dealers and sharers Of the respon
sibilities? Though drunkonness is de
plored, and unfortunate persons under
the controlling power OF the cup are fire.
quenty subjects Of jest and Iidicule, how
seldom does the secular press speak Of
the trqg5o as humanity, degrading AND
criminal?