The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-21

taken tho reform into their hands had con-
scientiously and thoroughly worked their
scheme for many years they found, to their
dismay, that not enough Of temperance senti-
ment had been developed to sustain for a day.
In efficient practical operation, the law which
WAS to render all further moral efforts unnec-
essary.
In our judgment we must have in this coun-
try something more and better than the Maine
laws, and something more and better than
temperance organizations and the stereotyped
machinery OF temperance movements. Neither
this law nor this machinery, separately or In
combination, has proved itself sufficient to
effect the desired reform. We believe, however,
that the reform is possible, that the agent to
effect it exists, and that that agent has already
a foothold IN every intelligent house in the
land. We have no question that the press OF
America, fully discharging its duty as a CENSOR
enlightener, and educator Of the people, can do
more to make the nation temperate in five years
than all the temperance laws, lectures, and Or
CARNATIONS have been able to effect in twenty
five years. Is it not true, to-day, that not ono
manifests positive interest in the temperance
question and persstently casts it's influence
against the use Of Intoxicating drinks Is it
not true that there is no question of public
morals toward which the general American
press is 30 uniformly indifferent. and in re-
gard to which it assumes 80 little responsibility
az this?
There is good reason for this fact some
where sufficient one, at least, or it would lot
exist. 1t Is not because the editorial fraternity
are without convictions on the subject, that
they say nothing about 1t. 1t is not because
they are tipplers themselves. or because they
lack opportunity OF acquaintance with the sad
resulss OF intemperancs. 1t IL mainly b3caus
they have consented to regard the question as
practically taken out o. their hands. Mess
they have manifested entire Willingness to be-
come the organs and tools of the temperance
organizations OF the country, to say their
words, push their schemes, and advocate their
measures, without question or discrimination,
those organizations have chosen to regard
them as enemies OF the temperance cause. 1t
would be impossible for any set OF men to
manifest greater bigotry and intolerance to-
wards oil who have seen fit TO differ with them
on moral and legal measures than have char
acterzed those Jealous and thoroughly we'll
meaning reformers who, through various or :
carnations, have assumed the custody and
management OF this question, Editors who
have undertaken to discuss the question indie
pendently-as they are in the habit OF discuss
Ing all public questions-have been snubbed
and maIigned until they have dropped 1t in dis
gust, and turned the whole matter over to
those who have doubted or denounced them.
Editors have not been alone in this surrender.
It is notorious that more than one Legislature,
in more than one Stats, has passed laws for
the suppression Of intemperance that it had
no faith in whatever, because the self-appointed
champions of the temperance reform demand
ed them and would have nothing else. 1t has
not been safe for legislators to oppose the
schemes Of these men-safe for their reputa-
ton for sobriety. 1t has been assumed and
declared that all men who were not with them,
in whatever movement they chose to institute,
were friends Of free rum aud the upholders Of
vice and crime. SO legislators have given them
their own imperious way, and washed their
hands of responsibility by the consideration
that Temperance men had "got what they
wanted"
The time for new departure is come. 1t Is
punctuated by the shifting and uncertain
Of those who - had their own way"
for many years, and who find themselves as
far from the goal at which they aimed az they
were when they started. The press. independ- |
emily, must take this question in hand, and
educate the people to temperance. The truth
is that there is not country on the face of
the earth where stimulRnts are needed so lit
tie, and where they are capable OF producing
30 much mischief, as In our own. Our spark
hing, sunny atmosphere, ana the myriad in
to hope aud enterprise in our circum-
stances, are stimulants Of Gods own appoint
nent for the American people. The pouring
down of Intoxicating liquors Is ten thousand |
times worse than waste is essential sacrlego.
This straiung of the nerves, this heating OF .
the blood, this stimulation or stupefaction Of .
the mind. this imposition of cruel burdens on
the digestive organs, IL a foul wrong upon
Nature. Tens OF thousands OF valuable lives
ire sacrificed every year to thIs Moloch OF .
strong drink. The crime, the beggary the dis
grace, the sorrow, the disappointment the
disaster, tho sickness, the death that have
lowed in one uninterrupted stream from the
of the land. are enough to make oil thinking
md manly men curse their source and swear
eternal enmity to il. The American people
need to have 1T proved to them that under no
are the various forms OF Intox-
eating drink good for them. They are not
ret convinced OF this although the know. OF
,ourse, that the abuse of drink brings all the
,vils that can be imagined. Every Juvenile
every newspaper, every magazine,
every review, owes it 10 the country to teach
his fact persistently. There has been some-
thing the way in which the temperance reform
las been pursued which has brought upon It
he stigma of fanaticism. That Stigma ought
10 be obllterated--so thoroughly obliterated. |
hat the man who weakly yields to a degrading
appetite, or wantoniy courts such an appetite.
aud the danger and Disgrace 1t brings, shall |
feel that he bears stigma which marks hls /
degradation amoug generation OF clean and I
healthy men. In short, temperance must be /
made not only respectable, but fashionable
The wlne-bibber and the beer-drinker as we'll
Ia those of stronger stomachs and coarser
tastes, must be made 10 feel that they arc So
clauy dlsgraced by their habits. In the family. /
IN the school. everywhere. by all the ordinary
means OF approach TO young and plastic minup,
the virtue OF temperance should be ,uculcated T
Il is fashionable for the young to drink vino
to-day. Il must not be tomorrow: and in
order that it may not be, tho accepted lesders
Of public opinion must tell the people tho truth,
apc enforce upon the people tho CbigstIons 81