Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-09-26

closely associated with them 1hete are
literally hundreds of thousands Of people
in polite life in America who would not
dare To give a dinner, or party, without
wine, Notwithstanding the fac, that in
many instances they can select the very
guests who will drink too much on every
occasion that gives them an opportunity
There are old men aud women whoinvite
young men to their feasts, whom they
know cannot drink the wine they propose
to furnish without danger To themselves
and disgrace to their companions and
friends, They do this sadly, often, hut
under the Compulsions of social usage,
Now we understand the power Of this in
ttuence; and every sensitive man must
feel it keenly, Wine has stood SO long as
an emblem and representative of good
cheer and generous hospitality, that it
seems stingy to shut it away from our feS-
tiyitios, and deny it to our guests Then
again it is SO generally offered at the IA
bles of our friends, and il is so difficult.
apparently, for those who are accustomed
to ii to make dinner without il, that we
hesitate 10 offer water to them Ii has
observation-disclosures an untTiendly--see.l,
ing; yet what shall a man do who wishes
10 throw what influence he has on the
side of temperance
The question is not new. 1t has been
up for an answer every year and every
moment since men thought or talked
about temperance at ali We know of but
one answer to make to it, A man cannot,
without stultifying and morally dehasing
himself fight in public that which he toll
crates in private. We have heard of such
things as writing temperance addresses,
with a dcmiiohn underline table; and so.
ciety has learned by heart the old talk
against drinking too muCh-"the excess
Of the thing, you know'-by those who
have the power OF drinking a little, but
who would sooner part with their right
eye than with tina little. A man who
talks temperance with wineglass in his
hand is simply trying to brace himself so
that he can hold it without shame. We
do not deny that many men have selfcon-
troll, or that they can drink wine through
life without suffering, to themselves or
others. II may seem hard that they
should be deprived of a comfort or plea.
sure because others are less fortunate in
their temperament or in their power of
will. But the question is whether a man
is willing 10 sell his power to do good 10
a great multitude for a glass Of wine ut
dinner. That is the question in its plain.
est terms II he is, then he has very
little bencvolenCe, or very inadequate
apprehension OF the evils of intemper-
ance.
What we need in our metropolitan so
cicty is a declaration Of independence.
There are a great many good men and
women in New York who lament the
drinking habits of society most sincerely.
Let these all declare that they will minis
Ter no longer at the social affairs Of the
great destroyer. Let them declare that
the indiscrminate offer of wine at din
ncrs and social assemblies is not onl}
criminal but vulgar, as it undoubtedly is.
Let them declare that for the sake of the
Young, the weak, the yiCiouS~tOr the sake
of personal character and family peace,
and social purity, and national strength
they will discard wine from their teasts
from this time forth and forever, and the
work will be done. Let them declare that
it shall be yulgar--as it undeniably is
fOr a man to quarrel with his dinner be-
cause his host fails to furnish wine. This
can be done now, and it needs to be done
now, for it is becoming every day more
difficult to do it. The habit of wine
drinking is quite prevalent already
European travel is doing much TO makeit
universal and if We 20 on extending It
at the present rate. we shall soon arrive
at the European indifference to the whole
subject There are many clergymen in
New York who have wine upon their
tables and who furnish it to their guests.
We keep no mans conscience, but we are
compelled to say that they sell influence
at a shamcfully cheap rate, What can
they do in the great fight with this tire.
mendous evil, They can do nothing,
and are counted upon to do nothing.
If the men and women Of good society
wish to have less drinking to excess, let
them stop drinking moderately II they
are not willing tobreak of the indulgence
Of IA feeble appetite for the sake Of doing
great good to great many people, how
can they expect a poor, brokcndown
wretch 20 deny an appetite that IS strong,
or than the love of wife and children, and
even life itself? The punishment for the
failure to do duty in this business is sick
ening to contemplate, The sacrifice Of
life and peace and wealth will 20 on.
Every year young men will rush wildly to
the devil; middle-aged men will booze
away into apOpleXy and old men will
swell up with the sweet poison, and be
come disgusting idiots What viii be.
come of the women We should think
that they had suffered enough from this
evil to hold it under everlasting ban, yet
there are drunken women as well as
drunken clergymen Society, however,
has q great advantage in the fact thGt it is
vulgar for woman to drink. There are