The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-31

From the DRIFT OF the wOmen's discussion
esterday, the Sentinel gathers that they
mean to try the visitation business. If the
Sentinel has any weight with the earnest
wives and mothers who have entered this
touching mission of redemption, it desires
them to listen to the voice of a friend and
co-worker, and give up this purpose. You
have done and are doing beneicent work.
You have directed all minds to the
dreadful and encroaching evil of the
time. You have allied the ranks of
decency and morality in an unmistakable
sentiment OF resistance to the fatal tide of
intemperance, which has beset our young
people. You have aroused thought where
there was no thought before. You have in
spired strength where there was only weak
ness before. You have aroused
resistance where there was timidity;
you have inspired hope where there was des-
pair; you have melted courage, determina
ton and success where there have been be-
fore indifference, delusion and infirm1ty of
purpose. Do not ieopardize such conquests
as these by the temporary expedient of pub
lie demonstrations. You can not gain
the ear of the liquor dealer any
more readily by invading his place of
business than you can by appealing to the
countless social influences, which IRE the
main spring in moulding men. Remember
first and always that men who sell liquor
are not the culpable ones in the demoraliza-
ton of incompetence. The real culprits are
those who encourage the incessant habit
at home and in the daily walks
of life. The true touchstone OF
temperance is the fireside. Begin there.
If you have love and loyalty to your kind,
shower it upon those that providence has
put in your keeping-over whose destinies
you are called to preside. You are not called
upon to take scrip and staff and go in the
highways and byways until the home or the
temple refuse an ear, and if they do ref
use, depend upon it, you cannot shake the
sin of Publicanism, or Phariseeism from
your own garments. Keep on in the way
you have been going, but 60 no further
There is law of prudence which may not
be passed in safety. 1t is everything to keep
the sympathy of the moderate and hopeful
and pure of mind with you and this can only
be done by adhering to that innate instinct
OF womanliness which teaches all true wo.
men, that the public street is not the place
for her ministration. If you fervently de.
q ire to make your mission permanent
as it may be benefcient, withdraw
the young feet that are just trip
ping over the portals of sin with.
hold the young men from pastimes that
are not profitable, from practices which lead
to the end of intemperance. Draw line Of
kindness about the erring; encourage
them to relinquish cup that kills, but il
return give them a rational alternative,
Men do not suddenly turn anchor
ties and asoetics, because the usT a
door to Generalization is closed. Make
1t a social law that certain practices are de
grading, and depend on it there will be little
need of restrictive laws or prohibitory
statutes. Let the chap who reels around
the room at private party with maudlir
brain understand that social ostracism is the
penalty, and those who are not to be
dissuaded otherwise are apt to consider.
The real encouragement of the vices of the
time is in the indifference of fathers and
mothers. Society is always infested by men
whose ways are not ways of purity, and
whose sins and excuses are perfectly under
stood by the majority Of their neigh
bors. Debar such men as these from