Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-06-03
VICE PREsIpENT WILSON ON TEMPER
ANCE

The earnest testimony of Vice President Will |
son In behalf Of Temperance will give that cause
. fresh impetus, and will add to the large esteem
i. winoh the Massachusetts statesman is already
held. Not that it is at all new to be told that
Mr.. Wilson is prominent this great reform,
for he has, during many years, stood foremost
among it's disciples. But the cause has OF late
seemed to lAnguish, and the ringing appeal At
suoh juncture OF SO eminent and estimable
citizen Is Henry Wilson cannot fail to produce
the best eject.
The speech in question was delivered before
the National Temperance Convention at Chica-
10 on Tuesday last and has by this time been
reproduced in every section OF the country. We
should have to seek far and long for more
manly and honest speech, or one more directly
In the true interests Of all men. What can be
more becoming in citizen in high Office than an
appeal to his fellows in behalf OF duty and Of
der (? There may be those who think different
", but for ourselves we hold that just
- reproof or admonition comes with
greatest force from high source, so distin-
guishsd example of the kind is one entirely pro-
per to be set We should all hear the testimony
ss far As It in our power, and man is SO lowly,
10 without influence, but that he may do some
good. As the duty presses upon the obscure, so
much tho more does it rest upon those on whom
all eyes are turned. To appreciate the value OF
such stand as that taken by the Vice President,
let US suppose that all the leaders OF the
government held his view, and Ia
bored at all seasons to explain
and urgeit Would there not be something in
the argument brought to bear upon the
ignorant and thoughtless in that event? And
whether that is s dream or not, if We admit its
possible strength, we are in position to honor
the one great leader who has such convictions
and the courage to svow them.
Assuredly Mr.. Wilson is right in forming in
temperance the greatest evil OF our time and
following this, equally certain is it, as he says,
the duty of humanity to exert a temperance
influence among the people. In sense, this is
platitude, and some things arc necessarily
repeated There is sameness in the act OF
breathing but, despite the monotony, unless
we breath We know what happens. Those
who have dwelt upon this subject know thai
there is something more in it than reckless sell
tishness, and disregard of the good of others
know that tho thirst for stimulus is as often at
not an unconscious effort to lift the misery ant
hopelessness of life; and for this reason in fight
ing the Evil we need not only vigorous detcrmi
nation but boundess charity. The weight ii
fearful, and we are almost helpless under it
still we must struggle, however feebly, having
the reward in our consciences il no other goo,
should come.
One suggestion in this speech Of Mr.. Wilson
is of the utmost value. 1t is that Temperanc
should be impressed in the schools upon chill
dren from their earliest years Organized et
fort in this direction would accomplish much
for II youth went into the world strongly preju
diced against the evil their safety would be il
good measure assured. Here is something praC
tical, something that should need only to b
mentioned to secure instant acquiescence fror
every school board in the land.