The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-09-28

Ol lu.cuPCA"ACC. ACC liS AH)t no o1O"
in helping to crush vice which causes
women to suffer more than from all
other evils combined. Every true
mother has mission in the temperance
work for the next generation. The
children are to he taken for this great
cause. Our youth are to be fortified in
moral force and taught the Whole re-
sponsibility of the crime resting
upon the man who INDUCES in drink.
lie is to know in full all that is involved
by beginning this vicious habit. We
must also strike at the causes of drink
ing. There are various forms of intem-
perance but the word has come to lie
used only in reference to indulgence in
the direction of inebriety, and this is
such an overshadowing evil that we
must not forget the lesser shadows.
All lack of self regulation leads the
way to intemperance. Bad eating,
feeling and thinking are UNI
healthy and form desires for unhealthy
stimulants. Tie use of tobacco has
made many drunkards, and it is not
possible to feel as safe about the future
of young man who has formed the
habit of using it. Our hope for the
future is to take high ground and avoid
the tendencies which make our drunk
ards. There are questions in regard to
labor and recreation which seem to me
very pertinent here, but which we have
not time to discuss. Let us glance over
something Of the history of the past in
the temperance reformation and see
where we now stand, and what the out
look for the future may be. In the first
decades of our century there was cor
ruption in high places, in ecclesiastical
circles, which caused the first efforts to
he put forth in the temperance reform.
At first it was not deemed. Il necessary
principle for all to be governed by total
abstinence, only for those addicted to
drink. But the friends of Temperance
soon saw the fallacy Of this if there
was to he any progress in the reform.
The defense against forming jntemper.
ate habits WAS us important as the re-
covery of the Incorporate. The same
advance was made 1T this time in re-
gard to abStaining from the use of in
toXicating drinks whether they derived
their power from natural fermentation
or distillation. At this time also VIC
may be proud and happy to know that
the fame of the temperance movement
spread across the Atlantic, and the first
temperance society in the Old World
was formed. The work has been car.
ried farther, and greater results seen
in America than in the Old World, be.
cause total abstinence has been carried
farther which has made drinking less
respectable here. The more advanced
principles of total abstinence began to
effect Il change in social customs, {:
change which has gradually advanced
for it has been possible in these late,
years for our youth to grow up without
the excitement to dangerous appetite
associated with their most pleasant so.
cia1 experiences.
It has been determined that in order
to secure permanent moral reformation
for the drunkard that Gods regenera t.
ing spirit must be sought, for moral
and social forces are insufficient with
out it. The greatest success of the
temperance movement has been that
public opinion has been largely educat
ell to see the mischief and misery re.
sulting to Il nation and people from the
use OF strong drink. Though we arc
still in a transition state, intemperance
and all that pertains to it is coming tc
be regarded us {; crime; and yet us the
shadows are frightening in the horizon,
If our nineteenth century, the human
family is still oppressed by an all-per
vadilg and gigantic moral evil. it is
now declared from all sides tll:,t the
whole temperance force must lie excrted
against the traffic. Onr temperance
workers demand of the law to clear the
path for the legitimate operation OF
moral means. Here is the insur mount
able obstacle to the advance of the
cause. Here tho battle wages, but
just as surely believe in the final victory
for temperance as l believe that the
Kingdoms of this earth shall become
the kingdoms of our Lord and Saviour
lave never heard this law sustained
liquor traffic called by it's proper name
1t Is q leg0lized system for murder. AS
it is legal it is the most respectable
method in vogue. Sixty thousand
drunkards die annually in our OWL
country, beside the murdered ones and
those who commit suicide. Then VIC
have the misery murdered wives, moth
ers and sisters, and the helpless limo.
cent children who die from want OF
care and starvation. Who are respon.
sible for these murders? First in this
guilt are those who frame and sustain
our laws. Then the liquor vender who
trades in ''tears and blood and crimes. >
and the drunkard himself is criminal
in this matter. We have had such !:
sense Of adherence of the dealer in the
trat1it that we have been disposed tC
eXtenuate the guilt of the drinker. Be.
cause we have been sickened by the
cool mercenary spirit of him who sells
that which awakens all the conditions
for committing crime shall we overlook
the completely in the guilt of him who
destroys his manhood by patroniZno
the grogshop. To lie sure the drunk.
ard is the natural development of the
liquor traffic, but isn't it time in these
advanced stages of temperance that he
refuses to be developed in that way,
lie should not seek the society of a
man who has long been declared bank.
rupt i'll conscience and humanity
whose business is not respectable bit
| internal. Ihave the utmost sympatll,
! for the man who is striving TO over
come his appetite for stong drink. lie
is a man that should be sustained eve,
though he falls again and again. HI
! has fastened physical infection upon
himself which has a momentum to take
him downward equal to that of stone
rolling down a precipice. Let us hold
out the helping hand to him ut al
times.
Many of our modern drinkers cannot
be said to he victims to the drink fash
ion, and the law that fosters and sus
tains it. They have weakly and fool
ishly and sheepishly succumbed to :
habit which fastens i physical necessit,
upon them, and if they continue il
this habit they place themselves beyon(
the power and the wish for self control
| No one is g4iltless who does this thing