The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-08-21

of ten the usages of society. public
sentiment and the laws OF the land
have made him what he is.
The hosting temperate man may pos
sibly have some special merit, but
generally the most that can be said of
OF him is that he has escaped. In that
he has done we'll under the circum-
stances. The dark history Of our
country on this subject receives addi-
tional Illustration ia the fact that Eu-
ropean society in its worst form is
thrown on our shores in floods, bring
ing with IL the worst habits peculiar To
the country 10 which il belongs. Our
country being very free, and our gov
ernment liberal, the "foreign element"
is allowed TO continue the customs and
excesses of fatherland, and the individ-
ual yankee being sympathetic and pat
ronizing withal, is perfectly willing 10
instruct said foreign element, how 10
intersperse the national drinks of all
other lands, with the villainous com
pounds peculiar TO MISUNDERSTANDING
his full half of all the foreign element
will pay for-until race, nationality,
color and previous condition, is
blended in one grand oblivious old
drunk. Henceforth they are repeaters,
and can be found in the same condi-
tion almost every day during the pass
ing years. The malt liquors and light
wines extolled so highly as promoters
of health and temperance in the old
world, is little better than the beasom
! OF destruction in the new. All that
habitually use them, without regard TO
nationality, fall easy victims 10 the in
! gradients composing American beer aud
/ lager. or are brought down at long
/ range by our rifle whisky.
Whatever may have been the inhuen-
ces at work for centuries to foster this
demon, and fix its fangs so firmly, the
false claim set.up for mixed alcoholic
stimulants as a medicinal agent, per
petuates the system to-day. and is re-
sponsible for large proportion of our
woes. Medical utility is the corner
stone upon which rests the black tenn
| pie of Bachus, through whose dark
portals millions enter never TO return,
and from whose boiling, seething chal-
drons emanate the upas of death, that
sweeps seven human beings TO drunk
ards grave with every passing hour,
in the United States alone. Medical
utility, indeed Sixty thousand bodies
and souls-destroyed annually by its
direct effect, and scarcely a single body
saved from death by its medical ad-
ministration as an offset 10 this inn
mense destruction Of human life. No
form of human disease is possible, or
can exist, IN the treatment Of which an
intelligent physician cannot find a sub
stitute, equal il not superior, TO alco-
hol in remedial power III we admit it
70 be a medicinal agent, then five bar
rels would supply the Legitimate de-
mand for the State Of Michigan for
whole year.
Is 1t indeed true that little wine is
not good for our "often infirmities,"
and all the generations from the days
OF Paul 10 the present, have been prac-
ticing a delusion? Yes, my christian
temperance friend, IL Is truel and az
long as you believe IN its medicinal
virtue, aud arrogate 90 yourself the
right 10 prescribe IL to yourself, and
others, FOR the stomach sake" or for
any other cause, you give aid and com
fort 10 a system that transforms an
otherwise harmonious world into lit /
cral Pandemonium. Society has been
accustomed 10 observe the physical eff /
fects Of mixed alcoholic stimulauts for /.
50 long, 10 would be an insult 10 intel I
ligonoc 10 refer to IL GA OouaaiUus uf 4
this kind were II not true that public I
and private sensibilIty has become /
blunted 10y constant association. You /
all know II is too powerful an agent TO /
be indiscriminately dispensed as a
medicine, and knowing this you are /
ready 20 inquire: What Is its utility /
them ] will give any man q hundred /
dollars 10 answer that question and /
60 n hundred better TO the same or
any other man that will give valid /
reason why six thousand saloons should /
exist IN Michigan, or why single sa-
loon IS necessary IN Hillsdale couaty-
or anywhere else.
In casting about for remedy for I.
the abuses we suifer, II is we'll 10 con-
slider that every aud all other evils !
combined sink into utter insiguihcance
when compared with the rum power OF
to-day. 1t will require the combina-
tion of all the forces at command to
conquer. A new departure might be
inaugurated about this time that would
materially assist the reform, aud "a il
- exclusively "woman's work" allow
me to address myself TO that class OF
efficient workers They shonld hola
men 10 eqnal Justice IN this social mat
ter, aud II they are ostracised for get
ting drunk or bumminR a little occa-
sionally, they should irold men respon-
sible Tor the exact measure Of virtue
and total abstinence from all that will
intoxicate that men demand of them.
/ SO far as can be observed, female soci,-
/ ~ makes little distinction ia favor OF
the moral young man of correct habits,
/ but rather prefers his fast, extravagant
I rival Eyey wife and mother, espec-
ially. should demand Of her husband
\ or son, To be Informed where he spends
] bis evenings from eight 10 twelve
/ o'clock. III he IS evasiye aud answers
with breath sweetly scented with cassia
7 or trix, set espionage al work IL neces-
sary 90 ferret him out, or at least insist
I on accompanying him. Surely, wife
Is entitled 90 her husbands society at
all times when not useiully employed
otherwise. A majority of our drunk
ards are made about this time Of night,
aud II the ladies want fruitful field
OF adventure, and real work "where il
will do the most good" let them
"wade' IN on the suggestion, aud ostra-
else every mothers son Of them that
vail not be restrained, at least, 10y the
peaceful means of female persuasion.
Let no disunion or schism enter the
ranks OF those engaged in this reform.
No personal prejudice or precOnceived
religious opinion or interest should be
urged 10 distract the working elements
in this glorious movement. that has
been the means OF so much good TO
our beautiful little city, the State, and
the nation at large. Scores of inebri-
ates have been reformed 10y the indi-
vidud and organized effort Of this
club; any one Of which is an ample re-
ward for all your outlay of time
aud mOney-say nothing Of the aggro-
gate results. You have done a noble
work, but remember that eternal yigi.
; anco is the price Of the liberty where
by these men have been made free. -.
: DO not leave them TO fall again into
the jaws Of the rum sharks that are
! awaiting an opportunity 10 drag them
; 90 perdItion, but let every man and
I woman form themselves into vigi.
lance committee, 10 watch themselves
} aud these, that none fall into tempta-
= tiOp. Throw around them, also, tie
mantle OF your protecting power AS an
organization 10 keep them from falling.
} Nome can appreciate the position Of a
! reformed map without his experience.
a .N