Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-20

was donated to private in the late
Rebellion and doubtless did good SER
vice in killing Kentucky rebels.
They were savage and formidable
looking instruments.
| Potosi March Is, 1879.
|
A Novel Temp Society.
From Tie Chicago Journal.
A somewhat rovel temperance
movement has been inaugurated in
New York. That inauguration is
by the incorporation of an associa.
ton to be known by the title, "The
BusinesssMen's Society for the En-.
enlargement of Moderation. The
moderation referred TO and aimed at
IS the use of alcoholic beverages. In.
stead OF seeking to overthrow or ar.
rest the evil of intemperance by to
tai abstinence, il proposes TO try the
remedy of temperance, properly SO.
called. OF it's methods and purposes
the following extract from the New
York Times gives fair idea:
promote knowledge Of science
and statistics relative to the sale and
manufacture of alcoholic liq1ers, dis
seminate among the people useful in
formation regarding the principles OF
moderation and the means Of carry
ing such principles into practical eff
fest. The society intends to prepare
and furnish to applicants either oil
three kinds of pledges, to vita total
abstinence pledge, operative for one
year and renewal thereafter at the
will of the pledger; moderation
pledge binding the person who
takes il not to drink during business
hours; and finally uniqae engage
ment meant to prevent the person
taking the pledge from partaking of
alcoholic beverages at the expense
OF another person. aud from extend
ing an invitation 20 any person to
drink at his expense. The society
is also to exert its influence to in
duce retail liquor dealers to provide
tor teesotallers stimulating and nour-
ishing beverages which contain no
alcohol. SILL another purpose of
the society is 10 encourage the estab-
lishment OF cheap places of amuse-
ment and recreation, where no alco-
holic liquors shall be sold. The So
ciety will begin operations at once,
as the term of existence is fixed at
twenty years"
From an American standp, int this
is certainly very novel method Of
advancing the cause of temperance.
To our local aud current notions it
seems almost absurd TO think OF
furthering the interests of sobriety
without utterly and wholly opposing
the use of Intoxicating drinks as a
beverage. We are all familiar with
the ordinary claims of temperance
workers on this point. TO question
the correctness Of their position
herein is not tolerated. In nothing
is there go much bigotry among
American people as there is in this
matter. One may adopt any reli-
| gious ideas, from Catholicism to spir-
itnalism; and the mantle of charity
extends far enough to create pre-
sumption OF honesty, the disposition
being to assume that the motive is
| good; but if one claims to be devot.
ed to the cause of temperance, but
does net adopt the views which ami
mated the Washingtonian movement
and its offspring he is charged with
being an enemy. of temperance.
The New York gentlemen who
formed this new temperance society
have rendered the pnblic good SER
vice by entering protest against
such bigo.ry and opening the door
for enlarged efforts in the cause oil
temperance.
The truth is there is ample room
for both schools of temperance. For
those with strong natural appeti,es
or stimulants, or exposed TO special
temptations, total abstinence is their
only safety; whils there are others
who simply require the moderatine
restraints Of temperate use of bev
erages. Both can do more good
than either if it stood alone and
tried to cover the entire field
Another novel temperance rropo.
silion has recently beer introduced
in the Illinois Legslatnre-to dc
away with the time honored hui
pernicious custom of ".reating." Il
is proposed TO punish with severe
penalties any person who offers to
treat another to glass Of grog in .
bar-room or elsewhere. 1t is sug.
gested by friend of the author O
this proposed legislation that the lat
ter "owes the treats and has adopt
ed this plan of escaping the .'shot.
Bat levity aside, there is no doub
that many a man would be saved
from temptation and from expensiv,
social associations by breaking uy
OF the treating custom, which 10 any
event is more honored in the breach
than in the observance.