The daily gazette., 1880-01-19
The Enemy of Man.
Address OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIEND
IN RELATION TO INTOXICATING
DRIAEs

Address OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIEND s
IN RELATION TO INTOXICATING
DRINKS.
The Religious Society of Friends,
embracing rePrese ntatives for PennsyE
vania. New j -rsey, and Delaware, have
Issued an address ON "The Use of In
toxicatiDg Drinks" The address urges
a rigid adherence to the principles of
total abstinence, and strongly argues
that II Is the duty or the Christian
Church TO apply she remedies for In
temperance and endeavor to remedy the
evils growing out of the great social
vice. A sectiop the address is di-
rected to the public press, aud is As fol-
lows: ~ 4a
Thr' ughout reading population like
that Of the United 8 ates, the Press ne
cessarily exerts q powerful influence,
not only By giving expression to public
sentiment, but as a means. of moulding
that sentiment for good or for Ill. We
desire, therefore, that Eitors Of ne VS.
papers especially, Da5 feel the deep re-
spOnsibiliyy thai rests upon them ir con-
nectioR with the question before Us. As
chrouiclers of the events of the day, i,
they have IL In their power to commend
the good that may be passing Uefore
them, and by their editorial comments
may incidently instil noble and virtuous
sentiments into the minds Of their read
ers; while, on the other hand, they may
point out and coDdemA what is injurious
TO pubic morals, and coIiseQ ueutly to
the best interests of the community.
With the freedom which is happily ac-
corded to the press In this country, the
action Of legislative bodies and public
ofhcias III open to criticisms, and, as a
consequence, those who are holding
posts of authority are strongly infiu-
enced in their public acts by the appTo-
val or the censure which they thus re-
ceive. When the prevailing tone Of the
Press, whether secular or religious,
shall be fearlessly on the side Of right,
recognizing its duty in leading and ele-
waiting public sentiment, rather than OBJ
sequiously following it, we may hope
FUZZY look for the happiest results; and
since the en- ctment or enforcement of
wise and just laws which would effect
ually restrain the production and sale of
alcoholic liquors, must depend upon
corresponding sympathy in the commn-
nifty at large, 10 can scarcely be other
wise than the daily newspaper will be
largelv instrumental al in promoting, or re-
tarding The legislation which is now
urgently demanded. We desire a.so to
call atten ion TO a fippant, and even
jocose, style of wiring too common
with newsp per reporters, WHIP, When
relatlng the doings OF the wretched
drnnkard, are disposed to picture the
ludicrous side of int mparanse rather
Than the misery and shame irreparable
from 1t We fear that by this means
the thoughts of the reader are often
turned from the merits of a case III its
sraver aspects aud, a mostamcoasciously
tn bimselt, he may come TO regard the
whole SUBJECT of intemperance with q
lamertable Indifference. 1t is cause OF
satisfaction to find that several popular
periodicals have of late opened their
columns to q free consideration Of the
evils before us, and the wiseSt methods
Of dealing with 1t. We can but trust
their example will be followed by
others, under the conviction that 1t is
one Of tie most pressing questions of
the day, and that some of the highest
interests of our country both present
and prospective are involved in its
right solution.