The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-04-15
TEMPERANCE.

| an ESS0y Sh01Ct7lg TIE Writer'S Idea OF
g good efectice Speech on Temperance.
I have been struck with the utter
uselesSness of appealing to the finer
sensibilities Of the average audiences
drawn together to listen to temperance
speakers, able or otherwise. and have
come to the conclusion that a more
practical application can be made of
the power of speech than appealing to
the moral sense of mankind.
Show them that it is utterly imp0S-
sible to subsist honestly if they spend
their means in drink for in spite of
denial it will be found that the drink
ing habits cost more than board if the
man is no sponge, but pays his share
honestly. The writer Of this has the
experience Of quarter of century to
draw on and knows how it is. This
country and all countries are unable to
keep any working man in comfort, if
he persists in handing his wages or
salary over the counter into another's
keeping. Where men are paid monthly,
their earnings are mortgaged from the
first, and the men are even then unable
to meet their meat bills or to pay for
the clothes and shoes they stand in.
Think of it, how dishonest it is to try
to live such q low, degraded dogs life
as that Who but a sWindler and
cheat would continue to live in such
miserable condition Of hand to mouth,
when by being firm and quitting drink
ing altogether he can keep his own
earnings for better purpose. Look
around at your acquaintance. Do the
drinkers own much property !? Oh
no it is the men who work for them
selves and not for others. It is not
their means that deck the fine saloons
with plate glass windows, billiard and
pool tables not cent Of it.
What excuse is there for any honest,
well-meaning man in good earnings for
remaining in'poverty while paying all
he can scrape up over the counter into
other peoples keeping. Experiences
have shown that men who joined the
temperance bodies Of the State paid up
their liquor bills, and afterwards pro-
vided well for their families every
member, even Of large families, were
better dressed. and better kept in peace |
and plenty than ever before. And the |
peace of God, which passeth all under |
standing, has seemed to come upon
their households. Once they were
blind, but now they Can see. Blind
especially to home comfort, to which
they were once strangers, but which
now seems to abound i'll their family.
Being thoroughly sober now, they can
see their way clearly, great point
gained.
This can readily be understood by
any one who remembers how careless
he used to be of money when drinking |
moderately, and how reckless men are
when under whisky influence.
What is needed in a temperance
speech is to handle the subject in a |
downright practical manner bringing
it home to every man, proving it neces-
sary for every young man, if he wishes
to be honest and live an honest life,
and enjoy an honorable old age, he
must be an abstainer, as there is not
money enough in the country to sup
port him, his family, and the rich
saloons he sees on every side. Then
let us all do our best to lessen the num-
Der Of fools who have fattened them,
who have built, furnished and kept
going till midnight the gin mills and
grog shops everywhere, and surely
there will be less use for the fool killer
and his club. H.G.C G.