The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-02
Tho Field for Temperance Work.

illustrated Home Magazine is published
by request Of Anderson Division, Sons
Of Temperance:
There hns been so much said and writ.
ten in regard TO lifting the drunkard
from the gutter and making sober man
G! hin, .ha: an afraid some temper.
ance organizations, as well rs temperance
men and women, are led to regard the
principal part Of the temperance work
as lying in that direction.
Ihat Is great mistake, for there are
other fields of action where the work is
much more encouraging, and where the
same amount Of labor yields far richer
results for the temperance cause
any effort to alleviate suffering or TO
elevate humanity is praiseworthy and
noble. No matter how low the object of
labor has fallen, or what has been the
cause oil his degradation, it is n worthy
ana comnlendable act to extend n help
ing hand, and, If possible, raise him up.
but when man has lost all self respect
and manhood, and has formed such a
strong appetite for liquor as to be found
dr9nk daily on the streets, it is dscour-
aging ior morality to attempt to lend the
needed and, and the rescuing of such men
from drunkard's grave is more the work
OF Christian than of n temperance man.
turc temperance work is measured ly
the result it accomplishcs for the TEN.
Perance cause. {eclaiming one from the
lowest class Of drunkards is not aiding
inc temperance cause so much MS is com.
monty believed; from the fact that he
| usually AIDS The cause no more by Joining
II than lie would by remaining us lie WAS
low ihebriate recling through the
streets, engaged in his drunken revelries
orawis anu crimes, is greater aid to
| temperance than we may imagine. TO Il
s9oer man, such sight as this speaks in
palmer language, and is n more forciblc
warning for him TO beware of the intoxi.
eating cup than he usually hears from
the lips of any lecturer.
AS temperance men and women. our
special work lies with two classes, the
moderate drinker and those who have
not yet commenced to drink. On the
oattie field, it nccornplishcs no more for
an army to kill two of the enemy than
IL does for them to win one to their side.
| When politician gets IL voter from the
opposing party, lie gains az much rs
when he gets two from outside their
ranks.
1he worst enemies that the temperance
cause has, are found among moderate
uIlnkers, and whenever we can win one
OF them TO our side, we have not ONLY
nooea new worker To our list and saved
nm from the prospect Of becoming IL
haDitual drunkard. but have weakened
tue enemy by getting one Of his best
men. The lowest class of drunkards
cannot be counted as being in the enc
my's ranks at all. Better count them os
prisoners within his power. Many of
them would be glad 10 sec the temper
ahce cause triumph until every rum shop
was forever closed. They loathe their
manner of living, but have become its
slave Their injury to the temperance
cause lies ai in the past. The more they
drink now, and the lower they sink. the
more they aid the cause by the very Us.
gust Tor the cup that their degradation
causes.
But the moderate drinker stands fore.
most In the enemy's ranks. Society docs
not shut him out of her circles but per.
mits him to stand on her list of respected
ana honored members. He is educated
and talented, perhaps has been plnccd
among the Legislators of our land. He
mas large circle OF friends, among whom
MS influence is very powerful. The
young man who onn &c. the privilege of
taR'ng social glass with him, thinks it
MI honor SO great that he hasn't the
courage to refuse. And thus. through
MS influence, he starts many an associate
on on the road to drunkard's grave, even
II lie should never reach it himself And
,hose who take an occasional glass during
iiie without becoming drunkards arc the
very ones who do the most harm. If
occasional drinkers always became drunk
ards, no young man would dare 10 touch
the first glass.
Truly, it is the moderate drinker that
throws the greatest obstacles in the way
oi temperance workers. II is from their
ranks that oil the drunkards come. 1t is
III thcir ranks that the rumsellcr belongs.
IL is through their influence that we nre
prevented from getting sound temperance
laws .n"s. ana II Is through their influence
mat we are thwarted in the attempt to
enforce what temperance laws We do get
enacted. In The great day of reckoning,
when all the crimes of drunkenness shnii
oe thrown at the feet OF the really guilty.
fear that The moderate drinkers shorr
VIII make him tremblc rs he sees the
ruinous results of the life he has led
lie will then learn that he is TO soma
II we had The signature of every mod.
crate drinker on our pledge, and their
cooperation in our work. we could soon
disbnnd all our temperance organizations
ana consider our work accomplished.
Drunkards and rumselers would not
Dother Us then. For The one would soon
hnd his occupation gone, and tho other
would oi necessity become sober man.
But the most encouraging place to
|orK Is among the young men who have
not yet created mn appetite for strong
drink. "A stitch in time saves nine -
ana AN ounce of prevention is worth a
pound OF cure" The drunkard stapper.
ing through our streets to-day was a
moderate drinker twenty years ago
twenty-five years ago he was an 0cca-
slonal drinker; and thirty years ago, he
STOOD IN the strength and pride OF his
young manhood, free from the contami-
mating influences Of even the first glass.
Now, at which stage Of such a mans
ilie is it best to attempt to save him ?
Where will we be the most likely to
succeed? And, if successful, at which
stage will the most good be ACCOMPLISHED
tor the individual, for humanity and for
the cause of temperance?
IN getting young men interested in
TINS cause, you know not how great may
be the results of the good seed you have
sown, nor how many you have saved from
disgrace and wretchedness.
Let me appeal to the young man who
reads this article to place himself at once
90 the safe side. Do it by signing the
pledge, and by publicly letting 1t be
known that you have determined to be
stanncil aud true temperance man.
Do not with open eyes enter the path