The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-11-23
sOBRIETY IN OFFICE.

Dae of the most painful things
connected with pablo lIfe il the
Unilei States il the habit Of iutem-
Psrance among our public men in
office Drunkenness is species ef
INSANITY Il was sail by one oil the-
(, lJer poets II the sensual school IL
rino rc-iies- thar there i truth in
wine, m3uiing that man is Innrt
likely - speak the truth when under
the Influence of Intoxicating liquors
Never was there more insidiour
npo.ogy fur this kind Of insanity,
Tie truth IS that in'oxication
briugs on all the wo's Sc trails nfhu-l
mainly. II unbalancrs ;hc intellect |
and gives free play TO tic passions. |
All tf tile education vii ch has hessn
iu,tilled through twenty. ono years Of
Iufaucv aud pupiInge by the rnre and
prayers of tae mother, ~ the selected
hooks Of the schools, by the riviliza
ton Of sociefy, hy tie Iaburs Of the
church ~ the bonds aul restricti"nst
If The la%, by the example and inllu
cncc # gentlemen ana women wh,.,
walk upon the elevated heights OF
1.rudcucc ard pride. is lest in a mo
ment u hcn the gnd-like brain t"FPler
frum iis throne.
Tile very moment when ininxica-
ton ASSUMES control of the nan, th,
los Instinct Of the animal predumI-
nate Therc - no trnth left IN him
unless Il be the truth for which VIC
should bush truth which be-
longs to tile savage and ~ which we
revert only when iJSs Of reason sub
Jects us to that savage condition from
which our glorious race has struggled
up. after the labor Of myriads Of
wears, 20 the sunlight Of society and
religion.
The people must especially frown
upon drunkenness in public life. Men
who are chosen To- represent us in
high Office nre entrusted with the
dearest rights Of the peoI.le. They
make, construp aud execute laws
They hold in their hands the cur,ls
that connect all social and commercial
affairs. Ii tho pilot who steers the
ship becomes imsane at the moment
tho precious freight is passing through
the channel. the peril is no greater
than that which intoxica ION threat
ems 10 the law-maker. the judge, "
the executive officer who unbalances
his reason at the very moment when
clear ju' gn cntis needed.
No matter how genial, or brilliant
may be the representative, the peo-
pies interest l. in h hands and tn,
people will not excuse a departur,
from habitual sobricIy. NeIther n
confirmed dIunknrd, nor one who oc-
casiunally nnd accidentally hccnm,E
drunk, rs safe counsellor. The
flushed face, the Aoddeu eye, the tot
tering step, the drivelling speech, the
incuherent thoughts, are Disgrace
10 a couiding constituency.
The higher tho place such man
holds the deeper the degradation into
which he thrusts those who have cen
ilded in him.
We wish to point to our public
men with pride AS the representatives
al the purity of our homes, the sacred
ness IF our religion. the soIidity Of
our business. When they speak we
expect clcarness Of Judgment and
cohency 81 thought. When they
speak We expect pr"mptncss, care and
Dispatch
None Of those requisites can be met
by thnse who are habitual drinkers.
They often fail 1T being net by those
Nhr are occasional drinkers.
II is time for pa bile opinion to pro-
test against the pleyation Of any but
sober men to places Of honor and
trust. IL we have no regard for the
greater and wider influence which so
hri,ty c"minCnds, If VIC have mo regard
for the accuracy and industry which
only subcr men can WELD, we olfuuld
at least reflect that representative I
men stand within The radius Of 'thr |
fright light that beats upon the throne"
and thus ret an example 10 our chill /
dren. 1t was a wiso custom III The
Elariaus to teach their children ab.
horrcnce Of drunkenness by exhibit
ing to them the iu,bcci ,ty OF q
drunken slave.