Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-15
TEmpERANCE AND D1suN.oN

That the abuse OF intoxicating liquors is
an evil of the frat magnitude among civil
lied people, none will be so insensibIe to ex-
isting and notorious facts as to deny. In the
domestic sphere that abuse entails want,
misery and discord; in social life it induces
depravity, riot and quarrel. 1t is principal
cause of violence and crime, and as such is
an enemy TO law and order. Physically it
ruins health; intellectually it leads to imbe-
ciIity and madness; morally it debases the
nature of man and entails violation OF all
the uobler sentiments that elevate the hui
fst1 above the british nature. Under these
circumstances that men of pure impulses and
benevolent feelings should desire the extir-
patton Of habits baneful to the human
race, is natural. That woman espe-
cially should declare herself the enemy
of intemperance, the foe of a vice from
which her sex suffers but does not share, is
an almost necessary result of her virtues, her
instructive adherence OF what is wrong ard
degrading From the most lofty and amia-
bic impulses of the human heart have arisen
the desire to Danish the custom and Labit Of
making Intoxicating liquor a common por-
ton of the daily meal of the household, and
a usual resource in hours of leisure and in
times Of relaxation and rejoicing. From all
these circumstances have sprung the forma-
ton Of temperance societies. These associa-
tions have done much to render the practice
of liquor drinking disereditable, and to pro-
mote a healthy public sentiment respecting
the habitual use of strong drink and the
shameful vice Of intemperance. Those who
profit by the manufacture and sale of intox-
icatirg drinks, while they oppose the temper
ance movement, have no efficient reasons to
oppose against its efforts. They, in fact, sup
ply as causes the very arguments the tenn
Isrance societies find most available. The
debased nature, the hl-used wife, the fam
ished child, the crowded Jail, the play of
The murderous knife and pistol, the despair
that leads TO suicide, too often are to be
traced to the intoxicating cup not to furnish
the opponents of strong drink with materials
for the most powerful denunciation. Whether
we agree or not with the extreme views of
the prohibitionists, we gratefully recognize
the great work they have done and are still
doing. The effect of their efforts upon pub
lie sentiment, upon social customs, and upon
personal habits, has been immense and
wholesome. Prizing the efforts of temper
ance societies as We do, valuing those asso-
Citations as a purifying and exaltiug Influence
in the commonwealth, we cannot but expe-
rience regret when we see any step taken in
connection with them calculated TO lessen
their influence or diminish their usefulness.
degrading as We do the women OF The move
ment as its most powerful influence, and as
the wielders of its mightiest powers, our re-
greet is more profound when among them
appear disagreement and disunion, and such
a calamity has recently occurred. The Ma |
tional Woman's Christian Temperance |
Union has been bond that has concentrated |
and utilized the good influence of the women
of the United States over the whole surface
of the country. The powers Of the church,
the home and the school have been brought
10 a focus in that association, and It has
spxiliarv societies in every State and Terri
torv in the Union. In North Carolina, Ten
ressee Alabama. and other Southern States,
We orc seei,, all around us the efiecs OF the
inansnce ~ women united in this great
association in putting down drinking places
IN the neighborhood Of churches anu eauca-
tional institutions. In Arkansas, e'F'''a''y'