Smyrna times., 1884-03-12

The QUESTION OF THE AGE.-EVery |
age has its paramount question. The |
last twenty-five years has seen the set
tlement of a great and momentous is
sue in this country with an aequies-
cense on the part of those whose in
terests were vitally affected that is re-
markable. The next great question
for this age to settle is thus stated by
the New York Tribune:
"It has been said that the end and
the test of good government is the
greatest happiness of the greatest
number. If this be true it must be
owned that no government extant is
satisfactorily conducted. For observa-
ton shows that as rule political en-
ergy is expended upon secondary con-
Germs, while politicians employ all their
dexterity in avoiding action upon the
great problems which most deeply in
volve the destinies of the masses.
There is to-day in the English-speak
ing countries no such tremendous, far
reaching, vital question as that of
drunkenness. In its implications and
effects it overshadOws all else. 1t is
impossible to examine any subject con-
nected with the progress, the civiliza-
ton, the physical well-being, the relig-
ious condition OF the masses, without
encountering this monstrous evil. 1t
lies at the centre of all social and polit-
ical mischief. 1t paralyzes benefcent
energies in every direction. 1t neu-
tralizes educational agencies. 1t ST
lences the voice of religion 1t baf.
hes penal reform. 1t obstructs politi-
cal reform. 1t rears aloft 4 mass oi
eviIly-inspired power which at every
, salient point threatens social and Ma
] tional advance which gives TO Ignor-
| anee and Vice a greater potency thar
e Intelligence and Virtue can command
\ which depriyes the poor OF the advan
e tages of modern progress; which de
bauches and degrades millions. brutal
f izing and soldering them below tn
D plane of healthy sayageFy, and film!
! the centres of population with crea
e lures whose condition almost excuse
the immortality which renders then
dangerous to their generation.
"All these evils, all this mischief, a
this destruction of human souls and in
) telects, go on among US daily an
e hourly. There are none so ignoran
N or inattentive as not to have persons
:, experience of some of them; som
hearth darkened; some family sea
)" tered some loving heart broken
s. some promising career ruined SON
of deed ofshame done. Yet how hard
a is to get this gigantic evil attacke
+ seriously. Temperance organization
;, have indeed been fighting it for year
:. yet popular inertia has resisted the
IL utmost efforts. But has all been doI
ss that might and should have been dor
.r- by the organized agencies that repr
bo sent the higher life! What are do
trinal points, for example, compared
" this ever present, eVeF,actiYe, insidio
lat infuencel What are sectaFiaD difRe
he ences by the side of this Nation
m curse? Can the Churches fold the
% hands and flatter themselves that the
:" duties are all fulfilled, while t
d. masses prefer the saloon to the pulp
W. and while rum rules in politics and 6
ase cietyi Are the higher education
,n- agencies doing all in their power
= advance civilization while they igno
this obstacle to progress Can a
.on political organization be said to rep
or sent the best aspirations and 4
strongest needs of the people, VIII
this abiding source OF misery and cri
IA and poverty is allowed to spread a
'iu' flourish
bh- There Is needed Something Of u
Ior- sacred fire which kindled into in
Ier- tinguishabIe heat the zeal of the Al
:,or litionists, and which compelled
abandonment of human slavery,
ony rouse the National indignation and
sgh horrence against this very much gre
last es evil. Nothing short Of this, it i:
for be feared, will ;mpel time-serving p
,tns ticians to approach in spirit of (
nestness subject wbiGh is distastl
our to them mainly because they th
'ea- they cannot afford to do without
ans help and support of the class who
10 - rive fFcn, the degradation Of the foo
On and ignorant the means whereby t
AP continue to rude and plumber IL
-her whose sagacity is proqf against t
tent snaEes"