The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-27
THE ADVANCE OF TEMPERANCE.

ating to note the complacency with which
'Prohibitionists' assume that they are the
only true friends and advocates of temper
ance-the only ones worthy to be called
workers for the cause It seems not to be
remembered by these people of one idea that
temperance in the use of intoxicating drinks,
and even total abstinence, were taught and
urged long before prohibitory laws were seri-
ously thought of. When DR.. Rush, the CEN
tennial anniversary Of whose crusade against
liquor has just been celebrated, began his at
tack upon the evil, it was not through legisla-
ton that he hoped for remedy, but through
the education Of che people. With more or
less activity, that movement inaugurated by
DR.. Rush has gone on, and, in spite of
discouragements, has gathered strength
and impetus with every year. 1t
was long after the first agitation
of the subject before the good results
began to be visible, but the precept and ex-
ample of the early laborers in the field and
their followers finally began to have their
effect. The oldest inhabitant, looking back
over the past, tells of changes of habits and
customs in regard to the use Of liquors which,
seen in perspective, seem almost marvellous.
The alteration Of sentiment, occurring as it
did gradually, was not so noticeable at the
time; but the results, viewed from distance
which removes obstacles to the vision, show
sharp contrasts with former conditions. But
it is not the aged man or woman alone who
can testify to steady and even rapid growth
of temperance opinions in the community.
Within fifteen years there has been notice
able advance both in sentiment and practice
towards the reform of the evil of indulgence
in strong drink. It is not now respectable, as
it was to certain degree only few years
ago, to drink whisky. It is no longer
fashionable. The dissipated young man, how
ever attractive and desirable he may be as an
| acquaintance in other respects, is no longer
welcome in decent society. Business men are
making it a rule to employ no one whose
habits of sobriety are not fixed. Many cor
porations, in particular several railroad COM
panies, will have none but strictly temperate
men in their service. The sight of drunken
man upon the street is becoming more infre-
quent with every year. Even in the lowest
precincts of New York where, if anywhere,
public opinion would be expected to have
little weight, close observer has noted that
there is decrease of visible drunkenness the
| topers showing a disposition to hide
| away out of sight rather than to appear stag
gering upon the streets. The traffic in liquors
for drinking purposes long since ceased to be
reputable; but each year finds it passing more
and more into the condemnation of society
If it be urged that change of sentiment
proves nothing, figures speak for themselves.
! Statistics show that there is gradual and
constant decrease in the amount of spirituous
| liquors annually consumed. According to a
| careful estimate, and leaving wine and malt
liquors out of the calculation, it is shown that
the thirty-one millions of inhabitants in
the United States in 1860 consumed for
drink q greater number of gallons of
spirits by one million than the population
| of ffty-fve millions consumed in 1884. The
extent of intemperance as it now exists is ap-
palling, and the vigilance and sleepless effort
required to keep it in check might we'll dis
courage the stoutest hearted reformer, could
he not draw hope and confidence from the work
already accomplished. There is reason to con-
graduate all who have helped to bring about
| this change of sentiment and the establish
ment of prejudice against the public sale of
liquor as beverages which cannot be over
come.
1t is hardly probable that the advocates of
prohibition will openly claim that all the good
which has been wrought is the result of their
own efforts alone; but the burden of their cry,
| which is that temperance has no true friends
but themselves, leaves the inference to be
drawn that they consider themselves
the only honest and earnest labor
ers in the field. and, therefore, the
only ones to whom credit is due Possibly
they do not mean to thus monopolize all vir-
tue, and to take precedence of all Others
whose hatred of the liquor traffic is equal to
their own, and whose only wish is to restrain