Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-22
Under the AuspIoes Of be Good TempIars.
Young Men,.

lHClS 10 potNlO bOAuS Ou III lAlS
country. IT'S the battle against the
saloon. We are fighting for God, for
home and for our native land. Which
side are you ON ?
When man goes into a house to
stay but fortnight, he doesn't care so
much if the roof does leak, and the
chimney smokes and the windows rat
tie. But if he goes there to live the
rest OF his life, he will repair it on short
order. There is some excuse for an old
man not feeling like entering into this
hand-to-hand struggle for ere long he
will leave for the new Jerusalem where
bar-rooms do not exist.
But young man who expects to be
citizen Of this Republic for life time
yet to come--what excuse is there for
his Indifference We cannot all be
politicians, but we should all be good
citizens. 1t is a citizens duty to take
hand in politics.
|. We believe an epoch is dawning ON
our nation, as full of importance, as
fruitful Of good, as great in the light Of
history, as any that has preceded it. 1t
is an epoch not for this country alone,
but whose influence will sweep the
world free from one ot the most deep
rooted and hoary curses of our system
of civilization. The fight against the
saloon in America has already sent its
influence throughout England, France,
Switzerland, Denmark, Germany. 1t
has for the first time suggested the
thought in those lands that alcoholic
liquors are not an essential part Of civ
ilization, and that intemperance is one
Of the preventable evils.
What is this fight with the saloon,
that young man should hesitate about
entering it? Too many cranks? Well
don't you know there never was great
movement, that had in it the power to
touch mems consciences and arouse
widespread moral enthusiasm that
didn't necessarily create by the hun
dreds those whom the world called
''cranks" and fanatics % Cranks in
deed? The cause that never makes
cranks is the cause that never makes
history.
| Do you object to the seeming inva-
sion OF personal liberty interference
with private notwithstanding men
sober and virtuous-all of which are
charged against the prohibition move
ment? Then you fail to see what the
movement really means. Prohibition
has nothing to do with private habits
las such; it hasn't taken the contract Of
making workingmen virtuous by
statutes. 1t recognizes two factors in
the problem. First there is the private
appetite, the craving for drink, the
habit OF wine bibbing. These are moi
fit subjects for legislation, but for the
moral suasion of the home, the school
the temperance societies and the
church. But there is another factor
the legalized saloon. That is an active,
aggressive agent Of the devil. 1t is no
the mere outlet of mems vices anc
weaknesses; it is more. 1t is the caElst
OF much of the vice and weakness. /
} exists not merely to satisfy depravec
natures; it creates demands and causes
depravity. The legalized dramshop il
, therefore public nuisance and be-
comes fit subject for legislation. Tha
is what prohibition means. That, witt
all that it necessarily involved, is wha
, it means. What does it involve
First that the brewery and dlstillery b
destroyed, and the custom-house b.
closed to the importation Of liquors.
: Second, as a result, that the wine bib
Der may be unable to crafty his taste
/ We cannot smash these without thu
wine glass being shattered by their fall
Shall we, for the sake of the wine-glass
, mere luxury, mere sensual gratifi
cation, not a necessity or even benefit
refrain from the destruction of the sa
loon 1t is preposterous to ask it.
Reforms are made by young men
Luther mailing his thesis on the church
: door at Wittenberg was young man
. of 81. Savonarola when first thrilling
Italy with his denunciation of the vice
Of those in high power in Florence
| was young man of 80. John Wesley
) starting the Oxford monument, was bu
26 and his brother Charles but 81.
Another struggle calls for other mel
! to lead and guide. Shall it call in vain
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