Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-04-28
COLUMN,
COo4sstsd ~ ne ". G. 1. o.. Elk Point. Oak.



II had 1 visit to-day from thst
enthusiastic Blue Ribbonite, Mr..
Axel Gustatson, who came to give
me m account Of an audience gram
ted him during his recent visit to
Stockholm by the King Of Sweden,
aud Of the progress Of the temper
ance movement in Scandinavia. H.
all the northern countries, especially
in Sweden, there is, Mr.. Gustafson
says, the beginning of a popular
movement tO get rid Of the slavery
of alcohol.
That country has been the first
of the Scandinavian group 10 sgitate
for total abstinence,and the Rev. Dr..
Wieselgren placed himself at the
head Of the agitators. In eloquence,
knowledge, zeal and steadfast energy
he wes, perhaps, the greatest leader
the temperance cause ever had any
where. Sweden is the country Of
al others where the practical bene
fits Of total abstinence are least
questioned although the most punch
is drank ut genteel and aristocratic
soirees. In his long private inter.
view with the King and queen, his
majesty in the most hearty and un-
reserved way expressed himself for
prohibition as the only cure for the
drink evil. He said that almost all
the crime and abject misery in his
realm were caused by drink. Mr..
Gustafson learned that he made
large contributions to the Good
Templars' funds helped them in
their organizations, and attended
their meetings. The queen, whose
personal action las been go strong
and 50 successful in putting down
street immortality, and the vice Of
which it is an outcome, is q warm
promoter Of the coffee tavern move
ment, and expressed her deep sym
pathy with every effort to draw the
working-class from the dram-shop.
Mr.. Gustafson asked the king how
IT was that he had such views on
the liquor question, and why it was
he had come round to prohibition Z
His majesty answered that, exercis'
ing the prerogative of pardon, ths
cause Of persons condemned to the
s~everest penalties by the tribunals
were nearly all pleaded again befor.
him by the advocates Of these male
factors, or by persons interested or
their behalf. The general plea wa,
the irresponsibility which alcoho
causes BY weakening the will and
bunting the moral sense. Or
further inquiries being made it wal
nearly always found that the pie.
was not based on fiction. Alcoho
kept the prisons full, and, what wal
more te~rrible,the persons owe whom
it had the most absolute power, ono,
they allow it to over master them
were those who had the finest ner
vous organizations. The lymphatic
cold blooded man could 60 on mucl
longer than the man endowed will
a high-strung organization and wa
less addicted to crime. The one be
came o dangerous mailman, and tn,
other an inert sot. Mr.. Gustafsor
tells me that the Swedish Ministry
have promised the Good Templars
State subsidy to enable them Il
fight all over Sweden against alco
hol, and that numbers Of wealthy
and influential people are showing
an interest in their efforts by offer
ing premiums to clerks, servants
and laborers who take and keel
temperance pledges. The Rigsdal
contains many total abstainers il
both chambers, and they are no
ashamed to wear their blue-ribbo,
badges there.
All the medical observations II
recent Artic expeditions, showing
that the men who take alcohol,
drinks resist cold less we'll tina,
those who do not, have great,
helped the blue-ribbon movement
in Sweden. The principal actor il
Stockholm, NJ. Emil Hillburg. ha
donned the blue-ribbon, and sine
he did go six or seven other acton
have followed his example,"
IL Qs~A., 600 -ko 1rna,nnI n