The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-03-11
Temperance.
Editor CITIZEN.

Unless the matter is brought to
their notice by the injurious drink
ing of member of the family, they
give it little or no attention, merely
because there has been nothing par
ticular to call it forth.
Yet every man when brought
to srefect upon it must see
the inestimable evil to the country
from the immoderate use Of strong
drink. II he is a christian, he can
not in the light of the bible, fail to
know that he is bound to do all in
his power to root out this SIN, as
he does every thing else that is OPP
posed to christianity and the conse-
quent happiness of man. But con-
sidering only his obligation as a
citizen, will any reasoning man
deny that it is his duty to put a
stop to that which is lnjuring the
aation whose privileges he enjoys
and which he helps TO govern?
AS individuals compose the ma
tion, so every person who degrades
himself injuries the nation so eve
iyone who helps in driving out the
Fful demon of intemperance, rem
ders the county more prosperous,
and SO much happier.
No one in a state of slavery has
en- tire control of his action. A
drinking man is not his own mas
ter. Every time he is conquered
by that desire for whisky he loses
part of that will power which rem
ders him the noblest of Gods crea-
ton.
Can we not, must we not do
something 20 raise those who have
Tins fallen2 TO teach others to
hun this most insidious snare as
they would fatal pestilence2 Ev-
cry rational being has an influence
on somebody's power for good or
evil which he exerts without regard
to his will. Then as we all have a
possibility that we cannot shirk
let us in this matter, as in others,
make it a means of good.
This subject of temperance con
Germs every one OF US. Let US wake
up therefore, think about it serious
Y, and do what we can to tighten
the hearts of those to whom life is
made dark by their subsection to
the most tyrancial master the world
ever knew.
We must begin IN our own town
and neighborhood.
If We cannot reform the Jug
| worms that are now scattered all
over our broad land and persuade
them to join our band, we will ed
ucate a coming generation that will.
Let US avoid the common mistake of
waiting for the others to take steps
| IN this matter, for while we are hes
itsting the saloon keepers of Ten
nessee are making drunkards Of our
boys and drunkards wives of our
daughters, while the hosts of
heaven are looking down to see if
we are doing our duty in prevent
ing this terrible condition of af-
fairs. What the young men and
women of the coming years shall
be depends entirely upon what you
and / and the parents of the chill
dren Of to day are going to do.
If we educate them to temperance
and goodness in their growing
years, they will be temperate and
godly men and women, but if we
let the saloons do the educating we
well know what they will come to.
The growing years of childhood
are the years in which character is
formed. What the child is the man
or woman will be.
1t was this truth the poet had in
his mind when he wrote:
"The child is the father to the
man" The further characters o
| Napolean, Washington, Lincoln
and all the worlds gallery of noted
men were presage in earlier years.
AS a child Nopolean played with
snow forts; his weapons were snow
balls; the enemy, blocks of wood.
AS 2 man he attacked real forte,
with real weapons, and real men
fell before him.
Lincoln was great and honest
and true in the little things of boy
hood and equally so in the great
things of his public life.
1 appeal TO you fathers and
mothers to help in the work of our
nation to prohibition.
After hearing this read don't say
"Well it would be good thing but
haven't the time to bother with
lit"
The saloon keepers have to both
er about collecting your boys and
your Deighbor's boys for the army
of the down below, and we must
find time to render his attempts flu
| tile.
This work must be done, unless
lyeu prefer little ease now, and
heart breaks and soul wrecks by
and by, to little labor and effort
now, and saved men and women
{ for time and eternity.
i Look at the generation that have
Just preceded us. The morning of
their life was cloudiess and it dawn
ed as brightly as your own.
u But behold, now, the smitten, en-
feebled, infamed, debauohed, idle,
poor, irreligious and vicious
With hating step, dragging on
ward to meet an early grave.
Their bright prospects are cloud
ed and their sun is set never to
rise.
No house of their own to receive
them, while from poorer to poorer
they descend as improvidence dries
up their resources.
And now, who are those that
wait on theiE footsteps with muf-
fled faces and sable garmentsY
That is q father and that is a
mother whose gray hairs are going
with sorrow to the grave. That is
sister, weeping over the evils she
cannot arrest, and these are the
children, helpless innocents, for
whom their father has provided no
inheritance, only one of dishonOr,