Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-11-16
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF IN
TEMPERANCE.
Read By Miss Richie Campbell
Before the Temperance Socie-
ty Of Empire, on the
23rd ut.

Every one is aware vi inc efll anu
degrading influence which strong
drink has upon men who indulge in
drinking. A great deal has been
said against it, but still there are
many who will drink TO excess.
There is, throughout the community,
all almost universal desire TO save
those who frequently indulge in
strong drink, from the degradation
of drunkard. Men would not be-
come slaves TO the wine-cup if they
would only take courage, but they
for rant of courage bring upon them
selves years of misery and woe. Here
arises some of the most dangerous
causes of intemperance. One man
has not courage TO refuse to drink
with a friend another can not help
taking dram. Beware of only a
dram, you do not know where it will
lead you. And that friend who will
offer you a dram of liquor, is the
worst enemy that you have. AL
though he may do you favor when
ever it is in his power, and would
not injure you financially, yet he is
your enemy indirectly. Anenemy to
your welfare. If he with one dram
tires the veins, awakes the sleeping
demon which calls for more brandy
until you become intoxicated, bring
yourself lower than brute, and con-
sequently lose your money by gamb-
ling, or get robbed in drunken
crowd what enemy could do worse i?
Low company is the worst cause
of intemperance. The number of
men who could be useful, but who
are utterly worthless because of the
company they keep, can not be count
ed. Men of good birth and educa-
ton have thrown themselves away,
by being in company with men of
immoral habits, who will lead them
into saloons, and they in turn will
visit saloons to find such company.
And what is the consequence They
become hopeless drunkards.
Another cause of intemperance is
idleness. A man for the want of
something to do, some way to amuse
himself, enters grog-shop where he
is sure to find plenty of loungers like
himself and when he returns he is
generally specimen of debauch-
cry and degradation. Some useful
occupation, or some good look might
save many young man from the
crime and ignominy which intem-
perance produces. But intemperance
is not confined to those who are call
ed idlers. There are men who earn
their daily bread by the sweat of the
brow, and who have loved ones de-
pending on them for support, that
will throw away their hard-earned
money for few drains oftle poison
Gus fluid. Why is this? 1t is the
natural love for liquor, and they can
not resist the temptation to drink.
Lack of courage again. Man is weak.
lie must be encouraged in every I'M
dertaking and withheld from every
temptation. There is a time when
all his better feelings seem dead, and
nothing but the brutality of his ma
ture is left to mock his race. This is
when he is under the influence of
that baneful drug-whisky. Ii love
and friendship fail to remove that
fatal cup, there must be something
stronger. Something that will guard
him against the dictates of his mean
er nature, and guide him in the path
which the pure and noble tread. If
the prayers of the wife, mother and
sisters are of no avail, what can save
him from drunkard's grave, but the
Temperance pledge? A pledge be-
fore God and man surely would not
be broken. 1t is needless to mention
the evil effects of intemperance. They
are seen in every day life, and those
who have experience feel too keenly
the pain. The jails are full of pris-
oners, the poor-houses full ofpaupers
and the State-prison full of conyicts.
No murderef,no criminal that ever
suffered death of shame upon the
gallows, but would say he began his
life of crime in the bar-room. Resist
the temptation. Evil temptation leads
to woe. "Touch not, taste not, ham
die not, for there alone lieth safety"