The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-11-12
Written for the MONITOR.
"HOW MICH THEN IA 4 MAN
BETTER THAN SHEEP"

MRS. ANN Il. CARR.
A graphic illustration concerning th,
pertinence of the Masters question is fur
nished by current events. The bird in tht
air, the fish in the water. have been deemed
of sufficient Importance to engage TIA,
thought and earnest endeavor of legisla
tors in congress assembled. The ravagei
of the potato bug have been powerful
enough to warrant the appointment of 3
commission of inquiry by congress relative
to the same, nor has legislative dignity
thought itself compromised by efforts to
protect the sheep, and yet when the SAINT
august body were respectfully recon-
fnended to institute a commission ofinquiry
concerning a traffic which is worse than
wasting 5000, 600, 600 annually. TO say
nothing of the terrible facts that from
sixty to eighty thousand are trarnping their
way into a d~runkard's grave every year
and hat ninety per cent. OF all the com
mitments to Jail, penitentiary, almshouse,
etc, come either directly or indirectly
from rum. that said appeal meets with 40
response, it certainly furnishes al apt il
lustration Of the poets words Consistency
thou art a jewel" Temperance workers
are frequently called people Of one idea,
with a decided implication that they are
constantly over-estimating that idea, and
hence are out Of proportion, or in modern
p~srlance are not leyel-headed. Now we
respectfully submit that when such emf
nent authority as is Fowell Buston, at one
time the leading brewer Of England and
hence possessing superior advantages for
know ing of what he speaks. tells US that
considering its continuance, internperance
is a more terrible evil ''than war, pesti-
ience and famine combined. " the supreme
seourgcs Of mankind. it goes without
saying that it is scarcely possible to exag-
gerate the hydra headed evil, ard that If it
be an indication Of an unbalanced mind TO
magnify minor evils. whilst minifying or
almost entirely ignoring great ones, then
must the shoe be put on the other feot and
men who are earnest concerning the raw
ages Of the potato bug. or who Justify de-
mand protection for the sleep, whilst eighty
Thousand men FOR whom Christ died find
their way into a d~runkard's grave annually
without scarcely a comment from the re-
formers, will have To be branded as de-
eidedly lacking in evel-headedness. To the
earnest temperance workers the apathy of a
large portion of the respectable and church
going classes is simply appalling. Whilst
gratefully acknowledging the rapid strides
the temperance cause has made during the
last decade there yet remains much land
to be possessed. An attendance upon eccle-
s~iastical boards or close contacts with
leaders OF religious thought and endeayor
will convince with the stubborn logic of
facts that there is urgent need of a great
awakening OF the conscience Of the church
upon this subject. We cheerfully coneede
that q large proportion. possibly the ma
jority, are total abstainefs, many of whom
are aggressive temperance workers, but the
point we make is that when the time
comes for temperance sentiment to crystal
llze into a vote for the party furnishing the
best embodiment Of temperance principles.
they are sadly lacking. No one unless ae-
tualiy familiar with the facts of the case
can conceive the strength Of The tie bind
ing men to their respective parties. On
the face one would suppose that the lead
ers in the church would need no urging to
vote as they pray" and in addition would
count it their supreme delight to cndeavor
to get others to do the anne. A conference
of clergy looking toward the evangelical
ton of the masses Was held recently in
Philadelphia. Doubtless tie hindrances
to the work were referred 10 and yet what
child doesn't know that the supreme i'm
pediment to the progress of the gospel in
that city is found in the 1000 licensed dram
shops eifectually neutraliziug the teach
ings of the Sunday-school and church and
giving special emphasis TO the pathetic
query of the mother hose son was trying
10 reform, How can he reform hen be
tween his hsne and place OF business there
are ifty-six open ~saloons9'