The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-28

form, not through the edicts sf
princes, nor the DEGREES OF kings,
nor the decisions of councils, all Of
which have kept the forces of pro-
gress at game sof Ssesaw. but
through the less capricioMs.andiess
uncertain power of public .senii-
ment, which, when prepared either
by the desire for improvement, or
by the insolence of wrong, heralds
its edicts and enforce its DEGREES
National life has become such
that whatever weakens and Injuries
the individual, the smallest factor
in the nation, in like manner affects
the nation. Hence laws for reform
and for the prevention of vice, must
be made by the people for self-pro-
lection. In time of pestilence when
the people, the nation, is being
weakened by disease and death,
who objects to the mandate that
comnels the purifying of the city,
and the removing of the cause Of
death? No one. Why? Because
the people have the right to thus
protect themselves.
Knight mention other laws whose
practical benefits clearly Justify
their being made and enforced. Ig-
norance, vice, and crime, and causes
of crime, must be forbidden, pro-
hibited, by the supreme power in
government which is the people.
Now upon this same principle. does
not the public welfare demand the
removal of intemperance? No one
cause, no, not all others combined
are so productive of evil as is the
drinking of intoxicating liquors.
There is not a single factor in pub
lie good rhat is not either DESTROYED,
corrupted, or threatened by this
pernicious custom. 1t has become
plague of the most deadly kind.
Its death germs have polluted the
very moral atmosphere, and find a
resting place for their destructive
work in the strength, the mind, the
soul of man. 1t has no more re-
spect for condition, rank and talent,
than has the noisome pestilence.
Genius and intelligence are blight
ed in the foul air, the strong man
bows in weakness. The painter
lays down his brush; whisky has
driven away high conceptions and
beautiful ideas. The author ia
driven from his study, and his pen
is left to rest in the ink well, while
the master who once welded it
writes in the blood of his murdered
usefulness the sad story of his own
ruin. The statesman loses his
broad views of social and political
questions. How this player Stays
the professional men, and draws
even the minister of the gospel to
the ruin of which he warned others.
The financial waste of this plague,
although so very great, is insignif-
cant when compared with the social,
the intellectual, the moral waste.
The ruinous work of intemperancc
in the individual, in his person and
in his home, is miniature repre-
sentation of the work of intemper-
ance in the life of the nation. In
her is seen the poverty, the degree
dation, the weakness found in the
drunkard. O, what loss to the
nation does this intemperance
bring This robbery perpetrated
upon the strength of the nation is
carried on, although not so percept-
IDLY, in all grades of men from the
plowboy to the Senator.
Must we look on and witness in
silence and helplessness this terri
BILE weakening and destroying ofin-
dividual and national power, when
by the trust of government divinely
given to us, AMI by the principle of
our government, it is our duty to
remove the plague?
Intemperance must be removed.
1t is the enemy of the people, and
the people must remove it. Without
doubt there will be some loss to
those who have enriched them
selves by this wicked business. The
evil has rooted deeply. 1t has be-
come the employment and wealth
of men, and woven.itself into their
desires and lives. But men with
any soul will not value their dollars
more than they do the happiness of
their fellowmen. Individual inter
ests never ought to be hindrances
to reform and worldwide good.
What are lands, houses, money,
and life to US when country is at
stake? We willingly sacrifice
them all
Public welfare, that of the home
and of the individual, our response
bility to God, and our duty to our
selves, te, our fellowman, and to
our country demand THAT we re-
move the plague and curse of in