The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-07-20
TEMPERANCE READING
PUBLIC OPINION.

1t Is Inimical to the Drinking Habit-Its
Power for Good in Social and Business
Circles-The Large Class That Can Not
Be Reached by Moral influence Alone.
The fact is plain to every thinking
man that public sentiment is adverse
to rum. 1t marks the man who drinks
with the brand of moral weakness, and
MIN who deals in rum as outside the
social pale. 1t thus passes Judgment
which is effective, whether we accept
the one argument that the drinker is
responsible, because if he did not drink
there would be no one to sell rum; or
whether we adopt the other, that the
saloonlst is tempter eager that his
fellow-men shall fall under the spell of
rum that he may amass ifl-gotten
wealth. Public sentiment - the con-
sensus of opinion of the mass of INTEL
ligent people-thus holds both argu-
ments to be measurably true. The
drunkard is culpable in that he is not
able to resist the promptings of appe-
tite; the saloonist is at fault, In that he
spreads a net for the feet of the weak
and unwary.
So
There is no parent who is himself
conversant with the terrible nature of
the rum evil but will endeavor to in
culcate upon the plastic mind of his
children the great truth that total alb
stlnence is the only rule that is COM
patible with absolute safety. Thus
there is tremendous power for Tenn
perance exerted in the homes of the
nation, which is ably supplemented by
the teaching of the physiological evils
OF alcohol in the common schools of
many States-an addition to the cur
riculum which is steadily growing in
favor, almost each year showing an in
crease in the number of common
wealths which insist upon such instruc-
ton by rendering it mandatory upon
teachers and school officers. To these
forces for good the church comes as
most powerful auxiliary.
All these are but part, in fact, of the
great public sentiment inimical to in
temperance sentiment that deepens
year by year, and which is rapidly
making itself felt in every social and
business avenue. The young man who
is known to be addicted to drinking
finds many a bar thus placed before
him across paths he would wish to
tread Doors are closed to him that
W0l1lH Init nnf hot 4 :.
vlce-gladly open to him. Careful
mothers of young daughters do not de-
sire his social visits. Business men
do not want man who is not his own
master to fill any position of trust or
responsibility. There are many rail-
ways that follow the unwritten rule
that no man who uses liquor shall re-
main in their employ. The young man
who allows himself to drink is handi-
capped in the outset of his social and
business career by that one fact.
It is plain that the work in favor of
personal Temperance is in competent
hands, and is already energetically
prosecuted. From the very nature of
the moral and social forces engaged in
it, it is plain that its effectiveness is
steadily increasing. But it can do
nothing with the-alas! too numerous!
class of people who, through weak
ness, or ignorance, or bad surround
ing, or vicious tendencies, can not be
reached and controlled by these potent
forces. Taken altogether, this forms
a very large proportion of our popula-
ton. The problem then presents itself:
Shall the State supplement their lack
of the ability or the desire to control
one of their baser appetites by render
ing it difficult or impossible Of gratif-
cation Toledo Blade. -.