Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-08-23
M. G. r. u. NOTES.
:5=::==-Look Out for Bonanza Wm Trauernioht
WHY SUSTAIN THE W. G. p. II.


By IL. Il. j. IN Housekeeper.
The question is often asked by those
who live IN small villages and thinly
settled neighborhoods over the country.
Why press upon us to take up and
sustain regular unions? This work
pertains largely to our great cities, then
why should we be burdenei with it?n
Yon might as we'll ask: Why should
the little springs and streams of the
mountains be thought of any use when
there are the large rivers and oceans of
water? Or, Why is it worth while to
sustain the little churches all over the
country and hold them loyal to their
denominational centres? We would
answer that the large bodies need the
small ones and the small ones need the
large ones; otherwise, no existence of
either could be long maintained. There
Is strength in union and power in num-
bers. Intemperance threatens the pros
perity of this nation, if not its very ex-
istence. 1t must be throttled or, vam-
pire like, it will destroy us by sucking
out the life-blood of the state. Our
sons aud our daughters-the heart aud
hope of the country-are lin danger,
whether we realize it or not. 1t is not
enough To shut few saloons and crt
Off the supply from some blear-eyed Old
sots. And yet is often said of us that
We do not accomplish anything because
we have not closed the saloons. o, but
that is a short-sighted view of "a grand
prospect that stretches away before us
and may take weary years of toll to COM
pass. We must be content to work for
the next generation, if we can do no
more; for it has taken many genera
tons to sink US down to our present
level.
3d." says one, "now you are talking
about gaming prohibition and do not
believe in that! 1t would be taking a
moral question in politics." Why is it
not as well to take a moral question
into politics as well as an immoral one?
Not a year passes over our heads that
the liquor power of this country does
not strive to have laws passed for the
advancement of its own interests.
Must we sit still and permit our happy
homes to be threatened, our children
tempted and destroyed, that the saloon
keepers may make more money and
attain the power which money gives
them? The time has gone by when it
Is disgrace to keep saloon, though
it may still be to keep a doggery. But
the brewers and distillers and whole
sale liquor dealers are monied aristoc-
racy, riding into high places of trust
and official position, no matter whose
hearts are crushed or whose hopes are
shattered in the going down of our
young men into the mire under their
cruel. remorseless juggernaut. "But,"
says another, 81 cannot see that any
thing is accomplished by trying to
have political temperance party"
Well, we are not writing for men. If
we were, we would repeat Miss Vests
words: "To-day Christ sits over against
the ballot-box, as of old he sat over
against the treasury, and judges men
by what they put therein" Each one
must do his duty as he sees the right.
But SO far as women are concerned the
political question is mere matter of
opinion to which every one has right.
When asked to work..in the w. G. T.
U. you are not asked to believe in
third party or I'm woman suffrage.
That these have been endorsed in
the national and state conventions is
true, but they are only expressions of
personal opinion and affect no one but
those who believe in them. They are
not. in any sense. test of membership
and are not named in the constitutions.
In the last national convention, the
following resolution was passed almost
unanimously: mo state union shall
be bound by any principle espoused-o or
plan devised by the National w. G. T.
u, except that all state auxiliaries
must subscribe to the total abstinence
pledge and to the constitution of the
national" fla Presbyterian synod or
Methodist conference or a Baptist asso-
citation should pass resolution favor
ing prohibition, would individual
church members feel bound to adopt it
or withdraw from their communion?
On :the 10th of November last, the
Southern Methodist Conference met at
Danville, Va, Bishop Key, of Georgia,
presiding. A motion was made TO APP
point a committee on temperance. The
Bishop said, mo, sir, we do not appoint
committees on temperance we have
passed temperance in my country and
now call it prohibition!" A committee
on prohibition was appointed, but sure
ly all Methodists did not feel compelled
to vote for prohibition i'm Atlanta, Nov.
Goth. Then let us go to work, ready
to do what ever lies next to us that
will carry on the work of the union.
Concluded neat treek.)
The various temperance bodies of
Tasmania have resolved on positive ac-
ton against the liquor traffic. Encour-
aged by the success of local option in
Victoria, Tasmania has decided to come
to the front.-UniOn Signal.