The Brookhaven leader., 1889-08-22

Every Citizen Personally Interested In
the Matter of TempeTance-TheC Conse-
quences of IntemperaBce Not Confined
to the Incorporate Mana Menace TO
All.
Many refuse or neglect TO take an
active part in the cause Of Temper
ance because they are safe from the
evils of intemperance. They never
drink intoxicating liquors; they have
no family whose happiness can be
blighted by this curse, or their sons
have reached such an age that they
power Of appetite, and their daugh-
ters are happily married to temperate
husbands. What personal interest
can they have in the cause Of Temper
anceP They may be its friends, but
they are only half-hearted in their
friendship. They will not devote their
time, labor or money to suppress the
evil OF drunkenness. Their reason for
inactivity is a selfish one, bat il has =
powerful influence.
Who is safe from the indirect con-
sequences of drunkenness? A sad in
cident, reported in the papers of our
city few days since, may throw some
light upon the answer to this question.
A party of young men were visiting
some friends who had encamped in
the woods The cook of the camp be-
came intoxicated. In his rage be-
cause he was not permitted to have
more liquor he shot and killed ono
of the visitors. The drunkenness of
another caused the death of one who
was himself sober. and brought great
sorrow to happy home. Similar in
cidents are of frequent occurrence.
The consequences of intemperance
are not confined to the Incorporate
man. If they were the evil would be
shorn Of much Of its terrors The man
who uses intoxicating liquors can not
be ignorant of the effect to himself.
He knows that his health will be un-
dermined, his business ruined, his
mind stupefied and his life shortened.
We do not have the same pity for him
we would have if he had not brought
his troubles on himself. We feel that
his sufferings are just. But the conse-
quences are not limited to his own ex-
perience. He brings unhappiness, pow
erty and shame to his wife and chill
dren and relatives We may have lit
tie pity for the drunkard, but we must
pity those who live in a drunkard's
home.
More than this. the drunken man is
menace to all who come in contact
with him. His reason is dethroned.
He has no regard for the rights or
lives of others. He has burned tho
home of many a sober man, not be-
cause he had any thing against his
neighbor, but because he did not know
what he was doing. He has taken the
life of stranger and friend, not because
he hated them, but because he was in
sane with drink. No one is safe when
drunken men are at liberty. Who can
tell what they will dop In our great
cities and in every place where intem-
perance prevails he who walks the
streets, in spite of the police protec-
tion and the license system, takes his
life in his own hand.
Every citizen is, therefore, person.
ally interested in the matter of Tenn
perance. He may be careful of his
property, but his Incorporate neigh
Dor is not careful. He may be strictly
temperate, but total abstinence will
not protect his life against the
drunken murderer His children
may be all parent could wish but
they may be brought home f1feless
through the act of some companion
whom alcohol has frenzied. Every
one who has a homo, a family and a
life has abundant reasons for exerting
his inf fence to put an end to the use,
manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors as a beverage. No on" :
safe in the company, or even IN the
neighborhood, of a man made 49,
porarily irresponsible by the use of
liquor. Presbyterian.