The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-05
OF VERY GREAT IMPORTANCE.

OF VERY GREAT IMPORTANCE
DIR. Lorimer on Temperance Reform-The,
Hard and Awful Struggle of Mon Fight
ing Against the Drink Habit.
The fact that many questions have
become exceedingly commonplace is at
least an inference if not q proof
that they are matters of very oonsid-
cradle Importance. That subject be-
comes irrepressible as we'll as COM
lnonplace should serve as a hint to,
wise men that while they may post
pone dealings with it, it is only post
ponement at best; and the true wisdom
would be fair and faithful dealing
with the matter without delay. If it
be true that there are more than 300,-
900 drunkards in America, and that
figure is probably largely under rather
than over the. awful truth-then we
have sad condition of things. that it
would be as unpatriotic as it would be
inhuman to ignore. With all our
teeming millions we can not afford the
loss of SOC, 900 men. Indeed the word
loss does not begin to represent the
case. If 100000 men were left dead
upon some field of honor, the Nation
would bow her bead and weep over
their caves. They would be lost to
the NaIion forever more, save as
a sacred memory. But of this other
100000 who are living death in life,
whose days are misery and whose
nights are despair, whose every breath
is sigh, and whose way in life is
dark and desolate and sad, what OF
this unhappy hostP Are they not
wore than loss to the Nation? Are
they not a sorrow, a sadness and
shamep
Americas chief wealth has always
been in her men. Her mines, her
cornfields and her cotton plantations,
have been as nothing compared with
her larger and richer wealth of men.
And that any plague should come to
change the glory of 100000 men to
disgrace is terrible. In the presence
of such facts, the worst fanaticism of
the most extreme of the advocates of
Temperance is not only pardonable,
but positively virtuous. In the pres
ence of real calamity we bow with
more or less submission. But such a
self-inflicted scourge as intemperance
demands the gravest solicitude Of all
gentle and patriotic men.
1t is perhaps very difficult say any
thing new on this well-worn subject.
but Dr.. Lorimcr on Sunday evening
last spoke some weighty words on this
matter that deserve much considera-
ton. We should not judge him to be
a member of the Prohibition party, and
yet he thinks the Nation should be as
busy making manhood as making rail-
roads. But he has more confidence in
the work of earnest men and tender.
gentle women than in any other agency.
He does not waste time in abuse of sa-
loon keepers, he goes rather to the
heart of the matter and lays the whole
trouble in a solemn burden on the
hearts and consciences of all right
minded men and women.
One special point he made not often
heard from the lips of Temperance
men, and that was most pathetic
reference to the hard and awful strug-
gle of men who were fighting against
the habit of drink. He INDUCED in NO,
idle sentiment, but he spoke with such
earnest pity that any man listening to
him who was victim of this dreadful
curse could not but take he; TT OF
grace and fight with greater hope and
courage. Heroism in drunkards strug-.
Cling to free themselves from drink is.
a new kind of argument on the tenn
perance platform. Dr. Lorimer has;
struck vein that needs well working.
If people knew the terrible character
of the conflict they would speak moro,
gently of the erring. and the conflict.
would oftener end in victory. Chicago
Saturday ECening Herald.