The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-24
NO ONE SAFE.

Every Citizen Personally Interested h
theaMa:ter of Temperance-The Conse-
quences Of IntemPerance 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
are not likely to be overcome by the
power of appetite, and their daugh-
tiers are happily married to temperate
husbands. What personal interest
can they have in the cause of Temper
ance? 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 tho
evil OF drunkenness. Their reason for
inactivity is selfish one, but it has a
powerful influence.
Who is safe from the indirect con-
sequences of drunkennessP A sad in
cident, reported in the papers OF our
city few days since, may throw soma
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 one
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 I'm
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. HI 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
a 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 the
home of many 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 do? In our great
cities and in every place where intem-
perance prevails he who walks the
streets, in spite of the police protec-
ton 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 a parent could wish but
they may be brought home lifeless
through the act of some companion
| whom alcohol has frenzied. J Every
one who has a home, a family and q
life has abundant reasons for exerting
his inf fence to put an end to the use,
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating
liquors as beverage. No o." =
safe in the company. or even N tina
neighborhood, of man made to..l-
porarily irresponsible by the use Of
liquor. United Presbyterian.