Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-02
THE LIGHT OF HISTORY

Prohibition is not a sudden, uncon-
sidered demand of persons who are
annoyed by the liquor traffic, and would
like to get rid of it, Just as most peo-
pie would like to get rid of mosquitoes.
Our demand is the lipe fruit of a hun
dred years OF temperance agitation and
instruction.
The temperance reform had first to
prove the bencsit of total abstinence.
When DIR. Rush started the movement
in 1875, he only commended for absti-
nence from "spirituous liquors." 1t
had still to be proved that the alcohol
in fermented liquors was the same
evil spirit. Then it took many wears
to prove the duty of total abstinence
by II strong for the weak. The
pledge had to be tested through long
years to prove its power and weak
ness. The Washingtonians expected
to sweep drunkenness from the earth
merely by making drunkards promise
to quit drinking. The Women's Cru
SADIE hoped to do it by making the
sellers promise to quit selling. Lii
cense had to be thoroughly tried before
good men learned that twas power
less as a remedy" AS the crown of
all this toll and conflict has come the
demand for prohibition of the importa-
ton, expectation, manufacture, and
sale OF intoxicants. Let us suppose
that this demand had been presented
to DIR. Rush a hundred years ago,
Would he have favored it? There can
be no doubt that he would have thought
it wild and chimerical in the extreme.
There are a multitude of people to-
day who think the same for the same
reason. They have not benefited by
the experience of a hundred years. He
did not live to do it. They have lived
without doing it. Heirs of all ages
they have not entered into their inherit
ance.
Now, these people who stand Just
where DR.. Rush did are going to feel
just as Dr.. Rush and his contemporaries
would if some one had suddenly sprung
upon them the demand for national
prohibition. We must meet these PEG.
pie where they are and lead then
across the hundred years. We mus
convince a multitude of people of the
first principles of total abstinence.
Total abstinence is the foundation
stone of prohibition. If total absti
hence is a good thing for body ant
mind, for old and young, for individu
ais and communities, then prohibition
of the sale of intoxicating beverage!
has q place in law. Ii total abstinenc.
is not a good thing, if the workingma1
in the factory is better off for his drinl
of beer, and the farmer for his Jug O
whisky or cider in the harvest field
alcohol is good for WEAKNESS and weak
ness, for heat and cold, and a harmless
promoter of innocent sociability-thel
it would be both folly and tyranny t,
prohibit its sale. Prohibition vii
eve be on a secure basis except as j
has behind it a deep and strong con
viction OF the worth of total abstinence
Since all this was so clearly prove
to the leaders of to-day, a new natio,
has been born Oh our shores and an
other nation has come in from acros
the sea. The old lessons must b
taught all over again to these new pr
pills. Then we can go on to teach MOI
than was known in the olden time. A
the stores which scientific temperate
has gathered in the wonderful fit
years past are waiting our bidding.
they have but this full knowledge OF
people will be wise to decide, q%ualife
to teach and strong to fight for til
people and the home against the giar
curse of the saloon, which must g
down if civilization is to live.-1T
Better Dan.