Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-09-17
Intemperance in Colleges.

The Christian at Work is moved to eX-
press itself as follows on the question of
intemperance iii colleges
1t is time that some plain and strong
words were spoken concerning the drink
ing customs prevalent among college stu
dents and the sentiment which prevails
concerning these customs in some college
circles. 1t is our conviction that the col
leges Of the country a. a whole are not eX-
erting the influence which they should eX-
ert in the matter of intemperance, In their
attitude on the drink question they are not
abreast of the best and most enlightened
public sentiment of the day. We have OBJ
served with regret that the cup and the
punch-bowl still figure quite as conspicu-
ously as ever at class dinners, alumni meet
ings and other convivlal gatherings of col
lege men. In these gatherings also are
cherished and perpetuated in song and Gus
tom much of that same false sentiment and
those romantic associations, clustering
around the wine-cup, which have done
more than anything else to lure impress
sionable and enthusiastic young men into
the terrible folds of the drink habit. The
countenance given to drinking customs in
college circles is due in large part to that
false and vicious sentiment which excuses
and condones excesses of other sorts when
ndulged in by college men; that sentiment
which sets up and sustainS different
standard of morals and conduct for col
lege men than that which obtains in re-
spectacle society outside of college walls.
The Boston Herald, In commenting upon
the action of the Cambridge authorities,
who arrested and fined number of Har-
ward students for keeping drinking clubs
said There is probably no truth in the
report that the Cambridge police are going
to swOop down on commencement punch
at Harvard. There are some things that
the law is bound to respect, and com
mencement punch is one of these This
was intended as stroke of humor, but it
is suggestive of some things which are not
humorous. 1t has been held that law and
public sentiment were sbound to respect"
many things in college life which are not
entitled to respect from any source. We
are far from disposition to hold college
authorities accountable for all improper
habits and indulgences to be found among
the young men under their charge. Neither
are we making any plea at present for a
specific line of teaching in the matter of
the use and abuse of alcoholic stimulants.
All that we ask is that by example at all
times and by precept at every seasonable
opportunity, the practice of drinking in
toxicants shall be discouraged and con-
demned, and an atmosphere of thought
and feeling finally created that shall make
it impossible for any college student
to join drinking club or to engage in an
occasional bacchanalian revel without the
certainty of disgrace and punishment. In
these momentous and critical days of the
conflict with the liquor power the chris
tian public has right to expect that our
great institutions of learning, gathering
within their walls, as they do, the flower
of our American youth, shall not throw
part but the whole of their influence on
the side of truth and righteousness; that
they shall not assume passive or indIfier
ent attitude on the temperance question,
but place themselves squarely and strongly
forms.