The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-06-23
THE ROLE OF EDUCATION.


said the old drummer, quietly Detroit
Free Press.
THE ROLE OF EDUCATION.
A Valuable Aid in Combating the Inroads
of Drink.
Not long, since heard rarely tine
synopsis of the present temperance sit
uation, showing that we need more
light on the question. more thorough
temperance education. The speaker
that followed took issue with the pre-
vious address in toto, alleging: IF
there is anything of which we are not
destitute, it is light, if there is any
thing we do not need, it is education;"
and then he proceeded to enlighten us,
and to educate US according to his ideas.
This very common false estimate of
the value of education arises partly
from our superficial view of the fact
that educated men frequently fall VIC
Tins to alcoholic drinks We do not
stop to consider that learned men are
poisoned with equal readiness by any
other poison they may take. But his
education may sooner lead him to find
out the re asons why he should not tal Ike
it. 1t certainly is the more int Iligtnt
people who are pursuing such studies
and making some very successful ef-
forts to defend themselves against it's
inroads.
BY way OF contrast, please observe
the horrible devastation made by
drink when once introduced to r.
norant savages. They cannot be made
to understand the details of the mis-
chief it does. They know nothing of
it's specific effect on the nerves, brain,
stomach, liver, heart. In fact, they
hardly know they have such organs
They believe nothing but their feel
ings. and do not know that alcohol lies
to them, so they drink and die by the
million, the North American Indians,
the Sandwich islanders, the native A.
ricans dying out as other nations have
died out before them.
1t is but lately that we have known
enough of physiology to induce us to
believe what science reveals of the
specific poisonous effects of alcohol.
Or, knowing this, we have not known
enough of chemistry to understand
what drinks have alcohol. Temperance
has made as rapid progress as the con-
dition of popular education will allow.
As it is. we have 10 meet the opposi-
ton of scientists, falsely so-called, who
have tried in vain to demolish our cate
chisms and other textbooks. They
have often hindered the work and
broken up temperance schools. And
then we hear learned ~ assertions that
there is no alcohol in lager beer and
none in cider, and when there is this
prevailing lack of knowledge among
those who ought to know, how shall
the benevolent workers who have not
time for scientific investigation feel
sure that they are right and go on with
confidence?
Surely this problem is sufficiently
large and important to warrant the
study of the best minds. 1t would pay
them to go to the bottom of this social
problem in a scientific way, for there
must he solution some where. Men of
great minds have led the way.-Julia
Colman, in National Temperance Ad-
vocate.
BITS AND BREvITIEs.
A SOCIETY for the prevention of
cruelty to children in New England
city reports t3at of 1875 children whom
it had aided 1903 had Incorporate
fathers and s. drunken mothers.
The New York Times urges the cof-
fee-house as a cure for the saloon: ''The
saloon might be in great part sup.
ri if roSorf I.
ly as attractive, and less costly, and
not at all mischievous. This is the no.
ton that has found expression in coffee
houses and holly-tree inns in this coun-
try and abroad. Several of these are
in operation in this city, and we believe
there is no dispute that, so far as they
go, they are successful, and that they do
counterfeit the influence of the saloons. :"
A New HAVEN preacher lately adver-
tised through the press, offering bags
of flour to the needy, providing intoxi-
eating drink or tobacco were not used
in the family applying. Though fifty
dollars was deposited with the Union
Trust Company as an evidence of good
faith no applications were received.
Very few families that waste no money
on whisky or tobacco are SO poor as to
have to apply for charity. Intemper-
ance is chief cause of want.-Cum-
berland Presbyterian.
In recent sermon, Rev. DIR. A. II.
Plumb, of Boston, argues the duty of
total abstinence from all that can in.
toxicate, on the Christian principle of
self-denial for the good of others. He
says: "When Christian man refuses
to abstain from Intoxicating beverages,
he may know that he puts in jeopardy
the temporal and spiritual welfare of
many immortal beings around him;
that he imperils their highest interests
for this world and the next; that he
does this rather than surrender slight
personal qualification himself, and this
while he is all the time protesting to
order his life by the CHRISTIAN principle
of self-sacrifice for the good of others:
while he is accepting the obligation:
we then that are strong ought to bear
the burdens rsf tina tuaak'"