The Press., 1893-11-02

IrOm GQlS I0arIul Q0SCIuCtlOn lies there If we can keep the children from forming
 the habit, if we can arouse in them un
 compromising hostility to the saloons, ii
 we can bring them up valiant soldiers fol 1 temperance, if the next generation shall
 be pure, rum-hating, determined on its
 overthrow, the country will be rescued
 from the desolating curse which now over. spreads it. And only so can it be rescued We must save the children. By Gods help and using every instrumentality He
 has put in our power, zoe aoiU save the children.
 The children must be saved. How? In every way by which the children can be reached.
 Home training cannot be depended or
 to do the work. There are too many
 homes, unfortunately, where temperance
 is disregarded; where, if it IS not laughed at as foolish, it is considered simply a matter of sentiment, an insignificant sub. ject, not requiring the earnest, careful thoughtful, line-upon-line instruction. which alone can fortify the young against this giant evil.
 Sunday school training, continually pre- senting the subject, and enforcing it's prin- ciples, is effective to certain extent. But it does not reach those who most need to be reached. The children in our Sunday schools come, chiefly at least, from chris tian or moral homes; where the bias is likely to be in the right direction.
 Bands of Hope, temperance auxiliaries of various kinds, temperance papers and addresses, temperance work of whatever kind among the children, are all useful, But there are great masses of children not reached by any of these; and some oi them, while successful in exciting tenn. perance sentiment, do not furnish sui.
 1ciently strong basis for resistance to temptation.
 There is found to be one way, and one way only, by which to reach all of those, who will otherwise soon be reached by the Destroyer. It is through the Public Schools. Here all the children gather and here, where all are instructed in those other branches of learning, which 20 to make useful and intelligent citizens. can the foundations be laid for those temper ance principles, which shall fit them to exercise the duties of citizenship in this regard, and shall preserve them from the fatal effects of ignorance upon this vital matter.
 The scientific, physiological, temper ance instruction of the children in the schools; their resultant knowledge of the effects of alcohol on the human system, with the warnings incidentally but force- fully given against intemperance, and the reasons for total abstinence; their up- building by these means, with others, in- to well-grounded, firm-p -principled, intelli- gent practicers and advocates of Total abstinence; this is the great hope of the Temperance men and women of to-day the hope that the coming voters, who in a few years will have in their hands the destinles of this country, shall be so we'll lndoctrinated on this great subject, and so thoroughly understand it's important bearing on the life and prosperity of the community, and the scientific necessities Of the situation, that they shall not only be abstainers themselves, but shall de- clare at the polls, in no equivocal or half hearted manner, that "this good land which the Lord hath given us" shall be free from the blight and curse of Intem- perance.
 In our good state of Connecticut a sig nal victory has at last been won. Con- pulsory Temperance Instruction is the law Of the State. This, so necessary study, is wisely not left within the juris- diction of the various school committees. but is made as obligatory as tuition in "the three R's, reading, writing, 'rithme- tic."
 All right-minded parents will 1eioice at this; will be glad that their children shall have the teaching, which perhaps they are not qualified or have not the time to give them, but of which they must see the importance. If there are any who are not so-minded, it is we'll for their chil- dren and for the community, that they should have the opportunity of gaining the knowledge doubly necessary in their case.
 Of course it is understood, that this is not intended to super- sede home-training. It is only designed to be supplementary to it; and an inter- est on the part of parents is essential 10 its complete success.
 Parents should express to their children their pleasure that the subject has been taken up, and should cheerfully supply them with the necessary text books. They should try to instill in them an interest in he lessons, and see that they understand md profit by thom.
 We must never forget that while the children are the hope of the Temperance Cause, they are equally the hope and the ,eed of it's adversaries. The liquor deal- ITS in order to prosper, must secure large lccessions yearly to the number of their patrons. to replace the sixty-five thousand tiled by their means. The vast army of he 1ntemperate must be recruited con- tantly, or it would soon dwindle into