Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-03-12
TEMPERANCE.
Editor Willmar Tribune:

Editor Willmar Tribune:
Temperance, as defined by
Webster, 81 signifies, primarily, the
habitual moderation in regard
to the Indulgence of the natural
nppetites and passions. The de-
tini'ion is apt. ! would give
special force to the word natural.
\ moderate indulgence OF the
natural appetites and passions.
The apostle says: "Let your
moderation be known unto all
men, and as temperance is so
often njoined rs a Christian vir-
tue, by New Testi1nent writer's,
many, in order to destroy the
force OF such declarations, boldly
assert that the really temperate
man is one who moderately in
dulges in unnatural appetites and
passions-one who moderately
INDUCES in the use OF alcoholics
and tobacco. Consistency would
enjoln that such sophists should
also addict themselves to the use
Of opiates and other deleteriOus
habits for which it is possible to
create an appetite. And yet,
fa|lacious as is the reasoning 10y
which such Il conclusion is arriv-
ed at, it is a common ono. How
frequently does some friend of the
saloon writing in opposition to
the friends OF temperance, sign
himself "a temperance man."
Temperance forsooth!
Now | do not purpose in this
article to enter into any argu-
ment to prove that the indul-
yence of the abnormal appetite
for Intoxicating liquors is injuri-
GUS alike to the individual and
society at large. The truth Of
the proposition is admitted 10y
nearly everybody, alike the scien-
tihc and unscientitic. Probably
even Mr.. l>irch-the champion of
the saloon and sporting elements
Of WiIlmar-woul'i not attempt
to deny it. Where is there a
writer on physiology and hygiene
who in the least juStities the use
OF alcoholics? Ihave yet to SEE such
Il one. The banpful effects of ill.,
toxicants are being taught in all
our schools. There is not a sin
Gle element of good in their Use
as a beverage. No one will at.
tempt to deny but that they art
responsible for by far the great.
est part Of all criminal doings.
This being 50 what is the sa
loon, where for asum OF money
Il mere pittance compared with
the costs of courts and crinIima
prosecutions and the destruction
of life and property by men act
ing as they would not but for thu
influence Of liquor-the sale o
toxic poisons is made legal, bu
a veritable nuisance? 1t is moth
ing more nor less. 1t is an insti
tuition for the manufacturing O
drunkards-aye, more, the manu-
factory OF criminals. 1t take
: young men'in the bloom Of youth
the morning of life, and entice
them out from parental and HON
influences -young men who NIGH
: almost I've said to know no sin
: andtearhes them not only todrin
: alcoholics but initiates them int
I many other ways that are dar
t and ruinous alike to soul an
t body. 1t casts it's bliyhtinI
n whitening, destructive curse ALL
j. on the poor and the wealthy; Q
|, the illiterate anil the educate
e on the rude and the refined, tt
e cultivated; ON many of the faire
it homes in our land. The sal"o
II the brothel, and the gambli'
II house, goingas they generally {
is hand in hand. are Il rank dis%ra
s to our civiIization-Christis
'. civilization if you please. Tn.
y give the lie to those " no clai
ii that ours is a Christian natio
T. Never can this or any other II
ton lay legitimate claim to t
* appellation Of ''Christian" VIII
H. such Ubiquitous institutions ha
n IL legal footing in the laws OF o
II land.
TX And yet, in the face Of all tn
citizens Of WilImar and New LIZ
or don, men who even claim to
in Christian, will vote to legalizet
Il saloon. Such men are Christi
st only in name: They are no mi
Of Christian than was Cain when
OF threw III the face Of his God 1
'st lying interrogative: Gam I. !
ed brothers Keeper" That aN
he lie has been echoing down
re: ages ever since, and men are
res lay voting to leg aIize thesalo'
nd and thus abet their murder
eS, i and worse than numbering