The Somerset reporter., 1895-05-23
History Repeats Itself.

If it were possible to select from the
lists of voters of New ! ork and Boston,
/ in 1880. the names of the men then most
eminent. whether as statesmen, clergy
F men, or merchants, and note against the
name of each his absolute attitude at
that time on the issue of American
slavery, We would have sad aud sur
prIsing record. 1t would be shown that
very large majority Of that class OF
men were intensely intolcrant of any
agitation "a to the great national iniqulty
of that period and we're practically,
however uninteutionally. more intluen-
tial in hindrance of reform than were the
citizens of south Carolina.
The men Who recognized and openly
assailcd the iniquity of human slavery
we're. by comparison, but mere hand
full, and very few of these escaped social
and political ostracism, while many Of
them we're the victims of personal
violence that was hardly rebuked by the
men of social influence.
We refer to this only that the expert
ence NAV. in some measure, help TO ex-
plain to the young men of today the
present strange attitude of good
society" toward the case OF temperance
reform.
When our Federal Constitution was
under consideration in l7s7, the tenure
of slavery seemed very frail, and during
the next quaIter-century, not only did
the system gain no strength, but thou
sands of slaves were set free by the
voluntary act OF their owners. tnhap-
PLY, after a time, slavery became very
profitable to slave. owners, and they be-
came very influential through both their
wealth and their political power. New
York, Boston and other cities courted
the favor of the shareholders, and, how
ever uEconsciously, their men OF social
and political influence became obedient
to the dictations of the slave States.
"History repeats itself and the spirit
of the defenders of and apologists for
human slavery is manifested to-day IN
popular attitude toward earnest effort
for temperance reform.
The observation-disclosures cause is not
new, even in its present form. nor Is the
sentiment of hostility to the liquor traffic
as a national peril new. In theory, at
least, the spirit of Washingtonianism
has never lost the confidence of thought
full non.drinking men, and the convlc-
ton Of the American people "a TO the
nations peril through the liquor-saloon
was never so general as il Is to-day.
But so.called good society" insists
upon its wine. and the nation, as we'll AZ
the liquor seller, seems to crave the re-
venue that Is derivable from what the
New York Tribune declares to be "the
heaviest clog upon progress, and the
deepest disgrace of the nineteenth cen
tury." Until such allies of drunkard-
makers shall be converted, the temper
ance reformer can expect only very
moderate progress. The difficulty is
not sentimental, but terribly practical.
Every citizen is inevitably helping Or
hndering the growth of the temperance
reform, even if many who are on the
wrong side are unconscious of that fact.
And if it were possible for classical
ton of tendency to be made on some
accurate basis of authority, we suspect
the record would be as surprising and
saddening as record of 1880 concerning
human bondage.
It is time for men to settle with their
own consciences in this matter. Eva
sion Is as disastrous as it is cowardly.
We are constantly enlarging our prisons
and almshouses, multiplying our police
forces, and proposing to Increase our
standing army, are submitting TO the
corruption of our legislatures, and the
debauchment of our executive depart
ments, because 40 large section of I'VE
the people" shrink from the performance
of known duty.
Similar evasion of duty forty years
ago cost our nation terribly in treasure
and precious blood. Is not one such eX-
perience enough ?-NdtioHm Temperance
1duOcotr.