Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-07-13

&~l>1A>>~,~lS&o1, J,
COLUMN.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Paper read BY Mrs. Ives az the D;str,ct
tS;a s; e Ct the w g. 7, d, held in
WHAT y q y. cAN.IDo FOR HUMANITY
For many centuries the fangs OF 2
polso nous reptile have been fastened
Into. the very heart Of the human race nee
Edisttilling its slow, but deadly, poison
through all the veins of throbbino
hum l1'll11 anity. Yet until within the last
half century, no effort has been made
to destroy this reptile; few have rea.
lied the extent Of it's influence, still
less have theysrealized it's powers.
4 Slowly we are awakening to the
TACT that
Worldwide curse lies on our land.
4 from shore to shore. from sea to sea,
From aloohol's dsst 7Si@; ' hsnd.
40 long. since time began; and prayer
~ HotneF-nearts have risen in vain!
Fgs R9sl HoSd Rslf .t t9r 5 . san:
Nv hen once we realize the extent OF
this gigantic! evil, we find ourselves
wondering why it is longer allowed to
exist; but after, further investigation
We see that it is so interviewer with the
whole fabric of social and political
life. that to tear it out will rend asun.
der the fabric itself. Alcohol has
three strong-holds:
First-People are<accustomed to it:
the saloon, the social glass. The
drunkard is as familiar to us as the
rains of summer, the SHOWS of winter
as the bright green grass of spring,
and the sere brown leaves of autumn.
Those who love the ruddy wine for it's
own sake or Its baneful influence has
brought them suffering, do not wish
to get rid of it any more than we wish
the grass to cease growing; those who
feel its deadly effects, know it to pro.
duce nothing but evil, remain in a
state of lethargy, thinking it can not
be. gotten rid of any more than the
SHOWS and cutting blasts of winter.
You often hear such people say "Why
ii could Danish rum from the whole
world by any act OF mine of course I
would do it, but I cap't'' so what does
he do? Helps it to carry on it's he'll
fish work just because he cannot with
one sweeping act destroy it at once.
l suppose such person, if he always
acts on the same logic, would on see
ing three or four men trying to kill
another for his money turn in and
help them do it because he is not
strong enough alone to keep them
from it, and then take part OF the pro-
ceeds as pay.
The saloon is so familiar a part OF
our surroundings, that many people
never think of such a thing as DESTROY
ing it. 1t is imbedded in the prejudi-
ces and customs of mankind, and
there is no stronger law governing the
people than that of custom.
Second-The stronghold is in the
appetite of man. He who has once &C.
CURED TIA appetite for strong drink is
no longer free; it exerts more power.
full influence than any noble impulse
within him. Long centuries of such
abuse has given a race of people weak
to contend against the vice because Of
strong inherited tendencies, weakened
constitutions, and still weaker wills.
Third-The great stronghold is ir
the avarice of man; it seems to me 6
greater wrong Is committed by tha
GLASS of people who will pave thei,
streets, light their cities, procure al
the comforts of a well-regulated city
or village at the cost of ruined homes
ruined bodies and ruined characters
The man who votes to license the sell
ling of rum that he may save himsel
paying tax to defray the expenses O.
his city or. village is infinitely worse
than the poor deluded drunkard, half
crazed with the mad thirst for drink
who votes to keep it that he may have
rum to quench that burning thirst,
E The latter is physically and mental
~ incapable of acting wisely and firm
+ ly, but the former has not all his
faculties weakened by alcohol, bu
cody and cruelty, dominated by {
purely selfish love for the golden lido
Of America, so deliberated. votes lte
keep the open hell for weak and tot
tering feet to stumble into that he may
have a few more dollars with which tt
gel Injuries for his soulless body
The saloon-keeper also belongs t>
this class. He goes into the bushes.
of destroying all that is best ant
noblest IN man simply that he ma,
pile up the golden idols Of this nine
teenth century. sE.=s.: 80 t. =.
These are the men who keep the eyi
i in az istanca as mnch az tha:ai n rinLin.