Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-06-18
FOR UPLIFTING HUMANITY.

FOR UPLIFTING HUMANITY.
Address Given by DIR. A. A. Whitfield by
Request of W. T. U. at Soldiers Home.
(Published by Request.)
In all movements designed for the
uplifting Of humanity there are many
things to be done. In looking back
over even short period of time, we
will find that while many things have
been done, many things might have
been better done, and large number
have been left undone. The temper
ance movement has been no exception
to the rule in this respect; hence the
keynote of the thought shall present
to you this afternoon will be found in
the chapter you have just heard read:
"These ought ye to have done and not
to leave the other undone."
Since there are some who say "noth-
ing has been done,' it may not be time
mispent to take swift, cursory glance
backward to about 1910, when away
down in Maine the temperance ques-
tion began to be obstrusely prominent
as a matter of public concern and de-
manding particular legislation.
Many of my hearers can remember
when, practically, there was no temper
ance question. Can remember when
the tavern was quite respectable
place; where the town fathers and even
the elders and deacons thought it no
disgrace to meet and discuss ques-
tions of public veal; can remember
when it was not an unheard of thing
for even the minister to take his grog
and sometimes "a drop too much,"
without losing caste; when every farm
er put down his barrel of cider as reg
ularly as he did his pork and potatoes
and thought no more of it.
And this was not thus because no
one ever got drunk in those days when
nothing was thought of it. People
have been made drunken ever since
the first crop of grapes ripened after
the flood. "Noah was drunken,"-they
called it by its right name-and peo-
pie have been afflicted in the same
manner ever since. You who think it
is only modern disease need only to
examine the musty old records to be
found in any down east justice court to
be convinced that not only did people
get drunk in "those good old days
when everybody drank" but they suf-
fered the same penalty then and now
loss of position, property as health.
Why was it SO little was said con-
corning the matter? Because public
sentiment had not been aroused to
sense of public responsibility and man
had only begun to realize he was his
brothers keeper. What is public
opinion? You tell me it is the opinion
held by q majority of the people. Ever
since the creation man has been crop.
ngway in his moral ethics. He has been
learning his duty to his God, to his
neighbor and to himself. He has been
learning to reason back from effect to
the cause and from his observations to
formulate laws. Isolated facts have
been gathered together and made to
prove the laws correct. From time to
time the facts thus Cleaned have been
published. The number of people con
vinced of the truth of the facts is con
tinually increasing, and at last q ma
jority of the public is convinced. and
it becomes public opinion. And pub
lie opinion is the greatest lever we
have. AS we'll attempt to defy the laws
of gravitation as public of opinion. es-
pecially when that opinion is based on
justice and truth.
And what change has been wrought
in public opinion on the temperance
question. In 1886 the shop bells in
some New England towns rang regu-
larly at IL a. M, and p. M, as signal
the men might stop for glass of grog.
A few month since, inquiries sent out
to some of the railroad companies of
this country, representing 100000 en-
ployees, brought back the answer tive
will not employ men who use liquor"
Secret societies that are at the same
time insurance societies, as rule, re-
fuse membership to habitual users Of
liquor. The professions never were as
free as now from those given to excess,
while the clergy are to q man teetolal-
ers. And while it cannot be said our
public officers are always abstainers, 1t
can be said those who hsbitually use 1t
to excess are seldom placed in power.
The traffic has become 30 disreputabls