The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-31
DRINKING At PRINCETON
Temperance the Subject of the
Presidents Address.
CRlTICISES. THE CRITICS
The Tendency at Princeton Is Steadily
in the Direction of Diminished Use
OF Alcoholic Drinks-A Good
Word for Moderation.

Princeton, n. J., Jan. 30.-A few days
ago President Francis l.. Patton an
nounced that he would address the under
graduate body upon the subject of tenn
peranee. AS a consequence Marquand
chapel was crowded at 5 o'clock to-day.
In the audience were several signers of
the Princeton liquor ordinance" among
them Grover Cleveland. Prof. Charles
Woodruff Shields, whose resignation
from the Presbyterian church was caused
by criticisms growing out of his signing
the petition, and Pref. Charles Greene
lockwood. DIR. Patton said: AT our
meeting in October the attention of our
trustees was turned to the recent agita-
ton which has so seriously involved the
good name of Princeton university. A
committee was appointed to consider the
whole subject and report at subsequent
meeting of the trustees.
THE report was presented and adopted
at the meeting held on the I'D of Deem
Der. 1t was resolved that a strict literal
and impartial enforcement of the exist
ing law respecting Intoxicating drinks be
enJoined upon the faculty and that the
president of the university be asked to
make IA statement to the students on the
whole question.
Il bear testimony to the high moral
tone of the students of this university. /
know that they have beer misrepresented
and misunderstood. Their hilarity, their
boisterous outbreaks of exuberance, their
songs, which often have more baccha-
nalian sound than / would wish, and, III
some instances, their inexcuSab!e acts OF
wrongdoing have produced impressions
which the facts viii not justify and they
have on many occasions been charged
with drunkenness for no other reason
than that, under the influence of the
gregarious instinct which sometimes as
sumes an almost irrational mode of ex-
TOO much freedom and speech and action
have not been kept within those bounds
which mature men in the busy walks of
life are apt to associate with sobriety.
But there was never less reason for
adverse criticism of Princeton than dur
ing the period in which it has been so
unsparingly bestowed upon us. / have
taken pains to find out the truth and L
am still mistaken in my conviction that
the tendency in Princeton is steadily in
the direction of diminished use of alco-
holic drinks. Still L must not be blind to
the fact, and after making all allowance
for willful misrepresentation or mistake,
/ am constrained to believe that there is
far more of what is called moderate drink
ing among us than the wisest and best
friends of Princeton could wish and there
are those among you who are putting
their future in peril by the excessive use
of intoxicating drinks.
There is nothing unnatural in the de-
sire of the trustees for vigilant enforce
ment of what has for many years been
the law of the university in regard to
alcohol. While | am in full sympathy
with your feeling that the university
man is not to be treated as though he
were in a preparatory school. | am ready
TO take my fun share of responsibility
for the report, which, as chairman of the
committee dealing with the question,
made to the board of trustees
There are two classes of men whom
| have particularly in mnd-those who
have already fallen into Incorporate hab-
its and those who are in danger of form
ing these habits. Drunkenness is praeti-
caliy an objectionable sin in our academic
life. 1t must be understood that Il man
cannot be guilty of repeated acts of in
toxcation and continue in this university
if his offense is known to the authorities.
Il wish more particularly, however. TO
say a kindly word to those who are I'M
derstood to be moderate drinkers. If any
duty is intuitivcly given us in conscious
/ ness, ii is temperance. ! mean the duty
of self-control Let me caution you.
therefore. against the habits which put
self-control in peril