The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-01-10

The main cause OF the decreh
perauce has been the spread OF kno<
largely obtained by experience, that
ayninst common sense aud too cSsr1y In IL
Injurious effects, declares tl;e New York
Sun In an editorial. Since Undue alcoholic
stimulation affects first the judgment,
weakening it seriously, # is known to be
failures. The really notable flnancers OF
Wall street do not belong to the cocktail
brigade" clearness Of head and soundness
Of judgment being too indispensable to
them. Only the small fry depend on
"whisky courage" In the social inter.
course OF private life, too, the consumption
OF liquor has decreased greatly. Dinners
are no longer drinking bouts and the time
spent on them has been diminished great
ly. Drunkenness has become disreputable,
or Is pitled as the manifestation OF de-
pIorable disease. In all calllngs in life,
from the highest to the lowest sobrlety Is
more aud more at a premium and inten-
perance Is more and more distrusted.
The Temperance agitation which has
been most effectual, therefore, has been
scientific rather than purely moral and re-
Iisious. For the old-fashtoned temper
ance pledge" Of the days OF Cough, the
specific medical treatment OF dipsomania
rs disease has been substituted. and men
the preservation OF their sanity. More
over, the increasing flerceness OF modern
competition is warning men OF the neees.5
,tty of keeping their wits about them y
they are to make head against 1t. Along
with the strong tendency to the consollda-Y
ton OF business at this time comes de-
mand f'- special and eminent individual
ability to satisfy its requirements greater
than ever before In history. Never In the
folu It,,fp pIotr fr.a Qh
80 sure OF rich and distinguished reward as
it Is now. Great captains OF Affairs ara
needed. Every weak point IN man Is dis
covered under the stress OF such trial.
Wall street Is filed with the stock and
bonds OF vast consolidated industrial en-
terprises which Gun only be maintained
prcsperously by tho continuance IN their
management OF a succession OF peculiar
administrative talents. The percentage OF
commissions und the margin OF profit have
been steadily reduced, until they are at
limit so low that only the greatest volume
OF transactions, and consequently tne
greatest ability OF management, can make
business profitable or keep 1t from sinking:
At this time, therefore, men have found
out that they cannot drink to excess II
they are to hold their own. Science ana
invention have opened up and are creamy
extending, fields OF labor wherein the kesn-
est Intelligence In the mechanic Is requisite,
go that he. canuot afford to fuddie his head
with drink; he must be man who can si-
ways be depended on or he will pc driven
out. Never before was susptcion OK intem-
psrance in worker so fatal toihs success
as now, Every man who Is wise keeps
himself constantly In fighting trim tor the
contest. ~.
All society, therefore, has become tenn
pcrance "league," and narrowing pictures
81 drunkenness deemed effective In the old
lime are not now necessary to warn men OF
4 danger OF whose reality they are Kept
conscious by thcir daily: experience.
Drunkenness has gone out OF vogue both
az fashionable and as popular amuse-
nent. It Is habit In which only those
whose health and life are valueiess 10
themselves and to everybody else can al-
ford to indulge.