The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-03-01
SOCIAL 0STR RACISM.
The Remedy Proposed Fer Intem-
peIance.
IT RESTS WITH THE WOMEN.

IT RESTS WITH THE WOMEN
Editor The COMMONWEALTH Ill
there is one subject above all Others
that should enable speaker to over.
come allimpedlment of speech, dissi.
pate all misgivings as to his ability and
and enthuse him to his utmost effort
1t is the subject of intemperance. Fol
of all the enemies that the human race
have ever had to combat, the demon oi
intemperance is the most formidable
War has its armistlces, its cessations oi
hostilities and times of peace pesti-
lence has its days of abatement, it is
usually wiped out by change of sea-
son, but the grim presence of intem-
perance is ever among us. This mon
ster marches ever on, striking down his
victims from am ong all classes. The
higa, the low, the rich, the poor all
alike fall beneath his fatal touch. He
revels in the gilded palaces of wealth,
creeps into the homes of the middle
classes and rnlns the novels of poverty.
He stalks with lmpunlty into our pub
lie places, steals into our courts of JUS
tice, holds high carnival in our legis-
Iative halls and even dares to invade
the sanctity of Gods holy temple.
| No position so exalted that his in
duence Will not debase it, no character
80 pure that his dacanable breath will
not tarnish 1t. He strikes the con-
qaering hero from the pinnacle of fame
and plunges him in the ditch with
swine. He snatches the honored states
man from the rostrum and transforms
him into an object OF scorn and con-
tempt, and even drags the sacerdotal
| robes in the quagmire OF pollution.
He has shed more blood than the
sword, spread more ruin than an IN
vading army, made more slaves than
all the slave-traders of Africa and de-
Stroyed more homes than all the incen-
diaries that ever applied the torch.
His rule is more despotic than the
Gar of Russia and his influence mere
damnable than all the other agencies
of Pluto's dark domian. Alexander OF
Macedon conquered the world and
then himself fell before the tiend OF
the wine cup. But we need not refer
to the pages of history for examples to
illustrate the tyranny of this dem,
or the power of his influence.
Ones everyday experience or obserya-
ton Is to note the passing example
We have only to glance around Us here
at home in our own lovely Carolinss
to see plenty of examples that it seems
would be sufficient to turn any man,
even the besotted drunkard himself, in
disgust from the alluTements OF the
gilded saloons and the .em ptasiols Of
strong drink. The disgusting baoits
of the drunkard are loathesome even
to men who themselves get drunk. No
man believes whep he first begins to
to yield to the temptation that he will
ever become a drunkard. "Oh no."
he will say, Il can quit it before the
habit is formed" And he clasps this
fatal deluslon to his bosom until the
tuning fire of alcohol has consumed
every vestlge OF his manhood and the
waves of adversely have swept him, an
irreparable wreck upon the barren
shores Of everlasting ruin.
We see evidences OF this fact every
day. That this terrible evil exists in
in the land to an alarming extent
all will admit, and that the most active
measures should be taken to diminish
and if possible to wipe it out no one
will deny.
Unalded, man Is unequal to the task
OF successfully coping with this mon
ster lntemperance as has been shown
by the history of the past. The most
rapid strides toward stemming the tide
of its progress and hurting from power
this inslduous foe has been made by
the women of America. And to the fair
ladies OF Carolina we wish to say: If
ever the fetters of intemperance are
to be broken and this glorious land of
of ours be redeemed from its curse,
upon you devolves the task. To battle
for the preservation of yonr homes and
fresides, it is not required of you to
buckle on the sword or mount the ros-
trum. The Almighty has provided wo-
man with a weapon more potent than
either the sword or pen. There has
teen given her that mysterious, inde-
scribable and invisible power before
which even the miehtiest men have
bowed. She must build up strong,
healthy public sentiment against liquor
drinking and surround herself with
social atmosphere in which no freq uent-
er of barrOoms can exist.
THE APPETITE OF A GOAT
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