The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-05-25
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
Against Alcoholic Drinks and
the Liquor Traffic.

pOScN, WHO clearly saw the ulSdslIOs
results which the demon of intemper-
ance was everywhere producing, and
who could appreciate the happiness,
benefits and blessings which are sure
to accompany a sober life. 1t was not
looked upon with favor by the wise
and knowing ones of earth. It's eXpe-
diency was questioned, its benefits
were nowhere to be seen; its final out
come was hid in darkness black as
right. Its promoters were laughed at,
ieered at and called very unchristian
names.
They worked on. Noble souls work
through sunshine and storm-neyer
stop working till their poor earthly
machine is worked to pieces and falls
in a wreck. Through decades OF
years, through many mishaps and un-
pleasantnesses, through many ad
vances and retrogressions, they talked,
taught, exhorted and tried TO persuade
men TO reform themselves and cease
paying homage to the god Of "unso-
briefly" The country was deluged with
temperance tracts. sermons, pam.
phlets, books. which generally found
their way into the most convenient
waste-paper basket Where else, when
they curtailed individual liberty" TO
such an extent that man is not al
lowed to follow the suggestions Of his
own taste and appetite? That is
where they deserve to be, said they,
the wise ones.
But the temperance advocates plead
ed on. More words, more tracts, more
sermons, more 'pledgesl" And now
after nearly half century's pleading
they seem to have acquired a not alto.
gether despicabe degree of success
Missionary fathers, those who are con
stantly trying to reform sinners, whis'
per in our ears the astonishing words
that drunkenness" is not the "beset.
ting" sin it used to be. Men are not
thereby angels; they have besettine
sins by the score; but drunkenness is
rapidly ceasing 20 be one of them. The
youth is more sober than in former
times. 1t is all the result of temper.
ance work manifosting itself in al
most every department of activity; in
mercantile. social and educational cir
cles. in societies, organizations, and
solemn promises 10 God to worship nc
longer at the shrine of alcohol. There
Is yet much danger of going back te
the old idol Many have never been
dragged away from his feet. But
hosts have been redeemed, and the
problem now is TO hold them in their
state of redemption. 1t is easier tc
keep a bad habit out than TO drive II
forth when entrance is once secured
The public conscience is aroused, and
what puts in motion that all-peryad.
ing, powerful soul-energy becomes
popular, and what is popular is result
ful.
There is much wisdom to be gath
cred from the outcome of this same
temperance movement. IT is this:
Public wrong sentiment can be
changed to public right sentiment. An
evil. though it may be threatening and
all-pervading, can be lessened through
constant and heroic effort. IL takes a
long time, sometimes a whole genera
ton. sometimes two, possibly into the
third. Agitation against natural vices
produces little impression on the first
generation. Their disfavor is clearly
shown. 1t breaks out in taunts, ridi'
cule and invectiye. After some years
OF fighting and taunts, ridicule and in
vective are silenced, and that is
great advance, the first telling victory
The worsted will not surrender; they
think too much of their individual
liberty" to capitulate. But here the
workers of reform can take most de-
cided stand against the young incom
ing generation. They will listen, ar
que. weigh and finally consider. II
them is wanting the prejudice Of theii
forefathers. They can be talked tC
about blessings, results, consequences
And although many, probably more
than half of the whole, may be ire
formable, still the showing will b'
good. Another stand is taken agalns'
the third incoming generation, and i
is here that the Fighters for thu
right" may hope TO gain decisive vic
tory.
People may and do say: "It will d.
no good" "Where is the use?' "Th'
end will never be reached" etc. j
will do good; it is of use; the end vii
be reached. 1t may take 20, 30, A
years, but the final outcome is un
questionable. The criticism of the frs
generation can be silenced; the atten
tion of the second secured; and tn
surrender Of the third guaranteed. Tn
most pessimistic can rely upon tha
much gain, though in many cases tn
gain is much greater. That is tn
philosophy of the temperance move
ment. It might be used to adyantag
by those who are working for tn
amelioration of humanity on othe
lines. who are trying to lessen tn
evils OF dishonesty, civic corruption
literary monstrosities, educational de
ception and such Ike. 1t takes time
courage and perseverance. Ihes
three tools will make a man or re
make him.
Work away. then, We artifcers o
character. Raise high the hammers O
speech and thought and act and max
Il cir merry voices ring throughout tn
earth; heat the soul-iron into bright
sparkling glow; make the red scintill'
tions jump from anvil platforms ro'
.......- Ii -ira n1,-laits altars. hit nmIc