Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-08-22

junction with the moral forces and mo-
tives that may be brought to bear. With
liquor sold In every place, almost. where
a person can be found to sell It, with
the law enforced with as great leniency
as under q low license system; with the
voice OF society dumb under the shadow
OF this mighty, all-spreading evil; with
the respect and favor OF mankind falling
alike upon the devotee OF the FLOWING
bowl" and man of sobriety; with the
growing love of sports and amusements
that receive a touch OF inspiration from
the ardent; with all these, II Is little won
der that young America. growing up In
this atmosphere, should inhale the spirit OF
the age, and that country life should be
tinged and eniivened by growing rowdy-
ism born of the spirit that diyineth evil"
Not long age, within our memory,
man drunk in the country was looked
upon as a marvel of iniquity, as curiosity
that set the neig hborhood ablaze with ex-
element. Now, while 1t Is quite I'M
common to see a man dead drunk In the
country, /; Is common sight to see one
pretty full riding through the streets at
high speed believing like a calf. Not
long ago, while riding home from a dis
tant village, overlook young man who
very willingly accepted an invitation to
ride. / soon ascertained that he was In
the habit Of taking liquor. said to him;
al suppose some OF your neighbors drink"
Said he, ~ don't know OF one who does
not drink to some extent"
In q nice quiet little neigbborhood !
inquired OF young man Of strictly tenn
perate habits: "How many young men Of
your acquaintance will take the social
glass;" The answer. to my surprise was,
NEARLY all" He had been repeatedly
offered intoxieants, but refused. asked
myself how long before these bright,
intelligent young men, these moderate,
occasional drinkers. will become confirmed
in the drink habits
| asked a prominent business man OF
careful observation: In your judgment,
what proportion OF ihe men in your viii
iage drink intoxicants?n He replied:
Three fourths, and quite a proportion of
the women
From one of the best stocked stores In
Hancock county | was gazing out OF the
front window to The opposite street. \
man, apparently in distress, was walking
back and forth past a shop door. The
proprietor OF the store In which stood
remarked: THAT poor msn is after bis
liquor; It IL noon and the door is closed
and he will wait there until the liquor
dealer returns. 1t Is a standing disgrace
to the village that an open hsr is kept
there, but there seems to be no way to
prevent 1t For many reasons the people
do not seem inclined to interfere with the
business, and though We have an officer OF
the law here. he is no better than an
Egyptian mummy"
The doctor will not interfere because it
will injure his practice. The lawyer will
not interfere, because rum opens up pro-
life source OF legal business. The bust
ness man will not interfere. because his
property and his business are liable TO
suffer from the hand OF the cnrageti liquor
tender. The minister does not interfere.
lest he exchange part OF his comforta bic
popularity for an unpleasant notortcty. 1t
is easier 10 preach a pleasant gospel than
to do scavenger work in the moral realm.
So. for the want OF martyrs, the cause
suffers and will suffer until the Almighty
develops sterner stuff for the great work OF
the coming century. Let every father " no
has son to be trained and educated for
the responsibilities OF life, let every mother
who has tender daughter who may some
day accept the hand of worthless in
ebriate, let every minister OF the word OF
life who feels keenly the responsibilities
be has assumed in the position he has
taken in relation to the moral and spiritual
development OF the race, let every earnest
advocate of the higher civilization who
boasts OF American splendor and great
ness, drop his head in shame or raise his
voice in power against this standing
iniquity OF the age, this enemy to good
government, this incu bus on the industry
and bar to the equalization OF the happy
benefits OF this age of progress.
Let it be taught and enforced emphati-