The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-24
TEMPERANCE PROGRESS.
A Look backward That Infuses New
Courage and Hope for Cause of
Reform in Future.

There is so much said concerning
the prevailing intemperance that
many are discouraged and conclude
that the temperance cause is maxi
ing no progress. There has been, in
certain directions, painful and dam
| gerous increase of the liquor power,
and we have much reason to feel the
| deepest anxiety concerning the fu-
| ture, but we believe there is too much
| encouragement. The range of view
| is not as wide as it should be: a suf-
| ticient length of time is not taken
in. The movement of a meteor must
be measured in the fraction of a sec
ond, but months, or even years, are
required to measure the movement of
a glacier. In many directions the
! changes have been so rapid and so
great, that we uncOnsciously demand
/ that all movements for the better
ment of men should move at the same
rate. We forget that the mightiest
, forces are unfelt as they change the
world. The evil of intemperance is
of giant power and of unmeasured
: resources, and has withal its chief
source of power in the restless nerv-
BUSINESS of this age, in which a de-
mand for stimulants is created by our
overtaXing energy. But the moral
forces working for temperance are
also mighty and are moving with
force that should give us great en-
+ enlargement. The results already at
tanned give confidence as to the fu-
! ture.
Make a comparison in which many
years are included. Set the stake at,
say, fourscore years ago; it was about
that time the temperance reform be-
gan its wonderful movement. In our
earlier years we heard the old peo-
pie tell of the condition of the So
cial life at that day, and we are
amazed at the statements made of the
good people who regarded liquors as
a part of ordinary, even necessary.
provision for life. Not many years
ago the ruins of still-houses were to
be seen on numberless farms in west
/ ern Pennsylvania, still-houses once
owned and operated by devout Scotch
/ Irish Presbyterians without a thought
of wrong. The right to distill was
questioned by very few, and the use
! of the product of the still was con-
demned by a number equally small
I Whisky was in every house and was
! used as an expression of hospitality.
The jug in the field was one of the
FO,
dram was taken at the end of almost
every round, the farmer and his help
ers being together members in good
standing in orthodox churches. The
I bottle was on the sideboard or table.
and common courtesy offered glass
to the pastor when he called-a cour-
f tesy that few had the enlightened
, conscience to deciine-often with the
result of an unhappy condition by
! the time he returned to his home in
the evening. Even so short a time
; ago as 80 or 40 years, drinking booths
were open at the polls; whisky and bal
lots went together, and many voter.
/ sober at other times, went home from
the election drunk. When the tenn
perance reform began it met with no
little resistance from church mem
bers. On what records of presbyteries
and synods of that period are there
resolutions enjoining total abstinence,
/ or debarring even the liquor seller
| from communion? What public man
/ was turned down 40 years ago for in
: temperance? The change in the moral
/ sentiment and social standard has
, been very great, so great that we
| feel ourselves strengthened for the
/ future work. Another generation of
this seemingly slow movement-we
would it could be hastened-will fill
the world with blessing and JOY.
Conditions have changed, and we
do not always take proper note of this
in our discussions. Formerly the man.
! ufacture and sale of liquors were dis
tributed over the country. Distil-
leries were everywhere, taverns lined
every stage and principal wagon
route. and many night of high car
niyal was seen in houses now occupied
| as quiet residences. Now the LIQUOR
| business is in the hands of a few.
whose great capital has become ter
I rible menace, and our lower-grade
| foreign population, then unknown,
greatly aids in furnishing customers
to the saloons. In this there is the
same capitalistic movement which
marks the legitimate industries, its
power for evil being multiplied in
, definitely by the nature of the bust
ness. This must be met and to meet
, it successfully the moral sentiment of
the people must be awakened and
aroused. To this we are encouraged
by the past success of the temperance
reform. Let the smoldering fires be
| famed into blaze that will run as
on the dry prairie.-United Presby-
terrain.
KipIinE on ID rin king In south Africa.
So far as / could see in South At