The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-12
A STRONG ARGUMENT.


Archbishop Ireland, in the course of
his public addresses, frequently hits upon
an idea to which there is a ready re-
Spouse on the part of his intelligent fell
low citizens. Seldom has he been more
successful in that regard than he was
last Sunday in his address before the
Father Matthew Temperance society
When the archbishop advocates total
abstinence as a universal practice he
hardly expects to meet with the approval
of the mass of his fellow men. The
so-called temperance movement has been
conducted mostly on emotional lines and
rarely in the spirit of temperance which
Its advocates are supposed to represent.
Indeed the extremes to which it's ad
Vocates have gone and are going every
day help to drive thoughtful men from
its acceptance. Emotional appeal goes
out very brief way with the men,
Americans. of this generation: while the
radlcalism and intolerance which the
world is forced each succeeding dav TO
identify with the total abstinence move
ment In its most notable public manifes-
tat1ons are effective no matter how re-
vealed, to defeat the object of those who
practice them.
mere are many arguments on which
the total abstinence advocate NAV an
peal successfully to those around them
TO-DAY; and one of these Archbishop Ire
Iand handled quite successfully in his adj
dress of Sunday. 1t was that in the
course of which he directed attention Of
young men to the Significant truth that
lhoSe at the head Of the great business
enterprises of our time are not willing
TO engage the services of men who are
known to be addicted to drink. He 10
right. Whatever may be the worth Of
totaI abstinence as a public policy, it is
as a principle of individual conduct he
coming in practice almost Indispensable
to any young man who is intent on adj
vaneing himself in life
Ih1s condition is the product of the
changed industrial conditions of today.
Things are not going in modern indus
try as they used to go twenty or even
ten years ago. man of prime ability
In any calling then found it easv to se-
cure lucrative employment. notwith-
standing his reputation was that of
oflilhlhg man. His superior ability
pieaoed Tor him successfully. 1t does so
no more. The drunkard. or the man
VINO has the reputation of being a drink
Zig man, suffers the full penalty of his
cwn folly; and is shouldered aside daily
to make room for a man of infinitely less
ability More than that. the fact that
given man is known abstainer gives
Finn passport to the favor of employ
ers such as is not surpassed by anv in
fiuence whatever
1t would be good thing if the con-
slderation advanced by the archbishop
could be brought to the minds generally
OF the young men of today. AS a prac-
teal temperance argument it surpasses
IN force and effectiveness nine out of
ten of those which the world is most
familiar with. 1t has operated silently
but none the less effectively to promote
the great movement which is in prog
ress every hour in our time to bring to
an end the brutality which is the inva-
riable attendant of the Incorporate use
OF intoxicants. It's advancement by men
like Archbishop Ireland will help ma
terially to bring it's significance home all
the more closely to the growing youth of
today.