Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-13
Americans Morc temperate.

temperate. as lCSitus intoxicating
liquor. than they We're il the good old
times of a generation. or two genera
age Is more incorporate than the times
Of our father and grandfathers. They
will base this contention upon the
smaller amount of temperance aSita-
ton. or the many crimes due to the use
of liquor, or some local manifestation
or the general idea that the world is in
a bad way and nothing is as good as it
used to be But we think that those
to take this view are in the minority
and also in the wrong. The facts are
not on their side. and most Of them
need treatment for dyspepsia This
question is receiving quite discus
sion in the paper at the present time
as a result of a recent interview with
Ambassador Cambon, the French
representative to this government. He
said among other things: There may
lie same hypocrites, but the vast ma
iCrity abstain from strong drink to
the great advantage Of the race.
which. for a time. threatened to
lapse into drunkenness" Comment
ir= on this assertion. the New York
sun observes that. 50 far. at least,
IS il refers to distilled liquors. it
=. H..
though the organized temperance
agitation. conducted on moral and
religious grounds. has diminished
greatly in activity. a better under
standing of the evil physical effects
Of Incorporate alcoholic Indulgence
has induced individual temperance
on a wide scale The Sun adds:
''IntoXication has become Il dis
graceful social offence ami total alb
:tiu.nrc is\now So frequent among
individuals that it no longer attracts
special attention as the ectentririty
ii WAS once held TO be. 1t is prac-
tieed in every circle Take even the
Tamnany General Committee. once
Gslllt'u IL tblttttH'ii vi ltt! ti's-csN II
il now fun of total abstainers. None
of the great political leaders of the
present is n hard drinker; many of
them are rather total abstainers. The
same is true Of the great leaders of
finance i'm trade. and in the profess
Sinns. strict abstemiouSneSs is the rule
among them and a reputation Of in
temperance is always injurious. Ii
WeakenS confidence in the mans juds-
ment. Srlf-Control is required and made
the test of ability to command. The
larger affairs of the present time in
the world of enterprise demand strictly
sober heads for their management and
the strain put upon all men 10y pres
cnt Industrial organization and comp"-
tition can be borne by the sober only.
Those who have observed widely
American habits will agree that the
sun sums up the situation very fairly.
Of temperance sentiments ana habits
mas followed the decay Of temperance
writer's and the decline of temperance
olatory Of the John Il. Cough type.
But we are confident that if there is
loss of the old-time oratory ana fewc~
Of the Ola organizations. it il not that
they have failed but that they are less
needed. since other agencies have re-
inforced them ana the principles which
they advocate sre more widely praCtic-
ed than formerly. In proof of this tn"
Boston Journal cites Il single illustrd-
ton:
IF the conditions which existed ut
Washington when the Congressional
| Temperance Society was established
| still existed. there would lie similar ac
| tivity In dealing with them: but they
| DO not. The early agitation was Vet.e-
mcnI. because the evil which it antag
oniZed was open and glaring. The lead
| erS in Congress at that time We're.
! many Of them, hard drinkers: ana
| their frequent incapacity from intoXi-
| cation was lightly regarded. Now tho
| leaders in Congress, with scarcely an
| exception. are sober men: and such
| lIpSeS from sobriety as We're tolerated
! / generation or two ago would ruin q
| politicians influence. similar change
has come to pass in business and in So
| -idl life generally.