Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-21
WashInqton as a Temperance Man.

Gen. A. w. Greedy wrote a very inter-
esting article on this subject and publish
ed It in Ladies' Home Journal some years
ago.
It must not be forgotten that IT was the
custom OF Washington's time to keep
| decanters of all sorts Of liquors on the
! sideboards OF the gentry OF this country.
In my earliest recollectiOns Of people
/ and customs, fine glass decanters and
loaf sugar were set on nice sideboards,
/ and IL was the habit OF well-raised men
and women TO drink a toddy and they
expected to be offered the same when
ever they made social call on their we'll
TODD neighbOrs.
These things count heavily in discussing
the habits and customs Of the people.
II is well known that Virginia planters
/ were the most hospitable people In the
/ world. Their homes. their lives and sur
roundings are historic and their hospi-
/ tally lives in song and story in two con-
| tinentS.
/ Thackeray's ''virginians" is one Of the
most interesting books ever read in my
life: and when we recolleet that the great
/ novelist looked at Virginia people through
] loyal English spectacles, II is one of the
fairest books ever written OF this country
abroad.
General Washington was a most remark
/ able public man, in keeping HIS head clear
and in endeavoring to keep his people in
paths OF sobriety. under prevailing condi-
/ tons and surrounding circumstances and
environments.
His reflective mind and acute observa-
/ tion," says Gen. Greedy, soon noted the
ravages made by drink and doubtless
confirmed that personal moderation which
never permitted him to run into excess of
any kind. In the Provincial army when
general charges Of drunkenness were
made against the Virginia troops, there
was no word against General Washington
/ personally. He early deplored II as a Sc
rious vice. forbade it. by stringent orders,
/ and applied a hundred lashes to every
man found drunk. Still later he wrote:
"Gin-shops served to ruin the proprietor
and those who make the most frequent
/ application TO them" In advising his
nephew. he adds: Refrain from drink
which Is the source OF all evil and the
ruin Of half the workmen OF this country"
The boys and girls who read The Jour
/ nal viii now understand why the earliest
temperance organization was called the
Washington Society" I Joined it when
I a bit OF q girl. and can yet recall the en-
/ thusiasm OF the ''Washingtonians" In my
earlier days.
II there was no other reason in this
world for keeping sober the money rea-
son would be sufficient for keeping a
| brain free from fumes of liquor. In the
| hard and strenuous life of the average
toiler, befuddled brain is a complete
| disqualification.
Gen. washington's advice to his nephew
is as true today as when he wrote it,
The question for this era Is not how
intoxicants may be vended, or who may
buy and drink. whether mature men or
minors), but 1t is the evil effects produced
on every brain that Is placed under it's
i influence that appals the mind.
No father, who really loves his OWE
/ son. is prepared to say he is willing for
that son to drink intoxicating liquors
heard Of prominent politician of Geor-
/ gta who once told a public audience that
he would rather his own son should die
a drunkard than the right to make and
sell intoxicants should be curtailed or pre-
vented. Immediately a great gulf opened
betwixt him and me; although am pos
sibly too Insignificant to be even noticed
by such an anti-prohibitionist as him
self. 1 never see his name In print. with
out fearing God may take him at his
word. and visit the alternative upon his
boys. Let us hope that a good wife's
prayers may shelter her offspring from
the evil which wastes at MONDAY and
desolates virtue and innocence at mid
night
Dear readers we must educate public
4opinion TO higher standards, especially in
the habits and ideals Of the youth of this
country.
Gen. Washington lived when drinking
was the custom of the day. He was a
public man, in the general and enlarged
view that We take Of his character We
know he was a brave man IN the field,
In the forum. and as chief executive.
But he was never more courageous than
when he made drunkenness a punishable
offense In the Provincial army; and main
tanned authority by hogging the offenders
TO preserve army discipline.
/ know that people call IL fanaticism TO
fight the sale Of intoxicants, but / know
also that drunkard is not wanted any
where or TO conduct any business where
money or life is at stake. Gen. Wash
ington understood the evil.