The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-14
Thoughts on the Topic.

The reasons why total abstinence il
best are so many and so strong that
there is no gainsaying them. The Ques-
ton is so one-sided that it would be
almost impossible to fnd q man Of in
telligence, certainly no man Of char
acteT and conscience, who would under
take TO argue in favor of drink ing and
against total abstinence. Plenty Of men
viii insist that all they drink will not
aurt them, but where viii you find q
man OF character who viii defend drink
Ing as good thing, or who viii main
tain that even moderate drinking is a
eommendabIe habit?
On the other hand. you can find scores
and thousands of men and women who
are total abstainers from principle, who
do not drink because they believe that
drinking is morally wrong? They alb
stain because they believe it to be a
duty they owe to God. to themselves and
to their feIlow-meu
Did you ever know any man anywhere
who drank liquor from sense OF duty:
who believed it would be morally wrong
to abstain from drink? The testimony
Is overwhelming On the side of total
abstinence.
Total abstinence is best because 1t is
safest; safest for the state. safest for
lG01EaQ-
uSl- a great many men can drink mod
erateIy and without apparent harm to
themselves. at least without becoming
intoxicated But it is not so Of all. or
even Of majority We know that q
very large proportion of men who drink
at all, drink 10 excess. and nobody viii
claim that excessive drinking is a good
thing. And If excessive drinking is bad
as all admit, how can anyone defend
moderate drinking when that is what
leads. in so many cases, to excessive
drinking? Where there's drink there's
danger" II children play with matches
they are very likely 70 set something
On FIRE. The only safe thing is to keep
the matches out of their hands
Take hundred boys who have been
brought up with the idea that IL is all
right to drink in moderation, and at
twenty years old have already begun TO
drink. Is il not almost a certainty that
q considerable number OF these boys
will drink to excess before they reach
middle age?
On the other hand. take a hundred
boys who have had the principles of to-
tai abstinence instilled into their minds.
and while II Is not an absolute certain
ity that none Of these boys VIII become
drinking men. does anybody doubt that
the chances are largely in their favor?
Train uD child in the way he should
20. and when he is old he viii not de-
part from il. Total abstinence IS the
safest thing beyond all doubt
Total abstinence is best from q bust
ness standpoint. If young man is
looking for employment, the fact tSat
he does not drink Is a recommendation
anywhere: while q young man who Is
known 10 have drinking habits is not
likely TO BE given a place IN any good
business establishment. The show Of
their couatenance doth witness against
them" isaiah iii:9.1
The gr aat railroads Of the country re-
cuire that the men in their employ shall
not drink while on duty. and In some
cases the men are warned that frequent /
ing saloons while off duty will render /!
them liable to dismissal.
The Cincinnati Traction Company /
which controls all the street railways /
OF that city. recently issued an order /
forbidding their employees from entering ]
saloons in uniform. either when on OF /
off duty.
Temperance people thank God for all +
these things. and for the hope they bring /
for the future. And even drinking men /
when they travel are glad to know that /
the trains are run by sober men.
Total abstinence is best II times OF I
II not then. why did President Mitchell, /
of the United Mine Workers. at the be-
ginning Of the coal strike. counsel and /
urge the men not to drink during the
time Of the strike? And Why did that