The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-12
Common Sense Tenn
peTance'
(Webster's Weekly)

We had occasion not long since TO dis
euss the remarkable growth of temper
ance sentiment, not only in North Caro-
lima, but in the world at large. 1t is one
of the most gratifying signs of the times.
The man who set himself up TO resist
the onward march Of the forces of So
briefly and morality will get mashed and
deserves to. 1t is not a movement of
the cranks and extremists, who long
since exhausted themselves by intemper-
ate denunciaton. The practical, solid
business element of society have taken
VI the fight and are working with an
energy and determination that brings
things to pass. Even in so conservative
country as England the whiskey traf-
ic is hedged in and restricted by law
in way that was scarcely deemed prac-
ticable fifty years ago. The saloons are
forbidden to sell confirmed drunkards and
minors, under severe penalty Each
saloon is furnished with a black list of
'sots. with their photographs, so as to
be without excuse if they violate the
law.
sobriety commands a premium in the
open to the man who drinks to excess,
OthAr things being equal, the sober man
stands the best show. This is true even
in the saloon business. The saloon clerk
must be an adept in selling to others,
but must not indulge his own appetite
If he would hold his job. A movement
is ON foot among the barkeepers OF Jer-
sey City, N. j.. to organize a teetotaler's
rr1-. rt..ff al RI
strongly indorse the total abstinence
movement among their employees, one of
them declaring that a barkeeper who does
not touch a drop is the only kind he
makes a practice of employing, and that
he has found the rule brings him in
creased patronage, insures him better
service behind the bar, and saves him
money. The membership of this new
temperance society is, of course strictly
limited.
Now if whskey is dangerous to the
man behind the counter; if it befogs his
brain and renders him unfit to discharge
his duty to his employer and patrons-is
it less dangerous to the man to whom
he sells it? If it is not good for the
saloon proprietor's clerk, is it good for
anybody else's clerk? The business world
is beginning to view the matter in a
common sense light and the cause of
temperance is growing every day.
Alcohol is poison. When it's use is
persisted in it produces a disease, as
clearly marked and defined as pneumonia
or malaria. 1t acts on the nervous sys-
TEN, changing the nervous tissue and
producing a diseased condition. Inebrie-
ETY. Is disease of the nervous system,
just like epilepsy, chorea, or insanity
Alcohol is the cause of inebriety. 1t
creates diseased condition which de-
stroys the will power and makes the
man a slave to his abnormal appetite
Food satisfies hunger and gives strength
to the body. Alcohol creates a thirst
which cannot be satisfied. 1t is as deadly
as arsenic or strychnine when taken in
sufficient quantity.
That inebriety is a disease, is a fact
as we'll established as the knowledge
that alcohol will intoxicate. Dr.. Leslie
e Keeley has demonstrated the fact
from the standpoint of physician, but
our own common sense ought to satisfy
us. That there is a cure for inebriety
or alcoholism, is another fact that can
not be questioned. There are living
walking examples of the truth of this
statement in nearly every community in
North Carolina. The Kelley Institute at
Greensboro has been in successful OPP
GRAFTON for nearly twelve years. Upon
what ground does it solicit patronage? 1t
says it can cure any person of alcoholic
or drug addiction. About $500 persons
have nut the matter to the test and
have found it true. Is not this a great
work?
The Kelley Institute is an enterprise
of which Greensboro is justly proud.
Hundreds of homes have been made hap
pier and brighter and thousands have
been freed from the degrading bondage
to strong drink through its instrumen-
tality. The cause of sobriety has been
immensely benefited by the campaign
of education waged against whiskey by
the Institute. There are men filling
places of responsibility and profit all
ever the State who owe their deliverance
from ruin 90 the Kelley treatment. The
following letter is a fair specimen OF
hundreds on file at the Institute:
Asheville, N c., Feb. s, 1908.
Col w. H. Osborn, Greensboro, n. c.:
NV Dear Sir--As l have not let you
hear from me in a long time. l thought
I would let you know l was yet in the
world. and am, and have been hard at
work since / left the Kelley Institute,
nine years ago last December l entered
the Keeley Institute on the 18th of Oc-
tober. 1898, and stayed six weeks. l sup
nose | was about as well soaked with
mean liquor as any poor devil could be;
/ only had will power enough to go to
the Institute. OF course l had no power
to resist taking a drink when every hbre
of my being was crying out for 1T. !
painted and longed for it and had to have
it, nc matter if l did know II was killing
me-
But | was there as a last resort
suppose you have not forgotten what
suffered: l never shall; but in that In
stitute hope came back to me and de-
termined TO fight the battle over, ano
nine long years have come and gone
and l am master yet. l have not swat
lowed one drop of alcohol since | lei
Greensboro in December, 1908, and yet
strange to say, for the last six years
have been Division Deputy Collector oil
internal Revenue and have had from z
TO 50 distllleries in my charge, and whis-
key would have been as free as water