Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-04
AGAINST STATE coNsrAeuLARY.

Editor IimeS-RepuDlican. The press
OF the state seems generally opposed
to the constabulary law proposed by
the Anti-Saloon League and the w. c.
I. u. Massachusetts tried 1t for some
years and pronounced 1t q failure. Yer
mont tried prohibition for nearly fifty
years, but has now gone back to high
license and local option and Iowa had
a similar experience.
The greatest success in controlling
the liquor traffic in later years by leg
lslation, has been in the dispensary law
of South Carolina. This has eliminated
the saloon and to large extent de-
stroyed the social features of dram
drinking
It is strange that these apostles of
temperance Go not comprehend the sit
uation and go about their work more
like the missionaries Of religion. Men
we're never made Christians or tetotal-
ers by coercion. The inquisition never
prevented heresy in the Catholic
church. The blood Of the martyrs
never exterm.nated Christianity.
When the demon OF drink has taken
possession of man he is uncontroll-
able either by himself or by legislation,
TIL he is made prisoner and confined.
To suppress his appetite and deprive
him of the means to quench his thirst
is about as difficult as to dam the big
rivers at a food stage. BY creating
reservoirs at the sources OF these riv-
ers, the floods can be diminished and
controlled to some extent. Where there
Is such a demand for stimulants hui
man ingenuity is sure to find some
means OF supplying 1t and reaping' the
profits Many men have little will pow
err and will not control their appetites
and voluntarily become drunkards, Well
knowing the consequences.
II these good people desire tenn
perance generation they must COM
mence with the child, and not with the
legislator or the mature man. whose
habits and appetites are already fixed.
Not one child in ten who is taught the
Catholic catechism and trained In the
faith ever departs from the belief.
Children trained In the Protestant faith
seldom become Catholics. The child
can be trained to repeat and fully re-
aiize the old stanzas Il loath. abhor,
detest, my very soul is stirred with
deep disgust whenever hear or think
or tell OF the accursed drink. The
common school teaches In formal
way the effects of stimulants and mar
cotics. but this is not enough. There
should be line upon line, precept upon
precept, till the child is fully imbued
with the principle of total abstinence.
The parents, the Sunday school
teacher and the common school teach
foa TO TN nhtlHrsar
an adherence for alcoholic drinks Ev-
en- fanaticism on the subject Is entirely
safe. Respectable girls seldom ac-
uuire the liquor habit, but when they
do become drunkards, they are even
more helpless than men. All who have
to do with children should be made
temperance missionaries, If possible
OF course 1t is the boys and young
men whose salvation is chiefly at stake.
but in saving them, their wives and
mothers will be saved from the pow
erty, sorrow and shame that Is ever
present In the home of drunkard.
Good Christian parents often allow
their sons to grow up with little or no
warning Of the temptations and dam
gers of the saloon. Astonishing and
examples can be found In
almost ali communities. The writer
knew family OF half a dozen bright
boys and all but one lived, or are Nv
Ing, the drunkard's life. The father
was a wealthy man. full OF business,
and leader in the Methodist church.
The parents were constant In their at
tendance at prayer meetings and on al
the services of their church, while the
boys spent their evenings on the street
and later In the saloon. When they
reached manhood the drink habit had
become SO strong that they were In
capable of doing business. This is only
one Instance among thousands Just
as the twig is bent. the tree is inclin-
NJ II MOORE