Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-02-26

the Intelligent men and women all
over the civilized world, but il would
be fallacy to assume that even the cur
rent intelligence of our favored ladd
truly appreciates the full extent of
public and private debauchment and
devastation represented in what we
call the drink evil. On any other plea
apathy would be objectionable, If not
impossible, to citizenship noninally
Christian.
The historical record of disaster
cbargesbla to Intoxicating drinks is
seldom openly challenged as to its gen
eral reliability; but everybody knows
that generation after generation sends
its thousands upon thousands to
dFuDkards graves and the drunkard's
doom, and that corresponding thous-
ands upon thousands of the youth of
our land step in and occupy tue earth.
ly places and conditions thus vacated
every student OF the conditions Of hu-
mao prosperity finds at every epoch
the sef-sRwe chief provocation to fail
ure and disaster; science continues 20
present With terrible accuracy the evil
dences Of greatly enlarged mortality
through the drink scourRe; political
and social economists recognizes the
indubitable evidence of enormous bur
dens that clean, productive industry
must bear on account Of drink usages
of the devotees of folly humanitarlans
are sad as they contemplate the wreck
age Of homes through drunkenness;
prisons, al,ushouses and insane asy-
lums are constantly being enlarged
and multiplied to meet the require
ments created by the victims Of drink,
public taxation being correspondingly
inflated t0ilers for good government
fird most Of the larger cities abjectly
sUbmissive 10 the dictum Of the agents
Of drink devastation, and Christianity
stands appall d that 81 much of its
best effort is baiiled through the des-
p0tism Of King Alcohol
How dares auy sulf-resu' citing man
face such conditions, and plead for eX-
emption from dutyf
The problem of the drink evil is
practically unsolvable except upon the
basis OF thorough study and recogni
tioD Of conditions as they exist. Truth
rather than eXpediency or politeHess
has first claim to attention.
No injustice Will be done to anyone
If, for Illustration, We assume kind
of classification If American citizen
sh p in It's relations to the drink evil.
what we will call Glass One abides
chiefly 10 what is commonly spoken of
as good society represented largely
by wealth and Influence. This class,
by large majority, gives no aid TO
any form Of aggressive effort for sup
preston OF the drink evil ItapprOves
social use (nominally moderatsl. Of
wines and liquors, and thereby gener
alton after generation Is influenced to
embark 90 the stream that in so large
measure leads to death. The issue Of
A brothers. keepership has only very
scant consideration in this class of
men and women, and the plea for in
huence through example is flippantly
disregarded.
Glass Two is composed from what we
commonly think of az the slum of civ
ilization. Thither come the exhausted
outcasts froui Glass One and find an
place until the prison or aim
house opens doors for them. In the
main, Glass Two bas learned very little
of humanity's duties aui claims, and
stands as representative uf its unavoid-
able heredity and the victim # cor
rupt environment. Noble effort is
made by CHRISTIANITY and humanity
for the uplift of this class of 0en and |
women, but so lorg as law provides |
for or even permits organic money.
making through their destruction, !
only sclnt prosr s. il possible to the |
Of salvation.
Glass Three is composed chiefly of |
the Industrial forces OF society (usiug |