Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-03-16
rRS s. $S N0U Nee

PRO Iv " " N " III
Years ago it was thought that the
main thing was to get incorporate
men to renounce drink, and the EN-.
phasis was put on the woes of the
drunkard's family, and on pledge
taking. Temperance organizations
whose object was the reformation of
drunkards fourished, and such books
as I. S. Arthur's ''Ten Nights in a
Bar Room" represented the most ad-
vanced thought in the temperance
world.
But by and by thoughtful people
saw that it was hopeless task to
concentrate all the temperance forces
in snatching victims from the rapids
below the Niagara. of appetite, while
such mighty influences as the open,
licensed saloon were pushing ten men
over the falls for every one that could
be picked up.
So the battle passed from the stage
of remuneration to that of denuncia-
tion. Part of the oratory that had
been expended in persuading, was
turned into inveotive against the
saloon, and a mighty sentiment was
created for its overthrow. This was
the day of woman's crusades and pro-
hibitory laws, and legislative and
political battles of giants. Great
temperance organs sprang up whose
object was not to tell pathetic stories
and make people cry over the suffer
ings caused by drink, but to hurl
anathemas at the licensed saloon,
and to bring home to the conscience
of the voter his responsibility for it's
existence.
One cannot but admire, as heroes
worthy their spurs and epualets, the
leaders in this advance movement,
Neal Dow, and II. B. Finch, and
General Clinton B. Fisk, and
Frances Willard, and others, and
the world has been awakened to
deeper earnestness by the mighty
blows they struck.
The third person of this temperance
trinity came to inaugurate the new
dispensation, that of pronouncing
constructive REFORM True temper
ance reform still seeks to reform the
drunkard, and never were there more
helping hands outstretched, or more
gospel temperance missions earnestly
at work than now.
True temperance reform takes back
not jot of the scathing things said
about the saloon. 1t denounces as
vehemently as ever. 1t looks for.
ward to the total overthrow of the
saloon as ardently as ever. But
coupled with these it announces
constructive policy.
1t would educate the children in
the public schools and Sunday schools
and Junior Societies and Loyal
Legions, and prevent them from be-
coming drunkards. 1t would Danish
wine from the kitchen, and alcohol
from the materia medica, as far as
possible. 1t would provide free, iced
drinking fountains in the crowded
streets, and temperance drinks where
cool, pure water is not obtainable.
1t would establish coffee-rooms as
substitutes for the social club element
furnished by the saloon. 1t would
run fruit missions, gathering up the
surplus fruit wasting in the orchards
and shipping it to the city slums for
free distribution among the poor, as
an antidote for the thirst for drink.
Another powerful auxiliary that
modern temperance reform is bring
ing to bear, is the influence of the
railroads and manufacturers and in
surance companies in discouraging
drink because of its economic aspect.
There may be fewer tears shed over
the hats stuffed in the windows of
the drunkard's home, but there is an
amazingly convincing array of facts
and figures to show the cost of drunk
enness to the nation and to the en-
ployer.
While the last census returns show
an increase in the amount of drink
consumed per capita, there is reason
for great encouragement in the fact
that the trinity Of temperance reform
is now roalized. We are singing
"rescue the perishing," with practi-
cal and scientific treatment of the
drink habit. We are prodding off
cials to enforce the laws, and work
ing for more stringent laws. But we
are also trying to reconstruct the
social life so that the sale of drink
will not seem necessity to civilian
or soldier, to rich or poor, to sick or
well. And God haste the day j.
r. Cowan.
------a p------
Pneumonia May Be Prevented.
n