The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-05
WHITE RIBBON ECHOES.
The power Of the Spoken Word.

(Concluded) by A. R. 0.

(Concluded) by A. R. o.
As I wriie, two little citieA in Illi-
nois, sharply contrasted in the mat
ter of sentiment toward the drink
evil, rise before my mental vision.
The chief, cities of adjoining coun-
ties, with equal advantages in the
matter Of public resources and civic
wealth, separated by but twenty miles
of rolling prairie, yet in their attitude
toward the deadly vice of intemper-
ance as widely sundered as the poles.
In one Of these towns, the leading
citizens, the county officials, in whose
hands and to. whose honor the people
trust the management Of their cor
porate interests, are openly, frankly
intemperate, visiting the saloons as
openly as they do the grocery stores,
and oftener.
In this town, the luekless indivi-
dual with an acquired or inherited ap-
petite for drink is not sustained in a
struggle against temptation by the
counsel and encouragement Of his as
:sociates, or deferred from yielding by
the fear Of their disapproval. No.
He is aided and even hurried on his
way to spiritual and physical ruin,
Justified and sustained in his actions,
by the example and opinions of his
associates. "It's a mans own bus
iness. Let him drink, if he likes. It's
no ones affair but his own" say the
citizens Of this town.
There have been some tragic occur
rences, directly attributable to intem-
perance, in this little city, which have
given it unpleasant notoriety, extend
ing far beyond the confines of the
State, and this the citizens resent bit
terly. 'tIt would be a fine thing for
this town if all the temperance cranks
were muzzled'', remarked one of them
upon the occasion Of an episode in
one of the saloons that was serving as
a "horrible example, to the temper
ance workers in several adjoining
States, and this man was so hypnotic
ed by the public sentiment of the
place that he really believed what ne
said.
En this town an earnest little group
of xennerance workers have banded
together They are the mothers and
sisters Of the boys, who, if they wish
to enjoy the society Of their fathers
and elder brothers, must spend their
leisuze hours in the saloons, for these
nlarIs seem to be the "eternal camp
ing ground' for the men Of the town
even those who do not drink to ex-
cess. Because Of the prevailing toler-
ant spirit toward the drink evil, this
little band Of heroic women must per-
force, struggle against terrible odds.
Because Of the justice Of their cause
they must at last prevail.
On the other hand in the adjoining
county seat, public sentiment has ev-
er been openly expressed against the
saloon element. Even before the town
became prohibition territory, one man
gave MP his saloon because OF ahat
sentiment.
"We either had to quit the saloon,
or leave the town. he said, in an
.swer to inquiries. my wife and l
were both born here, but our old
friends and associates stunned us,
and the young folks looked down on
our children. It was like having the
leprosy. We had to give up the sa-
loon, for We didn't want to leave this
place. It's such a nice, safe, decent
town in which to bring up family.
Thus public sentiment forced that
man to live honestly, to earn his llv-
ING decently, not by fattenlng upon
the weakness Of his fellow men.
In this town, the man who aspires
to offices of public honor Or trust,
,dares not drink openly. He must, be-
cause Of his environment, live up to
the decent principles which he pro-
fesses.
It is claimed that there are men in
this town, who while openly arragned
against intemperance, drink secretly,
and I do not question the truth OF
this statement. Yet it is the "lesser
rev1.'' Under the restraint Of stealth
the habitual drinker unquestlonably
il. does less harm to himself and others
than the man who, surrounded by
hoon companions, drinks before the