Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-03-01
Who Is Ecusablep

Written by Mrs. Florence Haskell for recent
meeting 9Stne South Paris W I. u
Abraham Lincoln once asked this
pertinent question, "What one of US but
Tan call to mind some relative more
promising in his youth than all his fell
lows, who has fallen sacrifice to strong
drink? Shall drink now be arrested in
its desolatOry career? In that arrest all
can give aid that will, and who shall be
excused who can and will notS'
Long ago this conclusion was reached
that the people must unite to wipe out
this curse of drink, else it will never
cease to be blot upon this fair land of
ours.
We may legislate and legislate but the
work must not end there, as long as
there is demand for liquors, so long
will there be supply. And we are in
dividually responsible for this condition
unless we are doing all we can 10 bring
about temperance reform.
Ii is not enough to deplore the fact
that rum is sold, that men get drunk,
and bring untold misery upon themselves
and families. No, we must recognize the
truth that there is strong enemy in our
midst, and Gods people must 60 forth
TO fight it with the most powerful
weapons available.
oh, the responsibility of the men of
our state, from the governor down to the
humblest voter. We are glad Maine is a
prohibition state, but We know there is
vet work for the men. The voter must
cast his ballot for men who he believes
will enforce the laws, the governor must
see that the laws are enforced, while the
officers whose special duties are to en-
force the laws are criminally responsible
il they do not. "Ten thousand shames
upon the men of Maine," said DR.. Chap
man, "if they ever make it easy for boy
to drink"
A sacred trust is given the teachers of
to-day. | know there are many subjects
to be taught, that the school system is
becoming more and more complex in
many respects. think | understand
fully the handicaps of the teacher. But
if one must choose would say: Let the
child's mind be filled with fewer Stats
tics concerning the world at large, and
more concerning the effect of alcohol
and tobacco on his own body. | have
heard teachers say they hated to teach
physiology, and one in particular, whom
/ have in mind, said, the pictures lust
made her nervous"
/ believe there is a tendency among
some teachers TO get over those sections
of physiology which treat of stimulants
and narcotics as rapidly as possible, be-
cause perchance she finds it uninterest-
ing to herself. Perhaps il is monoto-
nous to have to go over these subjects
again and again as laid down in the text
books. But since alcohol and tobacco
do injure the brain, lungs, heart and
every other organ and part of the body,
is the teacher excuSable who does not
emphasize these facts again and again?
No, the teacher must be faithful to the
obligation imposed by the law of the
state and 'be instant in season and out
of season" in teaching her pupils the
truth concerning stimulants and mar
cotics.
Now | come to the mothers in the
home, and | realize that | am treading
on holy ground. How great is their re-
sponsibility, for after all is said and
done it rests with the parents, and par
ticularly With the mother-because she
~s-tne mother-to raise the first and
strongest bulwark against the approach
ing assault of sin and wrong doing upon
her child.
/ believe the child who clmes from
a home where he has heard about sacred
things from his infancy, where there is a
daily practice of living religion, is
more strongly fortified against these
temptations than the child of any other
parents, be they of high or low degree in
the classes of society.
1.-THE parents of to-day do not often
speak to their children about the Creator,
nor make their spiritual kinship to God
a topic of conversation in the home or
elsewhere" Jesus said, "Suffer little
children to come unto me and forbid
them not, for of such is the kingdom Of
/hesyou." The child is never too young
to be taught about Jesus, taught to do
right because it pleases Him, taught that
His eye is over all beholding the evil and
the good. Why should mothers think
they must wait until their boy or girl IS
twelve or fifteen years old, and their
minds are matured enough to understand
more about religious matters? IL may be
much TOO late then. The mother who
has led the minds of her children to
dwell lovingly upon Jesus, and has en-
trusted them to the keeping of the
Saviour, has provided them with the
strongest safeguard obtainable, has forti-
fed them more securely against the evil
they will encounter, than in any other
way in the world.
Then let us all unite in this war against
wrong, for none of US are excusable.