The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-12-04
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
WHY INTEMPERANcE is PREV
ALENT.

| We have to deal with special con-
dition of things existing in our own
country; we have to reckon with our
own tendencies and to consider our
own social life, writes Rev. M. A.
Landing in the Pittsburgh "Observ-
err" Our custom of treating, our idea
of hospitality, the quality of the
liquors used, and the high pressure
of our temperaments-all these are
causes which have effects and must
| be considered by those who try to
learn why intemperance is so preva-
| lent; and these are the causes which
make total abstinence SO beneficial in
| this country. Travellers tell us that
in portions of Europe the practice OF
total abstinence excites surprise, and
/ it's necessity or even benefits is not
understood; and yet we observe that
| immigrants from some of these coun-
tries are the reverse of models of tenn
perance after they have been a short
time in this country. The natives of
wine-producing countries become pa
irons of strong drink in this country.
l
told is an American practice, is car
ried on by these people in a wholesale
manner shortly after landing here.
We shall be told that these immi-
grants whom we meet are not fair
specimens of their Netherlands, and are
of the common and rude people. That
expression sounds familiar. We have
been assured, in a patronizing man
ner, that total abstinence is a proper
practice and beneficial for the COM
mon people of our own country. 1t is
surprising how the common people
are supposed to benefit by the prac-
tice of self-denial, whilst the uncom-
mon people do not need this extreme
cure and drastic preventive.
We, who have seen the common
people elevated and misery driven
from their homes by total abstinence,
have no hesitation in rapping at the
doors of the wealthy and the great
! with our peace-giving remedies. We
believe in the fraility of human ma
ture, not in the ariStocracy of virtue,
nor in the power of wealth to gener-
ate morality, nor in the influence of re-
finement or education when they are
pitted against pampercd appetites.
The demon alcohol which is to be eX-
orcised is no respecter Of persons, has
, no regard for rank or position, soon
dulls intelligence and blunts refine
, ment, and wealth but fastens the re-
suits which it is in the nature OF alco-
, hol to produce i'll it's victims. 1t will
: humble human pride, destroy self-re-
= spect, weaken the will, harden the
7 heart, destroy the health, befog the
intellect, arouse the passions, destroy
{ happiness, bring misery TO the home,
} and cause the eternal loss of the i'm
) mortal soul-all this of the rich and
I educated as well as of the cloWnish.
: The habit of intemperance will pro-
| duce these effects Oh all who are I'M
, fortunate or selfish enough to con-
tract it, and whilst it may not cause
1.-The viceaof the educated and the re-
fined to stalk abroad, because they
generally do not drink where braWls
] prevail, it will bring degradation to
/ them and unhappiness and ruin to
t their families.
The families of drunkards can new
: er condone drunkenness nor get used
to it; and it is from their standpoint
that Christians must view the vice.
The paIliation of this crime is too com
, mon; we are sick OF hearing these
bruteS spoken of as having q weak
ness" for drink-'it is the poor fell
lows own fault" che is just q little
too convivial" The dire reality is
, that the vice of drunkenness, gross
sin as it is against ones self, is q foul
crime against ones family, and the
/ Iplainer the words used to- character
, ize it the better 1t always hangs like
{ q lowering cloud over the wretch's
} home, and his family cannot rid them
selves of the misery that it always
? brings, nor of the dread of the terri
bic Calamities which are too often its
| further results The reason why
+ drunkenness cannot be condoned is
? that the drunkard is always guilty, al
ways responsible for his condition,
} ways brutally selfish, always doing
{ what is unworthy of himself and cruel
I to others. Excepting rare and cX-
) IRENE cases, there is no time when he
Y cannot reform, and every motive OF
: religion and manhood urges him to do
I SO.
This is easy after the alcohol is out
of his system, but, as a rule, he can
: not taper off. The time with him for
the practice of mere temperance is
, past. The baseSt form of Callous sell
fishness is the only motive that can
induce a man to crafty his appetite
for drink when he knows that graft
: fication is the bane OF the existence
5 of those who love him best, and the
! cause Of unutterable misery to those
I who depend on him not only for their
|. support but for their happiness also.
4 The sacrifice of qualification which,
instead of being necessary or bene-
r fetal, has become destructive in the
! highest degree, is the least that such
= q man owes to his own, and very
: insignificant atonement for the misery
which his vicious selfshness has
8 caused.