Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1884 — Temperance Column. [ARTICLE]

Temperance Column.

Prepare*} by the Woimciws’ Ckiistian Temperance t’.f on of Jtcnsselner Jnd-, The W.C. T. U., will meet -with Mrs. R. S. Dwiggins. ou Saturday, Slay 3d, at 2:30 p. m. In 18G3 the receipts from Distilled Spirits amounted to $6,179,030; while ' the receipts from fermented Liquor# amounted to $1,928,934. In 18S3 the former receipts amounted to > • Too, the latter to $16,900,610. The Gospel Temperance meeting will be held, the evening of May 4th, at the Presbyterian church. The exercises will consist of a Temperance sermon, by Rev. FerguSbn, and the song entitled '•Where is my boy to- night," by Rev. Webster. . ' r ~"" ’ 4 - .A_C iv Mr. Gladstone said, recently, in the House of Commons, “We suffer more, year by year and every year, by intemperance, than from war, pestilence and famine combined —those three scourges of the human family." The same is, undoubtedly, true of the U. S. The Prohibitionists of lowa are going to hold a grand Fourth of July tent-, perance celebration, all over the fctate, as that is the day their prohibitory law will go into effect,. The temperance people all over the United States should should also celebrate that day. " Every temperance organization should get' up a jubilee. The W. C. T. U., met at the residence of Mrs. A. Purcupile, Saturday afternoon, April 26. - The miscellaneous business to be transacted was more than ordinary, hut was disposed of with neatness and dispatch. Spirited discussions arose, as to the most efficient way of swelling the temperance treasury. Having the will, the way was ‘soon discovered. On Sunday afternoon, a few brave adults and almost the entire Band of Hope reached the Opera House, in spite of the young hurricane which raged relentlessly through-our streets. Rev, Webster tendered his. resignation as president, and was succeeded by vice president, Ferguson. Mis 3 Hyland was elected organist, Mr. Kirsch choirester.

THE RISING 'WAVE. It is to bo hoped that tho indications of increasing earnestness among the people concerning the curse of drink mark the advent of a national awakening of conscience on this subject, and that though the moyement may at first be slow, it will proceed until the extent and proportions of the evil are so fully realized as to insure effective remedial action. For it is only through the general appreciation of the abuse that a sentiment powerful enough to suppress it, and resolute enough to keep it suppressed, can be brought to bear. In the deepening demand for higa license can be perceived the growth of such a spirit of active resistance. Not too soon, indeed, for the evil has fairly saturated the bady politic, and its elimination must be exceedingly difficult. But who can fail to see that the strenuous efforts of all the better elements of the Nation after higher things in religion, in education, in politics, iff social and domestic life, are continually checked sffed aborted by the debasing infiuenc of drink in its myriad manifestations. An ignorant suffrage is bad enough, but it may be mended. But ignorance steeped in whiskey is a diabolical prescription fob poisoning free government; cud education doe 3 not defend us against the drink evil. When ,ve have done our best for our beys, and they set out to take a part in the government of their country, they find t hat the entrance to politics is through the door of the saloon, and that the men who in our great cities wield the the largest political inruence are T those whose connection with the bottld is the the closest. The bar of the saloon is tho modern Witenagemot. it is there that the voters meet to consider their course, to 1 receive instructions from .their leaders, and to drink away the intelligence that should have showed them the humiliation of their position; and throughout our poitics this malign and brutalizing influence is feit. From the to J to the convention, from the State i.egis- \ la turn to Congress, the power and pressure of drink arc manifest. The reform measures which wisdom mid patriotism demand must be submitted! to the allies and stipendiaries of those j whose whole existence is pledged j against every Civilized agency, and. for j whom national purification means extinction and deatp. Nor is the prospect much better ouhsi le of politus Thej niasses, whose utmost thrift can j barely secure modest comfort, are soiic;! ited, and too successfully, to squander their hard-earned wages for drink, and ire sneered at as effeminate if they refuse. Tribute- must be paid to the saloon by the city laborer who seeks municipal employ. The tired artisan who visits the suburbs on Sunday for ait and change is beset with

temptations to drink. The callow youth who desires to “sen life” is taught that intoxication is a necessary concomitant of “fun.”- The daily and hourly lessons set beloro Us ought to convince the least thoughtful of the need of reform. Drunken mothers reeling through the streets. Drunken fathers beating their wives, or killing themselves in delirium. Everywhere waster nnd extravagance and sorrow and poverty and degradation and crime traceable to this one evil. Partial and spasmodic efforts cannot rid us of the curse. The whole people must be informed with a living enthusiasm for better things before the monstrous evil can bo overcome. It is abt a question of a shorti’eampaign, but of a patient, persistent, determined and prolonged (ffort. It will have to be made if civilization i.s to advance, and so much the better if the stir and murmur which come to our ears now from all parts of the country signalize the rising of the wave which, When it culminates, shall sweep this deep-seated abuse from the face of the earth [New York Tribune.