Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1895 — A Few Thoughts On The Liquor Traffic. [ARTICLE]

A Few Thoughts On The Liquor Traffic.

Editor Republican: The last legislature of Indiana passed a -certain Rill entitled “An act requiring instructions in the common schools, and in certain educational institutions, as to the effect of Alcoholic drinks and narcotics on the human system.” In the judgment of the writer that law will do more for the cause of temperance than jmsjc other measure ever passed by any previous legislature. In all previous legislation on this subject the promoters have attempted to storm thecitadel, when it could only be captured after a long siege by an army co-workers, disciplined in the knowledge of the effects alcoholic drinks upon the human system and upon the morals of the people. That the traffic is an evil no sensible mhni will deny, and the only way to cripple it, and eventually abolish it is by education. And the proper place to begin instruction on tne subject is in the common and graded schools. It would be the most effective way. A great divine has said, “Give me the child to tram until it has reached the age of twelve and I care not who its teacher then m*v be ” Let the child be taught the £*ets 3 ast as is taught its language or .numbers and those facts will influence the entire bent of its life. The plastic mind of the child is the soil in which to sow the seed for the destruction of the traffic, and should all the states adopt the same method of dealing with -the subject, it would require but few years to settle the question and settle it right. It might not be considered impertinent here to remark th*t in such cases certain professional reformers would either lose their job, or be compelled to invent some other fad on which to ride. The trustees of the different townships should furnish each of his schools with illustrated charts showing the effects of alcoholic drinks upon the various organs of the body. That would ‘be the most effective way of teaching it and there are several excellent charts accompanied by hand-books which will aid the teacher to teach the subject intelligently and effectively which can be procured at reasonable i£tes. There are also some books on tiib subject suited io the~ various.- graded which should be placed in the school libraries for the use of the pupils. The Temperance Societies can aid the cause thfey represent more by 09-operating with the teacher and School officials in theii efforts to ,-secure the proper books than in any other way. A fund might be set apart by the various churches to be turned over to the proper officials for this purpose. Those townships that have no charts should procure them at the beginning of the term. D.