Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-04-16

break over the only barrier, which has been
kindly raised to save them from their own de-
struction. We warn ali such that there is but
one step between them and despair, and so in
sidious is this vice that the votary may be
lost before he is aware oft. While we mourn
over the prospect Of few among us, We are
encouraged to go on in eur benevolent enter.
prise, and shall not deem our labors lost, if
but one of our race is rescued from this vortex
Of ruin. We hope yet to see the time when
our peaceable citizens will not be aroused at
The hour Of midnight, TO listen to the songs of
Bacchus, or to hear the belchngs of the demon
through human forms stalking about our streets
in darkness, debasing aud debased 1t is not
strange that there should be found in this COM
munily as well as in all others, those who
make it their business to tempt. persuade, and
urge those to drink who they know have SOL
EMMY pledged themselves not to drink. Ii
the drunkard is condemned for his willul des-
truction ofintelsctual and moral faculties, how
exceedingly aggravated will be the condemna-
ton Of those who are the immediate cause of
this self murder. Your committee verify be-
ieve that did the sober and prudent, view the
matter in its true light, it would not be long
ere it would be deemed as disgraceful to put,
the cup to the neshbor's mouth as self drunk
light and Information. 8
Your committee are happy to state that by
a special effort made by this society in January
lasl 40 copies of the Illinois and Missouri
Temperance Herald were subscribed for, and
are now received and read by the community.
fhls pnbilcaiion though slnall.in size is gi-
ant In strength, and we trust will be an instru-
ment of good. We only regret that this soci-
ETY. is not in possession of means sufficient to
whi,en this atmosphere, with this and other
Temperance publications.
In looking from our own community, your
committee would state for the encouragement
of the society, that the cause of Temperance is
gaining ground wherever the standard is raised.
In our own Territory, which is yet called by
our eastern brethren, 6" the western wiIds of
the EARTH" from several towns We hear that
the cause is progressing rapidly. and that when
ever the life boat of temperance has been
thrown ont, numbers have rallied to it and cling
to 1t as one Of the strong hopes of the per2etui-
~ 81 our free government, and our still more
free and dear social and religious institutions.
We learn from the public prints, that during
the past winter, in most of the older states,
efforts have been made ia the temperance cause
Witch have been crowned with astonishing
success. In some Of the Atlantic cities hun
drunkard and temperate drnker, and rallied
around The banner of teetotalisn. From For
egn countries we learn that the cause is going
forward with a rapdity unparalleled in the
history of temperance. With honor let it be
known that an American was the first charnpi-
Oh in the cause who proclaimed temperance in
Great Britain and Ireland. Our American
temperance publications are sought after with
great avldity in England, and from them has
been laid the foundation Of abstinence there.
In Ireland alone, from the last accounts. about
100000 had signed the pledge of total absi-
hence. In France, Germany, Italy, Sweden.
and in Russia, an American reformer is wend-
ing his way to the courts Of Princes and the
thrones of Kings, holding out the banner otto
tai abstinence, which is every where hailed as
a harbinger of good. This individual traver-
sed the United States a few years since as an
agent for one of our benev client societies, and
one Of your committee can bear testimony to
his zeal. his prudence, and his fidelity in the
cause, and his eminent qualifications to repre-
sent us as society or nation in any of the
courts or Kingdoms Of Europe.
Without wishing to prolong this report to
an undue length, your committee cannot close
without expressing their decided conviction
that do we wish to prosper people, do we
wish to be respected at home or abroad, and in
fine do we ws!, to bring to our territory pop
ulaton to be desired, let US be known as
temperate community.
VIM. BROwNELL, Chm,
Elk. Com. Of B. Il. Society.
Bloomington, April 2, lo4l.