Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-10-30
For the Spectator.
II + nj PERA NOE

Ma. EDITOR With your permission Womb no
pleased to say few words to the people of Augusta on
tue SUBJECT OF Temperance l have indeed been sur
Prsed 10 see the change which has taken place in the
minus oil the people on this subject few years ago
he whole county was excited temperance was the alb
sorUhg toPlc OF conversation in the family CIRCLE as
well as In the public assemblies. You could scarcely
meet an individual lady gentleman, (for indeed the
ladies' took quite an active part this good cause but
temperance pledge presented 10 you and Won
were respectfully solicited to sign your name among the
cold water army. Temperance societies arose nc = he
magic In the different parts of the county There was
scarcely village church, a school house in which
inc voice OF the temperance lecturer heard
among s advocates were of all classes conditions
and professions OF life from the school bow of ten wears
up 10 the sage divine and politician of the county Men
VI nhucGce ana standing acted for the interest of the
cause. soon 1t was thought necessary to concentrate
the influence of the county, unite its operations
knowing that In union there is strength For this pur
pose county convention was proposed-Staunton ,y,s
Nominated as the place OF mecting-a day was appoint
ca and delegates from the different parts of the county
met. lhey organized themselves into County Union
temperance society," which TO meet quarterly Of
Ulcers were elected and all necessary ARRANGEMENTS
were made for carrying the wishes of the society
temperance, Ike victorious army, marched forth CON
queihS ana 10 conquer lntempcrance was threatened
WIN annihiiaon Prince Alcohol trembcd in view of
the declining interest of his kingdom He dreaded the
conflict which he sustain with the friends of tenn
perancc Heaven smiled-HelI tremblcd-tbe Court If
fandcmonIum was in coniuson-the powers of dark.
ness were moved. Prince Alcohol collected and ar
ranged MS army, inspiring them with the spirit of
darkness, and urging them TO the conHct-But hi,
combined armies could stand against popular nGu
'"Ie anu icmae eIIort His allied powers gave way .
ana the drunkard and dram drnker were driven from
society They were compelled to engage in their acts
Oh drunkenness in the midnight hour. Indeed have
seen tne drunkard with his jug going the still house
ter night who plainly told his reason for going at
hat honr The people make such fuss about temper.
ahce, mat II an individual is with bottle he is at
once marked down a drunkard." This thought.
declared IN language not to be misunderstood that the
obstructive influence OF ntempcrance not to be felt
huch longer by us as county But, alas like Hanni
oaI, Nwhen another effort would have put Rome in his
powcr) the friends of temperance ceased their efforts
The interest of the cause was lost in the at
excitement, and scarcely word is said on the sub
jcct. ~ '''
Is this az il should BET Docs not the interest of the
county demand the effort be made pow to re-
ofe ,he eVi OIL intcmperance that it did two years
ago. III intemperancc then evil, if it was then
an increasing evil, IT still the same For certainly
no one can suppose the evil done away. IT, however
any one does, we would say him 20 and visit one of
uc oseres OF our county and remain there one hour
VI go 10 one OF those traps OF hell which YOU will find in
almost every hotel of our county and sec who and how
mary therc are who visit there and our word for IT, YOU
VIII no longer think the evil removed from our midst
nave indeed had our feelings much mortified to sec
30 many oi our young men, who the hope of the
country, Tue nope OF the Church. the hope of their pa
rents bringing themselves ruin disgracnr their own
peces and hurying the gray hairs OF fond parents TO
premature grave, and all this by their ndp0cnce in the
use OF Intoxicating liquor Why then have the people
augusta ceased their efforts to remove the evil ,
why TINS apathythis indifference Allow MS TO ask
ecn individual who once interested on this subject
,ry you are not now interested? Have you found the
P "gCS society inadequate to the evil? No. The
ot ol INC Temperance Society has surpassed the
dc,.! expectations Of its friends. Ii stayed the
$50 influence Of inemperance, il checked the IN
creasng power Of ardent spirits and IL lie nrofsd
ehus would nave been hut faithful il would have re-
moved the evil But TO the d;sbonor of The adYoco,
VI inc temperance Society he it said, they