The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-07-19
For The Cecil Wing.
The Temperance Cause.

The Wing to draw the attention ofall classes of
the citizens OF Cecil county, to the present state
of the Temperance reformation, the difficulties
ny member of the community owes in assisting TO
its success.
That there is at this time great dearth in
the Temperance movement, no one can for a
moment doubt, who has watched its progress for
the last few. YEARS. but whether i, is the COM
mencement Of its downward career, or only the
silent gathering of the storm-cloud in its recess
SEES, preparing to burst forth with mighty pow
er, to sweep away in its course every barrier
and impediment that the myrmidoms of Rum
have reared to check it,-Time will soon deter
mine. The present is a momentous period in
its history: the action of to-day is to tell in the
records of the future, for veal or woe;- the
time is drawing near at hand which is TO decide
whether Rum with ell its attendant evils, shall
still continue its sway, or whether Temperance
with its thousand blessings shall spread itself all
DER our land, beautifyng and enabling all Gods
creatures.
There have been periods in the history of our
country, when the political horizon seemed
overshadowed by portentious clouds, threaten
ing destruction 10 the beautiful fabric our fore
fathers have reared on high, and driving away
almos, every hope from the bosom of the friends
of liberty, but kind Providence has permitted
| the clouds to dispense, leaving u brighter sky
and purer atmosphere behind. So | trust it
will hp with Ga ~ bo Jor
the cause, every one who has the good of his
fellow creatures at heart, will buckle on his ar
| NOR, rally around the standard, and laying aside
all selfish considerations, determine by the help
of God to do battle faithfully in the cause.-the
| cause ofal mankind.''
Oh! who can contemplate the glorious success
of an enterprise having for its object the set nc
| free from bondage the miserable and enslaved
subjects OF Rum; the freeing ofthe land from the
shackles and degradation Of tyrant more ruth
less than Russian despotism; thedestructon of
poison more deadly than the Upas tree, faint
ing the airwe breathe, with its noNious vapoure
appalling the heart with the shreks and
moans ofw widows and orphans, made desola,e by
its accused and murderous ravagcs-fllng the
graves with its victims and the aims house with
| its Notwithstanding down Youth in its beauty
| and vigor, and Age with its gray hairs in one in
] discriminate slaughter. Who, say, can con-
] template for moment a cause like this and not
| feel himselfurgcd on 10 take part in the work
ami desire to enjoy its triumphs.
| If such are to be the results, why have they
| not been achieved ere this. Let us Mr.. Editor,
| consider for while the hinderng causes.
One great obstacle in the way ofthis reforma-
| ton, is the lukcwarlnness OF protesting friends
| those who, claiming to be Temperance men in
| principle, yet stand aloof and Withhold their in
| tiuenrc and aid from any active participation in
| its favor. Men protesting the great principles
of the Christian gion---occurying upper seats
| IN the sanctuary--pilIars OF Gods church on
| earth, refusing to have part or lot in a cause
that is so well calculated to assist IN building up
Chris's Kingdom, folding their arms in fancied
| security from all danger and bidding God-speed
| to those who have the moral courage to 90 into
the battle.
lconiess, sir, that approach this part of my
y justice. What arguments shall offer TO show
them the error Of their course and the response
bliity resting upon them? What plea shall
| urge that will induce them to unite with us in
this Holy crusade? Are they perfectly secure
from the ravages of the peslilence, ':that walk
eth in darkness and stalketh abroad at noon
day." Let them look around and about them.
Call up the memories OF the past? can they not
place their hands upon one here and other there,
that stood apparently as secure as they, cut
| down, wilhered and blasted by the fell DESTROYER?
Has it not robbed the church TO which they be-
long of some goodly member? Have they not
seem some neighbour, kind and good, who stood
high in the estimation of all who knew him,
| fall into the drunkard's grave, unmourned except
| by the heart broken widow and destitute chill
dren? Where is the neighborhood in which the
serpent has not entered with its Shiny trail {?
Where is the man, who has not in his family or
among his relatives, felt its .fdmgs in some shape
or form If there are any such, let him come
forth and speak out; know Of none. In every
walk OF life, among the high and low, rich and
poor, learned and unlearned, godIy and ungodly,
old and young, male and female, it has wound its
way, envelop'ng and crushing its victims in its
embrace Then what right have they to claim
immunity from its touch while it exists all around
thep3 Grant that they, themselves, may escape
by strict and rigid guard over their passions,
but what hopes have they, that their children,
those whom God has given them to protect and
cherish and guard from all danger, will not fall
into the snarcs and pitfalls that are placed in
every path. Do they expect that those who are
already actively engaged in this work will sue
'ceed IN stemmng the torrent, and rescuing the
land from the power ofits foe, without their aid
II they do they will be disappointed.
l "a LII 10,