The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-13
citations arise to view, but hope have given
enough for my present purpose.
Does any truth seek inc man doubt the ax.

citations arise to view, but hope have given
enough for my present purpose.
Docs any truth-seeking man doubt the ex-
pediency Of Congress legislating thus discrm-
inatngly? If so, let him think of some pro-
ject for importing lions, and tigers, and hyenas,
for other than the uses of the menagerie-to
be turned loose in the streets, for example--and
ask himself what would be the course of Con-
gress in such an emergency To the advocates
of protection" | apprehend the idea of q
tariff so high az to prohibit the importation of
foreign liquors, for even the legitimate pur-
poses named would not be epugnant-unless,
indeed self-interest or perverted appetite
should prompt them to shut their senses against
the laws of analogy. confess that prefer
the more direct mode Of open and avowed pro-
bibtion but am now addressing myself to a
class OF readers who have no scruples on this
point and do so with the hope of giving n
temperance-promotinga application oftheir views
| to the urgent social necessities of the times
Shall appeal to them in vain?
Shall not u movement by petitions to Con-
gress begin at once! What say the friends of
illegal suasion in the States where State action
has been invoked What say the noble p;o-
neers of Maine2 Now that they have done all
that can be effected by Statal action, and have
experienced the need of National action to back
up their local movement of reform, let them
see that the good work is perfected By whom,
more appropriately, could this agitation be
commenced Men of Maine! what say you
to the proposal
In closing, think may confidently put this
question to those into whose hands the sugges-
tons of this letter may chance to fall Towhat
more sublime line Of enaction could the Ma
tional Legislation be directed, than this-this
which gives the only reasonable hope of even
the beginning Of that "milennial reign y for
which we find all sects of Christians praying.
And is not an anticipation hopeless, in veiw Of
the present state of thingss To my mind, ut
terly so. If suffered to increase its seductive
appliances for few years longer at the pres
ent rate, the rum traffic would have the power
to counterfeit the agencies of all the clergy Of
the earth combined The Preacher of the
Gospel in his pulpit compared with the Rum
seller, who will be sure to raise his altar near
by sinks in imagination to the subordinate
position of the little boy who takes his humble
stand at the foot of the bowling alley to set up
the ''pins" while the athletic and adrot man
stands at the head. knocks them down with
STRIKES" that count by "tens" and triumph
antly wins the game.
am aware that this is gloomy and dis
couraging picture of the triumph of the spirit
of evil in our land. But the truth were better
told than withheld, that we may timely set
ourselves to work for the securement of the
remedy of THOROUGH LEGAL PROHIBITION
| NATIONAL AS WELL AS STATAL.
By giving the foregoing suggestions place
in your columns, you may in some degree pro-
mote a good cause which you yourself have
properly at heart, while at the same time con-
ferring an obligation on one who begs leave to
subscribe himself,
Very truly, your colaborer,
j. T.. SNoDGRAss.