The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-06-25
The obstacie IN The way.

y "a confar1n hai
bebinl
Temperance cause, is not interp0sed u
the Incorporate themselves. Many al
habitual dTunkard is heartily in favor o.
a prohibitory law. They feel that il ID
their only hope of reform. Whilst self.
denial is so difficult, there is safety alone
for them, the slaves of the bowl, IN put
ling that borcL By force, out Of their way,
There is many an inebriate who in his
sober moments prays tor the passage Of
a law TO break up the tipplng.shops.
Some moderate drinkers sympathlze with
them in the same opinions.
But there is another large and most in
fuential class in the community who
either give our cause a cold inefficient
support, or else manifest decided op-
position to its progress. They are not
hard drinkers-perhaps they do moi spend
one dollar for intoxicating drinks in
year, Some OF them use wine in mode
ration'-some do not taste it at all. But
they are the self-styled Conservatives
who oppose nearly all thorough reforms
as violent and radical. They have great
dread OF 'utraism.' Some of this class
are unhappily too indifferent TO the we'll
being OF their fellow men, and wrap their
cloaks of selfshness about them, and
stoop their ears to the walls of the wretch
ed, and close their eyes TO the spectacle
of vice, and sef.destruclion that is right
before them. And those among this class
who really do sympathlZe with the heav-
emily work OF saving the poor drunkard,
are not ready TO toll and suffer for any
thing so thorough and laboriUuS az getting
through and sustaining prohlbnory law
they believe in reforming the world
with cologne water The work is 10 be
done by moral suasion alone. The liquor
seller is to be pitled-but not the drunk
ard. The Law is to be on the side Of the
4 lIlquoT.heller alana--hut society and pub
lc morals are not to be protected. A
I Maine Law is held by them TO be 'oppres
.lve' and arbitrary and unjust aud uu
constitutional Now we do not wish ie
whisper hard word IN relation TO thi,
large and influential class Of temperance
meu in The community. On the contrary
we wish 10 plead with them, and urge
them TO come over and hel p us. Lei
them sit down, aud examine this whole
subject. Lei them read facts. Lei them
only look honestly al the real stale OF the
liquor traffic, and the irighlful havoc it is
making OF both body and soul-and see
how impotelh mere moral sudslon is u
put check to its terrible ravages. We
need this class of temperance men on
oar side. They belong with US. They
must lake hold with US in order to secure
u delVerance from the curse of intem
perance, Among this class are many
lawl ers. and merchants, aud farmers, aHd
mechanics-sone clergymen too belong
10 this class; they are respectable and In
auential; and could procure p,ohibiory
h,lO, If they tOoutd only sag the 1cord. Yel
how many OF them turn away? BGeihren
is il not true that the heaviest load which
we laborers tor Gods poor outcast cl lid
rem have TO carry, is the opposition or the
lukewarnness of this large class in every
community ? Is it not saddening aIic
dscouraging to be turned away by
sober, temperate, influential man, wher
we come to him, and be,eech him L
take hold, and help forward work s.
glorious and bene6cient as ouFsl Ii TIM
food of alcoholic death countinues 70 lol
on, then the responsibility will rest no
merely on the tratlicker but on all VIII,
do moi labor to stay the evil.-Spirit Of h
Age.