The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-24

Foi the Organ.
MR. CLARK,-Traveling recently
through Northwestern Ohio, l had
occasion to tarry a few days at the
pleasant little village of Sylgania, and
being a." locker on in Venice" / had
fine opportunity to study the charac-
ter of the people, l soon discovered
there were two parties, the Rumocracy
and the Sons of Temperance, between
whom a deadly strife existed. The
Sons, as l learned, were a law.abiding
and law-loving people, and we're
governed by principle and morality,
and aimed to promote the good Of
their fellow creatures. They have
done much good, and their course is
still onward in the great temperance
reform. They rooted out one Of the
most unprincipled rum-sellers that
ever cursed the community, who is
now food for fish in the Pacific and
they would soon extirpate the re-
malnder, if the friends and pretended
friends Of temperance were only true
10 the cause they profess. On the
other hand, the rumocracy are set
of rowdies, gamblers and blacklegs,
resorting to every mean and contemp-
tible device to counteract the influence
Of the Sons, and lead astray such Of
them as they can, by throwing temp
tations in their way to induce them to
violate their solemn pledge. The
devils in the internal regions cannot
rejoice more when a soul is lost, than
those 6ends in human form TO over
the fall of Son of Temperance, made
to stumble by their diabolical incan-
tatlons. The stone tavern and the
stone store that stand opposite each
other, are the head quarters for con-
cocting plans for overthrowing the
Sons and then, to hear them boast
when they have succeeded in enticing
a Son to sip from the accursed bowl,
is enough to make the demons shout
a oud for JOY. Isaw and heard enough
to satisfy me of these facts during my
stay at Sylyania. There were two OF
three horse races got up by the rum
/ mics while | was there, accompanied,
as is usually the case, with roulette,
dice, cards, and thimbles and the
way the uninitiated were =" took in, =
was a caution to all "green horns"
After each race the rabble wonld re-
turn to the tavern aforesaid, to drink,
swear, and gamble, and discuss the
good and bad points and qualities of
the horses, and very little rest was
there for the weary traveller, assure
you, so long as those bloodsuckers,
the gentlemen of the turf, "-as they
style themselves-and their followers,
the blOckIegs, remained in the place.
There is something exciting about a
horse race, and many are attracted
there to see the sport and among
others we're deacons, professors of re-
Iligion, and Sons Of Temperance and
after the race was over, some of the
Sons would fall in with the multitude
and return to " Head Quarters" 10
see the final result. And then, it was
amusing to see therummies and black
legs put on their best smiles, pass
round the intoxicating bowl, and start
the roulette, and all done with so
much grace and politeness, to tempt
| the Sons and lead them astray. Now,
some Of the Sons of Sylvania have
been great drinkers, and their appe-
tites are still strong, and being whole
soul fellows, they cannot, at all times,
resist temptation, especially when
brought to bear on them by their old
bottle companions. 1t made me think
of the serpent tempting Eve in the
Garden OF Eden, to see old w. dodg-
ing round in his inSinaatiag way,
winking, beckoning with his finger
and working his mouth in bis peculiar
way, saying, "Come, just take liltlt
with me for old friendship, the leas
drop in the world, won't hurt you
and you know it is all on the square.
l will keep shady, and no one vii
know anything about it, DC. AnC
then, to see his eye twinkle, and the
flush Of triumph pass over his bloatet
countenance, when he succeeded
would make you imagine how tn,
devil felt and acted when Eve reached
forth her hand and plucked the for
hidden fruit. And lheny to hear hin
boastof his triumph to his drunken
companions, and see him, staggering
home late at night, muttering curses
against the SONS, and laughing how
: nice he came il over one. Of them
, would make you think he was a deyi
incanate. Y ct strange it is, but ney
: ertheless true, that this old bloat
]. patronized by some Of the Sons an,
+, other temperance people, when ther
I. are temperance stores in the place
Just because they are indebted to him
: and dare not trade elsewhere, as he !
!, in the habit, | am told, Of sueing hi
!. customers who do not do all thei
trading with him. Such men are I
he eound In aVarv villa0a and tow