The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-08-17
By II. d. SMALLEf'

as an humble advocate of the great cause which |
has interested US so much. This is truly pro I
gressive age, and ace are progressive people, 1t
was once said of oman citizen, that he reojoic
ed that he had the honor and the happiness of cali
ing himself Roman citizen L am happy MIR
President, that l am american citizen All
the past Improvements of the world have had tor
their objectthe bettering of the human family phys
icaliy while his moral being has, to great extent,
been overlooked. We now appear to be uron the
dawn of brighter better day. If there was ever
good time in the world, that time Is now. We
have too long been led by party spirit and party
feeling. Political men have too long led the for
ces of this great nation. We have learned that
those leaders in political matters absolutely un
deI the law of public principle They have long
felt our pulse to determine how to act, and when
they found which way the people would go, they
have gone. And so it will be in the temperance
movement. When they find they have got to come
up to the work, they will wheel into the ranks in
a very short time. The people of Ohio, l am
proud to say are not behind any other state in the
Improvements Of the present age, but am sorry
we are SO fur behind in this great movement But
the time seems now to have come, when there
is to be greut change in this respect. The day s
dawing and we shall stand in its glorious light.
| We all know how nterperance has affected US
for number of years. and the question now is,
how shall we effect cure for this great will
This is the most widespread evil the world has
ever known. Every family has felt its whitening
blight, every hearth stone has been stained by the
blood of thefoos-print of Alcohol. We know full
we'll that it destroys the phys condition of the
man. We know it destroys his wealth and breaks
up his family. We know it makes his children Or
phans and causes tears to flow which mono but
Grunkard's wife can shed. 1t destroys his moral
power-he cannot pray. All that s noble and pure,
all that is honorable and true destroyed by the
demon-Alcohol. There is nothing left afrer AL
echol has finished his work upon him. The ques-
ton now comes, up, where shall find reme
dy for this great evil? This question is very i'm
portant one. A few years ago it would have been
very difficult for US to answer it. But we have
sought reform. We have looked TO moral suasion
to effect cure, but efforts have avaed US not
We noau look to the legislature for the remedy. 1t
seems the auspicious time has now come when
we can Go something upon this subject. The
work can now be finished if we only take this most
opportune step. Every additional battle we fight
upon this ground, is preparing the public mind up
on the Mane Law, and to enforce it when enac-
ted. would rather not haze the law, thnn not to
/ have it enforced when we do have it. But it can,
and aeili be enforced. and ali ask is, give US the
law These mighty gatherings fthe temperance
people preparing the way for this law, the pub
lie mind is waking up on this subject and good will
be the result. We have seen the time when great
questions at stake in our political world; but
there is a greater question at stake now. look
upon the discovery of the Maine Law, as among
the great discoveries OF the 10Th century. The
world has gone forward an hundred gears in the
very few years that have Just past US. And now
are we ready 10 receive this law : Are we ready
to carry and enforce it [Cries of Yes, Yes.
from the audience. We have been told that there
| is class of persons who suffer more from the
use of Alcoholic drink than any other: mean the
| women. am glad they are taking hold upon this
subject. am glad to hear them speak upon it,
| Her fatherless children, her worse than orphan
babes must and do plead for her with tears of eo-
uuence 10 their eyes. A little fellow in the
of Cleveland was helping his father out ofthe gut
ter and steadying his reeliug frame towards that
I
when he was asked, Little boy is that your faith
er!" His uiterance stopped him for moment
How could he cay that that poor, miserable, boat-
ed and degraded being at his side was his father !?
The little fellows eyes filled with tears as he
simply nodded his head 1t ,cas his father, but he
could not say it was. 1t is such orphan children
as these who plead for the Maine Law, and shall
we refuse to give it them ? Such orphans by
thousands in the State of Ohio. They are more
than orphans, because they are made so by Alco-
holic drink. If we ever pray fervently for the
cess of any good cause. it must be for this cause
the cause that will restore the drunkard to himself
his wife, his children and bis friends. There are
those who hear to-day, who know speak the
truth VIII en- I say the Maine Law does all this.
This being the case, is the Maine Law the thing
we need! If you believe it is hold up your hands.
"A universal raising of hands. In the first place,
does it work well? 1t works to a charm; it works
to perfect admiration. A writer from the State of
Maine says, " 1t is working every thing we could
wish. 1t has put stop to broils and street distur
bances it has shed peace and prosperity around
the inebriaes home. it has emptied our jas and
s-houses, it has decreased our taxes; in short
it meets the best expectations of its most ardent
admirers" Does it make the man more wealthy
than before? Does 1t throw around him the bles-
sings of home and the society of his friends! Yes,
it does all this it makes the beast a
Now let me state another fact or two. In the
one hundred cases which came before the police
court in the city of Cleveland eighty four of them
were traceable directly to intoxicating drink. Out
of every hundred dollars of costs in Cleveland
eighty-four paid for liquor l am glad to say
that many O.: those who are deluded by strong
drink among the best and nobest of meu.-
Have you not heard the wife say my husband is
one of the best of husbands. true to me when out
ofliquor. He is kind and oblging, capable of low
ing and cherishng his family when free from the
influence of Alcohol" Such are the we are
10 restore to bright and smiling homes, to loving.
Joyous families. We are called upon by every