Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-05-12


others.
A mighty work was accomplished
multitudes of druukards were reclaimed
and restored to their families Oh the
JOY that filed the hearts of thousands of
wives and tens of thousands of children as
che husband and father were again res
rored to them How many deserted hab-
itatIons where misery, wretchedness and
poverty had held sway were changed to
happy homes, where JOY, gladness and
plenty reigned supreme The results of
the WashingtOnian movement have never
been described-they never can be. The
pen or the tongue of both angels and men
would be totally inadequate to the task of
portraying the great aud blessed results
which grew out of the permanent and en-
tire reformation of the thousands who were
saved by the untiring labors of those de-
voted men. Eternity alone can fully make
these great results manifest
But the triumph of the cause was not
yet secured-the victory was not won
The foe was still abroad seeking whom he
should devour, and sad was it to contem-
plate the desolation and death he was pro
ducing What had been done had but
prepared the way, and shown the necessi-
ty for still another movement. The ext
gencies of the times called for new or
gauization to carry on the great work and
urge 1t forward to the final triumph This
new demand was met by the establishment
Of the order of SoNs OF TEMPERANCE-
Coming into existence at such a time and
at such an advanced period in the history
of the cause, its mission is a most glorious
one, and heavy and important are the res
possibilities resting upon 1t May the
Order not dlsaPpoint the expectations Of
its friends May it meet and discharge
its great responsibilities, and may it nobly
and faithfully fulfill its glorious mission
The TRUE MISSION OF THE ORDER, is TO
TAKE UP TIE GREAT TEMPERANCE MOVE
MENT, AND CARRY IT FORWARD TO ITS COM
PLETE AND ULTIMATE TRIUMPH and Id
order to accomplish its mission, it must
not only not be behind any organization
that has gone before but must occupy
position greatly in advance of all others
On no occasion should the Order lower
the standard under which the hosts of tenn
perance have so long battled, and no great
truth or principle which has been devel-
Oped by the labors and experience of the
past, should ever be lost sight of or disre-
garded. The truth of the assertion that
in the great warfare against intemperance,
this Order should not be less active, eff
cient aud aggressive, than those which have
preceded it, will hardly be questioned =
but that it should take higher ground
that it should be more active, efficient and
aggressive than all others. [ argue First
From the progressive character Of the
temperance movement from its early his
tory. [ have already briefly alluded to
some Of the successive steps of this onward
progress. Each successive organization,
each new phase of the movement has oo
cupied higher ground than the one that
preceded it And now in the continua-
ton Of this onward progression, the Order
of Sons of Temperance has been brought
into existence Can there be a question as
to their obligation to continue on In this
line of progression | t cannot be. No
one in the Order, or out of it will hesitate
to affirm that they are bound to carry on
the progressive feature of the temperance
movement which has characterized it from
its commencement and thus in the full
fllment of their mission be more active
efficient and aggressive than any and all
who have preceded them.
| argue the truth of this proposition in
the Sec0nd place-From the fact that
those who have gone before, have been in
a great measure, mere pioneers, preparing
the way for those who should follow
When the work was commenced the ma
ture and extent of the evil was but little
understood. The habit Of drinking intox-
icating drinks was almost universal Its
propriety was no where questioned to any
extent. 1t has been an almost herculean
task to enlighten and reform the public
mind on this point, and until it was ac-
made. This general habit is now among
the things that once were. In many pla-
ces among the community generally, and
in all places among the moral and relig-
ious, it has become an obsolete idea The
traffic in intoxicating drinks was consid
cred an honorable and praiseworthy call
ing--one IL no way improper to be filed
BY the best men of the land. Here was
an obstacle of tremendous power in the
way of the progress of the cause but it
has been removed By those who have gone
before. They have demonstrated that the
whole business of manufacturing and sell
ing Intoxicating drinks to be used as a
beverage, is one of the most iniquitous
employments in which human being could
be engaged and so fully have they i'm
pressed this truth upon the public mind
that no man of real integrity or upright
ness of character would any sooner engage
in it, than he would engage in stealing
horses, or sheep, or robbing upon the pub
lie highway The demonstrations of this
truth was absolutely necessary before any
great progress could be made. The work
has been done-the obstacle has been re-
moved from our way, and the course IS
now clear for greater advances.
The active and untiring labors of those
who have preceded Us have developed the
nature and extent Of the evils we contend
against They have brought to light the
facts which show the effects Of the habitu-
al use of intoxicating drinks upon man
I They have developed the manner in which
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