Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1853-06-09
INTEMPERANCE.

After all that has been said and writ
ten OIL this subject, the direful character
and extent of the evil is too little known
consequences. both in respect to the life
that now is, and that which is 10 come
are very inadequately contemplated
There is responsibility resting on chris
tians. in regard to this matter, which is
not properly felt. We are not doing
what we ought to do-what we might do,
TO arrest the course of this river of dea th
which is spreading its desolating streams
through the land.
What an affecting statement do Our po-
lice reports and judicial records present
of the wretched effects of INDUCING in
the use of strong drink! recently heard
the declaration in temperance meeting,
that judge in PhilaGe phia had affirmed
that intemperance was, directly or indi-
rectly. the cause ofseven- .enthS ofail the
crimes that came within his jurisdiction.
would that the vendors of this dele
terious poison would GO where | have
beer, i'll the performance of my profess
n,
and humanity. would that they would
60 from door 10 door of the cells of the
victims Of their mercenary rattle, and lis
ten TO the sad tales which | have heard,
of the crimes and the woes, the poverty
and misseries resulting from that traffic.
Would they not tremble at the thought Of
going to the judgment of the great day.
with such tremendous responsibility?
Do not the wholesale and retail ven
ders Of spIrituous liquors, except for me-
dicinal ami mechanical purposes, indi-
rectly lob the community, by Obliging us
to pay onerous and unnecessary taxes?--
Are they not accessory to the crimes Of
theft, burglary. arson, assault and battery,
manslaughter and murder? Have they a
right to do so? Is it depriving them of
any natural right, to prohibit them from
doing it by penal statute? Has man a
natural right thus TO tempt his neighbor
to destroy himself? Can it be reconciled
with the command to love his neighbor as
HIMSELF Ic he does so, is it possible
that he can put such stumbling block
in his brothers way?
Can the moderate drinker do it? What
is the answer Of true love? 1T is good
neither TO eat flesh, nor drink wine. nor
anything whereby thy brother stum5eth,
&c. Rom. xiv. 81. This prohibits the
use of intoxicating drink, as a beverage,
even if it is not dangerous TO ourselves.
The example to the strong is often ruin
to the weak. But moderate drinking is
the path of de struction to the strong.
ask. if true patriotism does not re-
quire prohibitory law. Ii ke' that of the
State Of Maine. throughout the land? |
ask, in reference TO the true welfare of
the country, if the question. whether we
shall have an honest wing. or an honest
democratic legislature. IS not as the drop
of the bucket to the ocean, in compari-
son with the question, whe Their or not we
shall have a legislature that will! give us
prohibitory law; that shall dam up this
cursed river Of death? Let every voter
seriously consider the question.
Let us 60 forth to the battle in the
power of holy faith ana love. We are
not to stop to number our army, but 60
forward in that confidence in the right
and in power of God, which will enable
one to chase thousand, and two to put
ten thousand to flight. The cloud is mo-
wing, indicating that it is the will of our
Father that we march onward. Let us
obey, uniting in the prayer of the man OF
God, Arise. o Lord; and let thine enc
mics be scattered
HENRY GREW.
Philadel phia, Pad. HARD.