Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-09-17

repress feeling OF triumph, when notwlth-
standing repeated invitations, not young
man in the assembly would arise and advance
to the table, TO partake of the intoxicating
draught. Doubtless many wishful glances
were cast toward it, for we knew there were
those present, who sometimes INDUCED in
rather heavy potations, But no one stirred
There it stood, templingly, "alone in its glo
ry." That tacit act Of dsapp:oba ton on the
part Of the young Ladies, had done its work.
And this is only one small instance Of what
you may do if you will but exert your iuhu
ence, on the side of right believe there is,
in the human mind, care not how stubborn
how firm or unbendpg may be the will NOR
al law, if may so term it, which will ult-
mately oblige it 10 yield to the invincible pow
er Of truth,if frequently and rightly presented.
And here permit me TO make few rema rks
on moral suason.
We hear it often asserted Of late, that moral
suason as it regards the cause of temperance
has failed, "Moral suasion has .1ailed; writes
the editor from his sanctum. "Moral suasion
has faaed, is re e-echoed from the so called
watchman on the walls of.zion in answer to
the anxious query. "What of the night"
"Moral suasion has failed" is reiterated by
the good citizen, when he secs, with dismay,
the dark waters of intemperance rolling
around with no one to issue the man late, thus
far, and here let thy proud waves be stayed"
Has moral suasion failod, have the eternal
principles Of truth which Christ came to pro-
mulgate failed? My friends, if you will take
the trouble to accompany me in Imagination,
far back into the past TO little village loca.
ted on the banks of beautiful stI cam,
away down east" you shall see the beauti
'ful effects Of moral suasion to which | am
myself an eye witness, That small village,
some twenty five years ago, was one of the
strong holds of the demon Of Intemperance.
Assault and battery, and other disorderly
conduct, was the order Of the day. Indeed,
there was so much fighting, and so many
lawsuits in consequence, that one of the sher-
ifs Of the county, who resided in another
part of the town, was in almost daily atten
dance on professional duties. 1t was even
said that he caused post to be erected in
front of a certain store expressly for hlsown
convenience in tying his horse, SO frequently
had it become necessary for the poor animal to
stand there At length, a few of the more
sober part of community became convinced
such state Of things would not do, and re-
solved to get up temperance society. 1t
was a new thing in those days. and it must
be confessed, that their tirst pledge was rather
liberal in its requirements, inasmuch as it al.
lowed lis signers TO quaf wine when
they pleased, though ether i7texicating driaks
as a beverage, were prohibited But they
soon diacoved the ineGciency of such pledge,
A more stringent one was substituted and
they continued to progress, until the era at
length arrived, when not a drunkard was to
be seen in their streets. Order WAS restored,
the sheriifs horse was missing from his post,
and kindness and good feeling every where
prevailed. But am asked, did such state
of things long continued? ] answer, no and
why? Because the temperance army, sup
posing that the victory was completely won
the citadel taken, rested upon their army and
slept. Wherein, my friends, lies the secret
of the failure OF moral suasion. But though
the enemy entered, he never again obtained
entire possession Last year visited the place
Of which have been speaking, after long
years Of absence many white cottages had
sprung up as if by magic, and l scarely re-
cognized the dear little village of my birth.
Yet had the satisfaction of knowing, that
no intoxicating drinks were to be obtained
within its precincts, / met those whom | had
left inebriates, and with joy beheld them
"ciothed and in their right mind True the
Maine Liquor Law was in force. Bat pray
had moral suasion nothing to do with the
passage of that law? We shall probably
be obliged to work hard by way of mora
suasion, if we would see a similar law in ope
ration here. We complain that moral sua
sion has failed, that the partially reformed
one, has, after all our labor, returned TO hi
cups But temperance men and women
what were we doing at the time that oul
neighbor, our friend, yielded to temptation
Had we a flourishing, Total a6stinen ce socie
ty in successful Operations When we hap
pened to be in town with him, did we anx
ously watch him, as if he had been our faith
er, or our brother, and kindly admonish hin
to beware Of the temptcr? If we wished tt
purchase any article, did we enqu:reIfor TEN
perance Store, and did we inform the rum
dealer, that we would have nothing to dc
with him SO long as be continued to "holt
the cup to his neighbors mouth? Did W,
seek for temperance hotel, and the little, un
pretending temperance grocery, which coult
hardly keep its head above water, beside it
more successful competitors who deals in th
waters ofdeath, and kindly encourage him I,
persevere by telling him, that he should hay'
our custom, and that we would try to per
suade others to become his customers? Die
we steadily refuse to furnish the distillery
with our grain, to be manufactured into poi
son for our neighbor? All mol well, is
strange that moral suason has failed? Is i
strange that the sword of truth has ceas
ed to do execution, with no hand to weld it
Ladies, let us unsheath this two-edged
sword from its scabard, and try our skill il
welding it. II managed with dexterity, i
will most assuredly answer our most sanguint
expectations We have every encourage,
ment. then let us be up and doing A grea
contest is before US. We must labor digent
ly. and faithfully, if we would see our nobl
state emancipated from the curse Of the traf
dc in intoxicating drinks. Ifyou doubt thu
extent of your influence, | would respectful,
suggest to you, that now is yonr time to tes