Milford beacon., 1854-04-07
The Temperance Question.

Our paper for some months past has
been the medium through which numer-
GUS correspondents have expressed their
opinions upon the subject of "Maine
Liquor Law" and as the correspondence
has been mostly one-sided, we have been
charged with an adherance to the Tempe
rance party-opposed to the other side, &c.
That our views may be fully understood
upon this important question, we will here
make them known, frankly and fearlessly.
We have never recognized Temperance
party-we know of none; nor would we
approve of such party. We are not even
members of temperance society; yet, we
highly appreciate and approve the efforts
made. throughout our wide spread coun-
try, for the promotion of that great and
good cause.-the cause of temperance
the cause of humanity. We would be
recreant to our very nature were we 9TH
crwise.
Who hath not seen the blight and mil
dew that follows in the path of intempel-
ance? Who hath not felt the sting of the
serpent in his bosom,-ether of himself
or on account Of some erring one of his
family or friends? Who hath not witnes :
cd scenes causing his very heart to bleed
from every pore, AMI yearn with intensity
over poor, degraded, fallen humanity p
Who hath not beheld this demon, intem-
perance, stalking abroad in our community
at noon-day, and revelling in the midnight
darkness, withcring the prospects of bud
ding manhood, blasting the characters of
our fellow men, and spreading misery and
desolation throughout the land Answer
these questions, and then say will you lond
o hand to stay the torrent. or uplift the
gates of destruction and sweep from the
Garth your fellow men? Go with us but
few doors from our sanctunl, and We will
show you neat little white cottage, now
occupied by happy temperance family,
which but few years agonc was owned
and occupied by another equally happy
But, alas the serpent beguilcd that man,
and when last heard from he was beggar,
from door to door, in neighboring city.
A few steps further, and we see that old
dillapidatcd, rickety shanty, whose cogno-
men for quarter of century or more
bespeaks its history, and upon whose very
threshold the curse of an offended God
seems to have long since been pronounced
Look into the door therof for minute
does not your heart sicken at the scene.
See those poor representatives of humani-
ty, with scarce raiment sufficient to hide
their shame See those little unoifending
offspring of misery and want, lowering over
the dying embers on that broken hearth
hear their cries for bread Docs not your
heart sicken? Open the doors of the old
cupboard in the corner,-throw back the
lid of that old timc-worn chest, and see
the cause of all this misery and woe =
Those black jugs will tell the tale,---from
thence flows the chalice whence all these
evils sprang,-it is the chalice that has
passed to the lips Of thousands, cen in
higher life, and brought them too often to
taste the bitter cup of want Poor fallen
humanity I'VE sympathize with you,-
we deeply deplore your fate !! But so long
as good citizens will endorse for him, your
conqueror, we may expect just such cxhi-
btions as is here manifested.
Go with us little further on, and we
arrive at the gates of the charnel house,
where reposo the remains of hundreds who
have once filed the places we now occupy.
We will not disturb the dead-"peace to
their ashes, but allow us to call your
attention for moment to the vast number
of graves that have here found occupants
Mt an earlier day than would have been
the case, but for this curse of mankind,-
this life destroyer-RUM! See that green