The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-05-05

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at the same hour the church is open, and
both the grog seller aud the grog drinker
very often stay away from the place where
the word of God is announced according to
eternal truth. The church is not place
that has much attraction for either. Like
the deaf asp they stop their ears against that
word, lest they should be obliged to hear tho
unpleasant tidngs, that 'the drunkard shall
not inherit the Kingdom ofGod"
Even when tie one or the other ventures
to come to hear sermon he comes preinds-
posed against it. His mind has lost its ma
tural power Of perception. 1t has become
bluntcd or benumbed like a frozen limb, no
longer sensible to the cold. 1t has become
spiritually blind, his bcsotted heart has be-
come SO hardened that to preach to him is
like the sowcr, casting his seed upon tho
beaten highway or upon the barren rock
or as Dickey Allen used to say-"lt is like
! throwing water on n goose's back" ! am
therefore constrained TO ask YOU again, what
shall be the remedy.
Well shall be told perhaps, ,-"why don't
you form temperance societies, and try what
that will do, without recurring to the cocr-
cievc dcspotc measure Of the Maine Liquor
law so inconsistent with our democratic insti-
tutions = To this would reply-it is now
too late in the day to press on us the objcc-
ton. Never did a moral remedy get farer
or better trial than the temperance Socie.
ties. For almost half century, the voice of
the temperance preachers has rung through
the length and bredth of the land The tenn
perancc cause has employed the highest tai
ent in the Xn pulpit Men now grown ven
cradle in years and virtue have devoted u
whole life to it. Father Mathews name is
Of worldwide celebrity, and he was not left
alone in his incXhaustiblc zeal and ndcfati-
| gable labors. He has had multitude Of
/ followers and imitators. lie has, no doubt,
done much in his day not only for his own,
/ but even other countries, and it was hoped
before the going down of his sun, land Of
temperance and people Of STEADY habits"
would have gladdened hi, humane and char
liable heart and made his old age pleasant.
But is il so, my friends: You know it is
not. Why the very people he most loved
and most labored for, who vcnerated his
name and followed him by the thousand,
/ who took his pledge and wore his badge and
swoI iealty to his banncr-haye abandoned
| him and turned their back on his colours,
and walked over to the standard Of his en-
| emv-the bloatcd Bacchus. His eXtraor-
| dinary love for his countrylnon brought him
across the broad wave Of the Atlantic, and
! old and in feeble health though he was.
made him forget his infirmties, to traverse
/ the great west, north and south, that hc
might visit them, and talk to them and by
the sweet persuasive JUNCTION of his well.
[ known voice win them back to the broken
[ plelgc,-to the course they had so shame
fully abandoned But what did he gain by
all his labors Of lovcg Why this-notori-
Gus this-that his Irish children in Amer-
ca are, this very day, among the warmest
friends, the boldest advocates of the Liquor
traffic aud the most clamOrous worshippers of
the demon Of fintempcrancc Thus the trial
of Temperance Associations and total alb
sti1ence Societic. vigorously and pertina-
ciOusly followed up for half century, on
both hcmispheres, and by men whose like
we are not soon to meet again, is confessed
ly a failure-a total failure. His satanic
majesty has been too strong for us all, and
laughing and jecring at our disconnected
looks, still drives his furious coach and six
through all our Temperance constitutions
and total abstenance Associations Ii is use
less to 90 on that track any longer. We
must, without giving up to despair, adopt
! some other remedy and! know no better, than
to try what virtue there is in the Maine Lii
quor Law, as adapted to the Western prairie.
Yet, my friends, there is something grand,
something even sublime in the scene about
to be introduced, the drama to be acted.
\ great sovereign state OF the great Rcpub-
lie Of America is going to speak upon a great
subject. Let there be silence in the land till
that word is spoken. The vote of the FREQ
people Of the state Of Illinois is called for,
and about to be expressed in way that
must be decisive Of a great qucstion,-a
practical question, that comes home to eve
ry tire-sidc in the land aud pronounce upon
the moral and physical future Of millions yet
unborn. For heavens sake let every man
study to do his duty, and do il conscientious
ly. 1t isa matter of conscience, in which
Gods own law, is at stake-for honor or
dishonor If the law succeeds by receiving
I the support of the ma jority,-(and q why
shouldn't i. y we my look forward to bet
ter times, and join in the chorus---"a good
time coming'-wc may confidently expect
better state Of society, a better state Of NOR
ais public and private, thanwe have ever yet
experienced in the west. Urbanity shall
take the place Of rudcncss and vulgarity-
Friendship and peace shall reign where strife
and riot divide the frcnzcd multitude. Do
mestic happiness shall revisit the long neg.
lected homestead. Love and plenty shall
squalid wretchedness and ragged despair.
The jails shall soon be tenantlcss, the coun-
ty tax press lightly on the farmer and me.
chanic. The orphan and widows ssylums
shall be easily furnished. The churches
shall be filled with pcople,-a moral and
religious people and God shall find adorcrs
to adore him in spirit and in truth. can
, conceive but one or two inconvenience to
result from it. 1t may inurc the practice Of
the lawyers, because it will surely remove
! one of the most fruitful causes of litigation.
1t will injurc the practice OF the medical pro-
fcssion because temperance is always an an
tidotc OF disease and promoter Of health
andongevity. 1t will also and surely inter-
ferc with a certain department in architec-
tural developmcnt-the construction OF tho
calabooses, the scalold and the gaows.--
But, friends, do not grieve for that because
instead of the low, damp cellar, the rickety
garret, the low thatched cabin, or the Graz
cd shanty, you shall be employed in tho
erection Of mansions and Of homes worthy of
the reception and entertainment of ''tho
Lords of creation"
Well, my friends, although have spoken
perhaps too long, abusing your kindness and
patience, | have given you but birds eye
view Of the subject. Indeed have not had
time to consider with that degree of pro-
foandnesS and comprohensiveness the sub
jcct deserves. But what | have said, it
would be difficult TO refuge. have, indeed,
other views to put forth on the subject,
more in accordance with my sentiments and
habits of thought and life, moral and re.
lgious views, which | have no time this
evening even to glance at and which in my
mind far outweigh every view Of the matter;
for tar as the heavens are above the earth, so
far arc immortal souls superior to those of
flesh; for what doth it profit man to
gain the whole world ard lose his own
souls ?"
However in conclusion, take occasion to
declare myself the friend of the liquor law,
and I do hope that all those who have any
confidence in me, or respect my opinions or
my teachings will follow my example, or at