Smyrna times., 1855-12-26
A Speech by a Drunkard.
SUBJECT: MORAL sUAsIoN.

We learn from the London Empire, that a
hapless slave Of Intemperance lately found his
way into Temperance meeting, while one of
the speakers was expatiating upon the effects
of moral SudsiOn on drunkards. The poor in
ebrate broke in upon the speaker, and deliver
ed himself of the following outburst of feeling.
Of course we do not cite his words to prove the
absolute inutility Of moral suasion, for that
agency has called even Prohibition into exist
ence; but to show that mere moral SuaSiOm is
of itself ina lequate. The lnebriate spoke out
abruptly as follows:
"' Moral suasion to drunkardS it's no use,
and it's worse than no use. | know it. | tell
you | am one of 'em. | am, | am, and
know
The whole room was startled into perfect
silence. In the pause the very fire seemed to
hold its breath.
I've been a drunkard these ten years. You
know it. You've seen me lOatng about your
streets ten years, and you've had a chance to
| try your moral suaslon. And | amt the only
chance, God knows. Yes, and you've tried il
too. You know used to want to knock you
off. You haven't failed to say kind words, and
try your suasion. You all try it. The very
man that sells me rum, says, when he pours me
out glass, Come, come, Jerry, you'd better
not drink any more"
His profanity was terrible but the equally
terrible earnestness of his speech suffered moi
even the chairman to reprove it.
'Yuu think drunkard needs persuading.-
There's not a drunkard ia the country that
worth saving whe doesn't wish, two hours ou
of three, every day of his life, that he coulC
knock of. They've got moral suasiOn. Wha
they want is help, help, God, God, help, force
force to back it up
You've seen me-you see me every day sit
J ting around-loaing. You've thought Nv,
E been asleep, thinking of nothing. Outside I've
been dead as heap of ashes, inside I've beeI
afire.'
when a mans a-gOing to sell himself t,
: the devil, cool and easy-money down-an,
= wants to drive a. sharp bargain, like your rum
sellers it may do to talk of moral suasion T.
him. But when the DEVILS caught a careles
fellow-and's got him tight in his clutches
as he holds US, and we writhing and squirming
d then when you come along and think we nee
s moral suasion to get us away, you're fools. An
: with some of you, it's worse than that. Som
:. of you know better, and when you say 60 an
u quote Scripture TO it, you're FOOLS | can Sc
you're making DEVILS speeches, and | believ
e the Lords sharper sighted than am. If
q pays attention to what goes on in temperanc
. meeting, he'll settle your arguments one
: these days. II God ever lets anything int
e hell it will be rumselling. There'll be no la
e again that business there, tell you. Th
g, devil knows what'll pay for licensing as We
IS as you. But you 60 on selling liquor, and tai
= ing about moral suasion. Good God, if an,
u body needs it, it is your preachers, who daren
Oh preach rum down, and your deacons who quo
a. scripture like DEVILS concordance
'e Can it be possible that professed friends
Temperance, but opponents of Prohibition, ca
s, read this powerful appeal from the drunka
s himself and not deduce the moral!