Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-06-01
Moral Sua sion.

is making a speech on
Moral Suasion.
"IIo thought that the only means was
moral suaslon; every man should eudeavor
to persuade his neighbor to be temperate
moderate"
81 LA ha ha !" laughed n wild voice
" | say, Deacon, who did you ever persuade,
eh Z"
81 have the floor believe" said the
Deacon.
"Ha! la Ia who now? Tell us"
Please address the Chair" interposed
the moderator tapping that article of furni-
ture on the arm.
81 tell YOU" cried the wild voice, in still
wilder tones, with no laughter now, but with
terrible earnesinoss, :" | tell you the man
that talks about moral suasion TO sots and
dfunkards IS fool"
The whole room huzzcs with astonshment.
- Is fool" the voice repeats.
The speaker rose. lie stood somewhat
unsteadily, leaning now back against the
wall, and now reaching forward in the em-
phasis of his uilerance, and leaning half
over the desk before BIN. Ills dress was
very poor, his hair dishevced and matted,
and the Deacon, turning round to see him,
recognized the red noscd man he had often
met enjoying the hospitality of Gregory Do
noes store. The Deacon said nothing, but
he turned upon the assembly mild but i'm
partial look, that seemed to sum up concise
iy the law upon disturbances of religious
meetings, and TO express the opinion that n
fellow who would put out a Deacon, ought
to be summaflly put out himself.
Moral suasion TO daunkards it's no use,
and IT'S worse than no use. Ikncw IT,
tell you ! am one Of 'unL | am, by the Al
mighty God ! am. And | KNOW
The whole room is startled into perfect
silence. In the pause, the very fire seems
to hold its breath
I've been drunkard these ten years. -
You know il. You've seen me loaiinr a.
bout your streets ten years, and you've had a
chance TO try your moral sulsion-and |
aint the only chance, God knows. Yes. and
you've tried il. too. You know | used to
want to knock Off You haven't failed to saw
kind words, and try your suason You all
try 1t BY G., the very man that sells me
rum, says, when he pours me out glass
Come, come, JerTyi you'd better not drink
any more"
His profanity was terrible, but the equally
terrible earnesiness of his speech suffered
not even the Deacon to reprove it.
You think a drunkard needs porsuadine.
There's not drunkard IN The State-that's
worth saving--.who doesn't wish, two hours
on; of three, every day of his life, that he
could knock of, They've got moral suason.
What they want is help help Good God
HELP !-roRcE FoRcEl to back ii up.
" ou've seen me--you see me every dav
sitting round-loafng. You thought I've
been asleep, thinking of nothing. Outside
I've been dead as heap OF ashes. Inside.
I've been attire
When mans going to sell himselfto
the devil, cool and easy-money down-end
wants 10 drive a sharp bargain, like your
run-selers, It may do TO talk moral suasion
10 him. But when the DEVILS coueht a care
less iellow-and's got him tight IN his clut>
ches-ss he holds us, and we writing and
squirming, then when you come along and
think We need moral suasion TO get us away.
you're fools. And with some of Won ~
worse'n that. Some Of You knois Leiler. and
when you say SO, and quote Scripture TO il.
you're damned fools. can see you're max.
ing the devils speeches, aud believe the
Lords sharper sighted thru | am. If he
pays any attention TO what goes on in a
temperance meeting, he'll settle your argu-
ments one of these days. II God ever let's
anything earthly into hell, i'll be rum SELL
ing. There'll be no law agin' that business
there, tell you. The devil knows what'll
/ pay Tor licensing, as well as you do. But
! you go on selling liquor, and talking about
hloiai snasion. Moral suasion! Good God
any BODY needs It, its your ministers who
usrsnt preach rum down, and your deacons
who quote Scripture like devils concord.
ance."
Happily there are but few Deacon Flick
SONS IN these days. We commend III.
above extract TO the Patriot, and all o,he
rum-hole organs, and to the liquor dealers
whose tools they are. They can here re,
what the unfortunate victims Of rum tbipl
of them, aud Of their business.