Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-02-14
For the Mineral Point Tribune.
TIE LIQUOR Traffic.

Perhaps at time in the previous history of
the United States has this traffic assumed great
a prominence indeed the business OF trading in
the lives and fortunes of the community, and
spreading broad cast over our land. wretchedness
misery and misfortune, appears to have become
one of the most common and ordinary CONNER
cal Transactions
With the increase of this traffic, crime of every
shade and degree, has kept and is still keeping
equal pace and lis rightful shadow darkens the
threshold of many home.
In $40 aud II whirlwind of reform swept
from end Of the Union to the other, and its in
fuence was felt in Inc Canadas and "A the islands
contiguous to our coast.
SIX poor and despiseJ Undertakes, rejecting upon
their miserable and forlorn condition, resolved TO
reform, and for this purpose organized themselves
into Temperance Society, having for its basis,
the principle of to.al abstinence from all that ntox
icates.
For the first time in the history Of the Temper
ance reformation, the axe was laid at the root of
the tree, ard the effect was miraculous.
Having assumed the name of Washingtonians,
they commenced holding meetings in the city of
Baltimore. and like the Jews of cid, the people
foclyed to the Temple to witness the wonders that
had been wrought in their midst.
The news Travelled with electric speed and in
vitations poured in upon them from all parts Of
the Union, that they would visit their states. towns
and cities and proclaim them the secret of their
reformation. They commenced their pilgrimage
visiting almost every city in the country, admin
;.o-i,r r. ,uear ~ al tbc,capAs -ba eoc-er f ,ba;r
success and reformation. in the shape of pledge
of total abstinence from all that intoxicates-
Hundreds of thousands Joined their standard and
became the advocates of their principles, and so
great was the popular excitement that not to be a
Washng.onian was considered an evidence of hos
tility to the temperance cause.
So long as the novelty lasted the effect was ire
nendous. a grea, discovery had been rnade, the
ayuatqrd could be reformed, and the community
were satisfied that in order to destroy the evil
you must reform the iaehFiate To effect this OBJ
ject the secret order of the SoSs OF TEypERAScE
established, and did much towards the reform
alton of those who had long been estranged from
sobriety and virtue.
But as the excitement died. so died away, in
great measure, the interest and the efforts of the
friends Of temperance and we are this day wit,
Messing and experiencing reaction, that equals
II 1t does not surpass the excitement that prece-
del it
Truly the dog has returned 10 his vomit again.
and the SOW TO her wallowiag in the mire." for Ii
quordrinling and liquor selling has again become
the order of the day. The liquid waters of dis
titled damnaton still ceaselessly pour their fiery
and desola.ing tide in every city. town and village
of our State, dispensing poverty and ruin, while
crime, It's legitimate offspring with fearful and
portentous mien stalks thro' the land-thefs, rob,
berries AID murders. with a host Of lesser evils.
marking its desolating track
In view of the great and rapid strides that this
giant vice Is making in our midst, it becomes i'm
pcratively necessary that we should east about us
for something that viii stay its destructive march
and forever fee us from the evils that accompany
it and It's legitimate fruits
True as the principle Of Total Abstinence is
we require something more than the theory. We
need It's practical aud efficient application IN the
shape of the Maiae Liquor La,c This alone will
serve US. this alone will free US from the HYDRA
headed monster that now threatens our peace. this
alone IS TIE remedy that is equal to the disease
and we must adopt il, and administer It, if we
would Tree ourselves from ore Of the most disgust
ing and bru'alzing vices that disgrace our race.
Something must be done aud that right earlv.-
the frigatful records of crime with which the
newspapers of the land TEEN. proclaim the neces
sity Of ACTION. Tie rapid Increase Of Grog Shops.
and the consequent increase of drunkenness and
debauchery in our town, cautions US that we must
be up and doing.
Already have Michigan and Minnesota. by the
voice OF their people, declared that liquor seli>
ing shall no longer be tolerated with impunitv
within their borders Iowa and Illinois have like
wise taken the preliminary steps-their legisla
lures submitting to the people at their next cleo
tons The rejection or adoption of the Maine Law
or law similar to II. and then if we have not al
ready endorsed the provisions of such law. we
shall be forced to it in sefdefence for surrounded
upon all sides with Maine Law States. Wisconsin
will become the asyItn of crime and the paradise
Of grog sellers.
Let rs then be NJ and doing-let rs work while
It is day, " for the night cometh in which no man
an work, aye, the night OF misfortune, misery
despair desoIaton and crime The night of Ta.enl-
peraHee IS upon us-is dark shadows already firing
ing the horizon, viii ere long overspread our po-
l.tica and social heavens; then will our liberties
civil and religious sink into that dark and gloomy
abyss. the DRUNKARD's GRAVE!
EERITAS
E-zrsssire Folly IN a BisHo0-The newly inJuc
ted Bishop Potter. having chance TO lie: Off 2
speech before some Church Dignitaries in C,pal,
freed himself ia this very reprchcnsfble strain
Much has been said about American feeling
and American sentiment 10 regard 10 the war
but he 1ud tell his ordsh.p that if the pen,la Of
Canada wished TO understand the public sentj>
ment OF the country. they must not search for II