Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-08-07
Gyen!geranee Gssag.
AN ADDRESS
TO
THE PEOPLE OF YORK DISTRICT,
on TIE OBJECTS &C.; OF TIE
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.

FELLOW CITIZENS -
We address you by instruction and
authority of the York Division Of the Sons
of Temperance. The objects of the society,
and the duty of the christian, the moral
man, the good citizen and lover of his coun-
try in reference thereto, will constitute our
topics. The objects of the organization are
readily expressed in a few general PROPOSE,
tions. They are, to encourage each other
in total abstinence from intoxicating drinks
to reclaim the drunkard-to suppress by
counsel and example all drunkenness in the
land-to work for the eradication of all those
conducements,. by which intemperance is
sustained and promoted, and thus by Deces-
sary consequence promote the best interests
of our people, and advance the welfare of
our State
The first consideration isis the use of
alcoholic drinks an evil in our land? Who
will stand up and affirm that it is not-is
not mighty evil, the greatest of all the So
cial evils, which pollute our homes, and de-
file our country? Gowhcre you may-wan-
der where you will-whether to the ballot
box, in the discharge of your duty as 4 citizen
of this free republic-or to the field of mill
tary parade-or to the indispensable sale of
the effects of a ncighbor, whose place on
earth shall know him no morc-or to any
point of business or of plcasure-or even to
the sanctuary,of God, what fear broods over
your lnind-what evil looms up before your
imagination, except the demoniac rawlings
and consequents of the guzZlers of whiS!;ry
and distilled spirits lntcmperance is that
feared evil-the only one usually realized.
Clear Of this blighting curse, our country
would be comparative Eden. Fathers and
mothers could better hope for their sons, and
rest in calmcr security. The patriot could
look forward with greater confidence to a
bright career for his cherished State; and
the christian would cxult in the enlivening
prospect of a glorious ingathering of the
mainly, which crowds your Sessions dock
ets-flls your prisons-supplies your gal
lows-cuts the throats Of your citizens
blights the happiness of the domestic fireside
breaks the hearts of wives and children
and friends-beggars families-sows discord
among neighbors-induces beastlness
duces to almost every other vice-impedes
the progress Of all moral reforms-cripples
the labors of the sanctuary, and robs church,
State and society of what should be man. S
glory, duty, and destiny. 1t is an open,
glaring, widespread, and frightful evil. Ii
there be a single individual within the l.
fines of our district, whose understanding is
perverted, and whose conscience is in such
condition Of obliquity as to doubt the evil
of intemperancc, We tell him, this address
is not designed for him. Such man has
our sympathy, but not that consolation even
implied by a public address.
Admitted then to be an evil, an evil of
deplorable magnitude, should not drunken
ness be opposed, suppressed and rooted out
of the land! Consciencc-your conscience,
reader, returns no uncertain answer. Fur
nished by your Creator with this inward
monitor-this "candle of the Lord" you
reply to the question with full affirmative.
No honest man can claim the privilege, to
compromise with evil. TO seek and affect
the accomplishment of this noble work,
whose is the duty? It is yours as well as
ours. Who permits you to repose at NIcroz
Not He, which has pronounced bitter curse
against those who '.came not to the help OF
the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the
mighty" How and by what means is the
evil to be opposed-abolished? How else
than "with all thy Acort, and with all thy
sail, and with all thy mind"-by your
counsel, influence, example and <uLStonce-
"yea, with what clearing of ourselves, yea,
what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what
revenge "-and with that readiness and
zeal of Phinehas, by which the plague of Is.
rael was stayed. To do less is to triAc with
known duty. He, who knows his Masters
will, and ncglects it, cannot escape with i'm.
punity.
The detail of the means is not yet exhaus
ted. Man is social being, He has to dc
with his fellow-man The evil is abroad in
society. The question here arises, can the
greatest good be accomplished by individual
action, or by combined effort and organiza