Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-12-03
For the Chronicle. I

iC"PtiabSC " VIC OhC VI h'Au'S II
one against which every lover of his couu-
try. and every friend of humanity should
raise his warning voice, we would most
heartily indulge 4 few remarks in reference
tn this subject. If we can say anything
through the public print that will better
the condition OF those who suffer fran the
effects Of the evil; We vii be amply re-
~arded fer our humble effort. Fur the
present We shall rot %confEe our remarks to
any particular legality, but will speak in
general terms OF the enormily Of this des-
troyer.
1t is a Ianentabie fact that the sin Of in
temperance exists among US as a nation.
And as & people tina; are blessed with the
Bible; and with civil and religious ~inslitu-
tions, amid the light OF the nineteenth cen
fury, we find many of our citizens debasing
themselves By the excessive Use o. Alcoholic
liquors.
When we reflect upon the sufferings and
privations which cur Ancestors endured to
purchase the Liberties that VI now enjoy,
we are panied to see those liberties So light
" esteemed. Almost daily We hear OF
crimes of the most revolving character,
which in a majority of cases have their
0 iein in the use CT rum. 1t has slain thou
sands, and viii continue to do So, while time
exists, unless there is a mighty ~exertion On
the part Of the friends Of Temperance to
arrest the monster; and save, the multitude
from is destructive Influence. How FERRY
hsarjs have been made desolate-how maEy
children have become Iphans-how many
husbands and wives have tUand an unlimely
grave at the hand OF this destroying evil.
See the young man that has formed intern
perate habits, he SETS cut upon the rough
sea Of life buoyant with hope and expecia-
zion, but alas! for him, his hopes are soon
blasted, and his expectations are soon cut
of, his evil habits formed in youth prove his
utter ruin, and lasting disgrace. His fraii
bark is soon wrecked upon the rock ofintem-
p%erance, and he is lost beyond redemption.
Friends of temperance can we not do
s2meting to arrest the flood OF evil arising
from This fountain of corruption! at must be
a source of regret and affiict;cn to all good
men, to observe the extensive patronage
which this parent vice efjoys in almost
every con munity, and the blighting infu-
ence it is daily exertiug, especially upon the
yonrg men of ou= country: hundreds of whom
becoming yearly the victims OF intemper-
ance, are robbed ofiheir manhood and utterly
disqualified for their position, and RESPONSE
bilities as members of a free State TO say
nothing o. the mora. ruin which is brought
upon themselves here and hereafter, and the
contagion of their example corrnptng the
character and bIastin. the hopes of many
others. In view of these deplorable facts,
we think the present is no lime for ~inac;iop
or graduation over cur past success. Eigor-
Gus efforts are now imperatively demanded
to maintain and promote the prosperity OF
the Temderance movement. The moment
of repose and inaction, will out prove the
signal for our disheartened foes ts rally their
scattered forces, and with their united coun-
sels, and efforts crush the temperance re-
form. pnd re-establish the reign OF Alcohol.
We lock with the greatest favor upon every
effort which seeks to abolish the liquor
trgffic b. legal cnactments, and We believe
this to be the most e%ffectual remedy for the
care Of this enormous evil. We are aware
that alian we come to speak of abulishing
the liquor traffic by law. we tread uppr. the
toes OF the monster, ard his agents are
ready tp'.oPpoSe US at every point. VIII skey
has become une of the leading articles OF
merchandise in many # our large cities, and
is manufactured aud scattered broadcast all
over our country. en- its mission of de ath.
There is a host OF the friends of whiSkey
among Us, who are ready to manufac ture it,
engage in it as an article of profit. and drink
it to excess; yea, many have INDUCED il its
u-e rs a beverage, till they have ruined
themselves, their families and friends, and
have eoae down to drunkard's grave COW
cred with infamy, and disgrace. Could the
unwriiten history ofrum's doings be brought
to !ight-could the sufFerings OF innocent
children, whose fathers and mothers have
been besCtted by rum. be witnessed by those
who have hears 10 feel, no power under
heaven would stay The spontaneous prompt
ings Of all such to destroy the cause OF SO
much misery. Could the aggregate of such
sulferings be conceived by The human imagi.
nation, and believed to be reality, no law,
however. much respected,-no pc ice force,
however powetiu.-could prevent the at
tempt to save the starving, suffering, bleed.
i.r t,rtat apd i,r,oont pGSpr;ur II
the victims of the rum traffic" Place in
the opposite scale the commerce., the trade,
the demand for building, and the employ
ment furnished by the rum traffic, which
grows out of the misunderstanding bust
ness, and ask for the sake of these Interests
that thousands of other Children may be al
lowed 10 grow up in vice and ignorance, 20
be abused and starved, and robbed OF every
blessing connected legitimately with their
existance, and these men would not be in
famed by any such considerations to. stay
their hands until the demon rum is annihil-
ated. Never has there been a time when
the true friends o! the temperance re-
form, hal more need of a close union of sen.
timent, and determination. than the present.
The mighty truth is manifest, that legis-
lative prohibition, or strong legislative re-
s~triciion looking 10 ultimate, and speedy
humiliation OF the obominable traffic, is the
only sure, and certain remedy for the pre-
vailiDg drunkenness, and its manifold mis-
cries and horrors. JUNIUs.
SEwELLsvILLE, Nov. &c. 1857.
GTln this Misunderstanding age, it