The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-02-03
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1853

ing genius of the dark abodes address
ed his audience. He represented to
them the then existing state of the hu-
man race. Man had fallen from his
first estate through the wiles of the
great Deceiver, and as his hearers well
knew, he and his faithful allies were still
doing much to prevent mans restoration
to holiness and happiness. But He, the
Prince of darkness, regretted that the
plans devised by Jehovah to bring NOR
tails back to their allegiance to himself,
were producing too great an effect, and
unless some new grand scheme was con.
cocted to defeat these plans. he feared
the Internal Regions would never be
peopled BY the Inhabitants of Earth
He concluded by declaring that whoever
of his subjects should invent a plan
which should be most effeotual in lead
ing mortals to his dominions, should
receive the highest place next his own.
in his kingdom. He appointed given
time in which each should try his skill,
and at the end of that time they should
meet again and state the result of their
efforts.
The assembly dispersed, and each re-
solved to win the post of honor. The
time rolled round, and again black spir-
its, blue spirits and grey, mingled in
council. Something had been done, if
we might judge by the air of exultation
and earnestness with which they re-
counted their exploits, but their labors
had been desultory. No great scheme
was presented, which would operate
generally, and which was able of itself
to carry it's influence onward for ages to
come. One of their number named
Bacchus, listened with eagerness to the
recital of his fellows and when all had
finished, he sprang up, and drawing
from beneath the sleeps clothing which
disguised his wol6sh nature, a flask oi
sparkling fluid he shouted, "Eureka, l
have found it," He then proceeded to
recount the wonders accomplished by
his discovery. 1t was calculated in its
nature to take away reason, which had
been given to man for guide, and rem.
der him incapable of resisting evil. II
suited his depraved appetite and few
were found able to overcome their incli.
nation to partake of it, when for while
their taste had been indulged.
He had given it to men as they sal
around the social board, and cheerful
wit and innocent mirth were changed to
the obscene jest, and wild, riotous revel.
ing. They laid aside their manhood
and morality, and were guilty Of excess
es from which in their sane moments
they would recoil with horror. He
tried it in the domestic circle, that sane
tuary of love, and the husband and faith.
err, forgot the vows which were upon
him, regarded no more the companion
of his youth, and made his children
worse than fatherless. The mother who
had partaken too freely of the fatal cup
cast off her tenderness, neglected the
little ones committed to her care, and
forgot the most helpless of her flock
The children thus deserted, grew up te
infamy and shame, fit tools to execute
all manner of evil. Judges of equity
and expounders of the law, imbibed the
poison and Justice turned away back.
ward, and the people mourned. Il
found its way to the courts of kings
entered the council chambers of princes
and invaded the halls of Legislation O
the free. There, it lit the flames o.
war, turned the counsel of the wise tc
foolishness, gave instability to politica
action and nations reeled to and fro like
drunken men. .... .........
No place was sacred from its intru
sion. It passed the lips of the watch
man on the walls of Zion and he blew nc
more the Gospel trumpet, or, more than
silent, it gave an uncertain sound.
The hearer of the word drank of it.
and when the ambassador of God reas
oned of Temperance, of Righteousness
and a judgement to come, his mora
sensibilities were blunted, his heart was
steeled against the truth, and the sword
Of the Spirit fell powerless.
The magic drink was perversion Of
the choicest blessings, and was produc.
ed from the most delicious fruits and
nutricious grains. 1t was falsely called
a creature Of God, and many who would
have spurned it from them had they sus.
pected its true origin. accepted it as a
gift from Heaven.
A crowning merit Of this discovery
was, that this engine of evil possessed a
self-sustaining power. Itsprogress would
be ever onward and downward. It ap-
pealed to the Avarice and Appetites Of
men, and they We'd with each other in
the manufacture, sale, and use, of the
liquid ruin. Thus man was made his
own destroyer.
"Enough-enough." cried the cloven
footed King Of the Internal Regions
"EnoagA-enough." echoed through all
the vaults of the dark abodes. The
Ne plus ultra of devilish ingenuity was
gained. Bacchus had won the prize
and from that time until now, the rosy
God has been Prime Minister to his
Satanic Majesty. and called by Mortals,
the God Of Wine.
We have digressed widely, but per
haps no apology is necessary. for no one
expects woman to talk long about any
thing without DEPRESSING. We were
to give history of the Temperance
cause in this place, but have wandered
away to the origin of Intemperance.
The first ingress of the whites into
this Western country, inaugurated the
liquor traffic. The pale face made gaiu
of his red brothers vice and ignorance,
by selling him the 6re-water which he
loved, and Indian trading houses were
the first signs of approaching civiliza'
ton. 1t is general remark that where
ever Indians have access to white men,
thew hecomn mora villa and daUradod