The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-09-08
Communication.

FRIEND SLATER:
| would that knew by what means
| could reach the hearts, and stir up
the latent interest of that portion Of
our community called moral men, in
regard to the Temperance cause.
Now, there is an effort needed, and
that at the present time, and unless
that effort is made and carried tbro'
to completion, the cause of Temper
ance in our village is dead. And
who is there of our citizens bur would
be sorry to see Winchester without a
Temperance order of some kind 7 |
think if they will but look calmly at
this, that they will be compelled to
admit that this state of things should
be avoided, and that to avoid this end
it is but their right, and a duty they
owe to their families and their coun-
try, to assist and promote the cause OF
Temperance in their midst.
We, as community, should look
to this thing. We have two fine
schools in our midst, and number of
the young ladies must needs cross the
square in going to and from school,
Now it very often happens that in
their walks they have to pass around
a crowd of drunken men, and are
compelled to hear the oaths and Oh.
scene language that falls from the
poor inebriatc-this cannot always
be avoided. 'Tis true we have a
Constable, whose duty it is to attend
to such men, and he does perform his
duty as well as we'll as any on, per-
haps to be found Just such instan-
ces arc often seen. Now all are rea-
dy, with one voice, to say that this
state Of things should not be, but
yet take no further actions in the mat
ter, and just as long as our moral
men, and men Of standing in society.
stand aloof with their arms folded,
and take no active part in the work,
just so long will the cause OF Tenn
| perance languish.
Another great evil, in my opinion,
is the sanction, as it were, by our citi-
zens, of the younger portion of our
town visiting and frequenting daily
the grog shops of our town. Time
was once when young man would
think he was disgraced in the eyes of
the community if he was seen going
to the doggery regularly two or three
times day for the poisonous drug
But now they can walk boldly into
these places, and come out with a
bold countenance, as if they had just
been inside the walls dedicated to
prayer and thanksgiving, and not on.
y this, but further-there are men in
our midst that can, on Saturday night
take solemn obligation never to use
or countenance, in any manner, the
sale and use of intoxicating drinks,
and on Monday morning they may be
seen going into the dram shop and
calling for that which ruins both soul
and body. This you all know to be
so Now, is this to continue or not.
| Will you, who are middle.aged or old,
utter no warning, no aiding voice,
sound no alarm, raise no banner of
Truth, Virtue and Temperance, un.
der which those who would fy from
distractions path, may enlist and
stand once more erect in all the glori,
Gus freedom ofthe Temperance causel
The great question to be decided by
our citizens now is, shall we have a
Temperance order or mott If you say
yes, will you Immediately use your
influence directly, and indirectly. f's
the building up and sustainsnee ofine
orderl And will you use all Jour IN