The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-06-21

| Tag OF truth, to enter into negotiation with
them. He represented to them the evils to
which they would inevitably be subjected,
If they attempted to disclaim oil allegiance
to their sovereign, as by such step he would
be ultimately banished from the land, and
then, when oppressed with ennui, or Ian
gushing with sickness, they would be una
BILE to obtain services of him who had been
their unfailng panacea, concentrating in his
person all the virtues said to be contained in
the most celebrated patent medicines ever
invented, and surely they would not think
Of committing so sacrcligious an act as to
excommunicatc him from the place where,
disguised in ecclesiastical robes, he had so
long presided with impunity. But inter-
posed Humanity, shall we continue to foster
in our bosoms this wolf in sleeps clothing,
this merciless tyrant who has desimanated
the inhabitants of cities, towns and villages,
who has reduced thousands to widowhood,
and orphanage, caused more misery than
famine, more desolation than pestilence,
more blood-shed than war? But alas the
voice of Humanity was stihed amid the vo-
cierous appeals of Appetite. A compromise
was agreed to, in which the despot was no
longer to sway the scepter of absolute, but
confne his power to limited monarchy, and
in return they were to cooperate with Self
Interest in perpetuating his dynasty. Again
hope sank within me and | inquired despond-
ingly: Will this great mountain ever become
a plain? Nay, answered Incredulity, the
maidstone thereof is too deeply ilnbeded in
that degenerating soil, ever to be brought
forth and reinstated on the rock of wisdom,
sobriety and virtue. But while she was yet
speaking, I heard a loud voice exclaming:
"Who art thou, o great mountain? Before
the cold water army thou shalt become a
plain, and the maidstone thereof shall be
brought forth with shoutings, crying grace,
grace unto it. Looking in the direction
whence the sound proceeded, saw a small
band Of volunteers approaching, small
at first, but gathering strength at every step,
their beautiful arnor glittering in the rays of
the sun, which consisted Of the helmet of
Faith, the breast-plate Of Charity, the sword
Truth, and over t.leir heads floated snow
white bonner with the simple inscription /:
+" Total Abstinence"
They came with music, with songs, and
drew up in order of battle along the side
Of the mountain; yet then, notwithstaud-
ing their infe,iority Of numbers, they welded
the sword of truth with such surprising
deXterity, that the army coll .cted under the
immediate command of King Alcohol, though
100000 strong soon began to give way, lay
ing down their arms and focking by hun
dreds to the standard of total abstinance.-
Atlength his majesty finding himself nearly
deserted, fed for succor to the detachment
commanded by SelfInterest, who unable
longer to maintain the contest, openly retreat
ed with him to the inmost recesses of their
caves, where they were so hotly beseiged by
the assailants, that they surrendered at dis
cretion. Then was the dwarf SelfInterest
quickly expelled from their premises, Alcohol
commanded to be abandoned, or committed
to the flames, and over the place where the
voices Of his attendants had been loudest
heard peace spread her downy wings, the
mountain melted into delightful plain, and
became the abode of JOY and gadness, and
the head-stone thereof was brought forth
amid universal pean which burst simulta-
neously from the redeemed multitude, and
the cry of grace, grace unto it.
ALTON, Iowa, May 1860.