The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-03-20
written for the 'sSpirit."]

/ read with pleasure in number of
the Spirit Of Democracy the announce
ment that column of that paper wouldl
be occupied By temperance communiea-
tions. Though j do not besr tho title
Daughter Of Temperance yet / am wiling
to become servant and earnest advo-
cate to the great, eDnobling, and ex.lting.
cause for which they are laboring. Surely
no one can say that it is Improper for
women to enlist and stand forth as cham
pions for the progress of the temperance
cause. when it's ruinous and deadly foe,
like the dreaded Upas, is spreading g'oom,
despair, grief. and desolation over our
otherwise beauteoas lnnd,. sweeping our
brightest ornaments, cur fairestb hopes,
and glowing gems. ia.o the vor:ex of de,
structiou?. Nay, ruined and dssearing
households, weeping, broken hearted 9wos
men and worse than orphaned children,
call loudly to our sleeping energies and
dormant impulses Of sympathy, to arouse
and come to tho rescue All, even some
| of the ric;imised subjects entreat the
friends of humanity to unite their Efforts
to dethronc tho mighty king Of terrors,
Intemperancs, that they may no longer be
enthralled by the magic Of bis powers
which forces them TO love the chains
which bind them in the most cruel slave.
ry, and unwilling sn'jsction. But why
do we call them unwilling subjects? Be,
cause that heartiess degraded specimen
of human nature. the liquor render. forces
them into the insidious wiles of this foe
to happiness, whose system of destruction
and reign Of fatality is extending over
the fairess portions of our. country. -
/ In this case, the barrier is broken
which prevents woman from entering the
arena of worldly strife aud competing
with man for the gifts of star eyed honor,
for who more worthy to have the laurel
wreath bound about their brow, than they
who can obliterate The blighiing curse o!
EintemperaGce? We all have more or less
influence, perhaps silent and unseen, yet
all.powerful in its sTsc.s. Should re hes
itate to use it in abolishing this grca
evil? : If every one would withhold il
what would be the astounding results
Why an Egyptian pail weuld be throw
over everything, and brave men grop'
their way in mortal terror.~ Intelligence
would cease lis power of regeneration
the fascinating beauties Of life would b.
"sicklied DER with a pale cast;"h the crie
of stout men, sobs Of ffail women, ant
t wailings Of starving children wonld as
cend up together; crime would stall
forth from It's dark cells. and the midnigh
air would reseund the cry of murder.
Though our laud is the best aud dear
= lest, one on which beau:eous nature la
5 scattered charming aud magnificent sif,
with lavish hand. yet we have a might
foe to contend With, one more powerful u
conquer than Feudal despo,ism. Roma
= grandeur or Spartan valor. Aud here i
3 the battle field open to women, wher
they may link their destiny to .star-eye,
;. honor, for having suhdued the reiguip,
king Lstemperanee, whose mere name i
| the concentration Gf ten thousand woes
= whose power the transit of Time and III
sceptre of Change have failed to lessen
This foe must be dethrohed,7 before Sou
!. land can be truly called Land OF the fire
Il anc home Of the brave" free from til
: power Of the tcmpter, aud the home c
those who are brave enough to resist a
: : farther encroaehments Of his majesty
j. Oh, if the Hqnor vender could b
o prompted by generous impulse of sou
t to unite his efforts with the champions g
temperance, soon would We have tn
blessed qualification Of beholding the wi
o derness of dissipation bloasoming wit
/ the sweet roses of JOY, and tho star Z
: hope, that life eharmer which was almo.
extinguished by the mists from the ocea
= of sorrow, shedding its pure halo o't
| - = .
}. the desolated homes, around the footster
It of the redeemed asd the diseu,hrallet
r We cannot blame SO much th
young men who have a hereditary appt
2 tite for the favored poison, and have nc
p the moral courage to resist it when place
y to their lips, ss the vendsr of the gres
evil There are young men with "lio
heart and eagle eJe,"' who have faced an
vanquished the enemy, yet their han
o maa, Vsnder, has conquered them, b