The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-03-20
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
by AIruA.

To almost nll men, that state of things under
which they have been used to live. seems the nee
cssary state of things. II they have been used to
seeing men hanged at Tytum, it seems to them
necessary to maintain the majesty Of the law, that
every caught rogue should dunGlc At a ropes end
Ii they have been accustomed to the drsecration
of the Sabbath, they look upon that, as the neces-
sary way Of resting from the tolls and cares Of the
week. II they have grown up surrounded ky
drunkenness and dcbauchcry, they look upon that,
ns the natural state Of society Hence il is thai,
while every body admits that sCcIey has made pro-
gress in the past none, very few seem to reckon
on any improvtm. Mt in the future.
It may bc, society hns seen its best days. II
may be it has eliminated We cannot positively
prove it has not, but we do know, that successive
generations have testified in the same way, and We
do know that spite Of their toreLodings, improve.
mcnts have hccu made
Conduct that al few years go was quite common,
would now shock the senses Of the great majority
of our population IN nothing is all this, more APP
parent, than in the single item Of the vice Of ntem
pcrancc. There is not, probably, man in ton in
our comunics, but will admit its destructive in
| llucncc. Not in fifty that would cone forth
is willing to take the risks of being in all seasons,
persistent, public. and open opponent. Occa-
soually, when it has eliminated in some more than
usually terrible result sociat, grows indignant aud
sets about the abatement ct it's evils, itself in
earnest. Put this is short lived and these for
years engaged in the business know that il they
are patient it will soon pass by. There is nothing
in this world ridiculous rs society in Of is
periodical fits of morality. In the general way
man, or set Of mon, may 60 on for years, sowing
the seeds Of physical and moral disease in cur
midst, ruininG families bcrgaring children, impov-
crishirg ncehbvrhoods, and We pay little or no at
t2nton To it. But" in the language Of another
| ON the same subject, once in six or seven years
our morality gets outrageous. We cannot suffer
| the laws Of religion and decency to be violated
| We must make stand against vice We must
teach those who are Preying upon the public peace
that we appreciate the importance of domestic hap
pincss and prosperity Accordingly scmo man, in
no respect more dcpravcd than hundreds of others
whose offences have been treated with l,ni,y, is
singled out as an cxpiatry sacrifice. The pun
ishncnt mv,cd out To him is severe even to inius-
Hce. lie is made n kind Of whipping boy, by
whose vcarous suferings all the ether offenders ri
lhc same casS are supposed u &c SulhCirntN ChaS-
Used. Ancr while, cur righteous anger is satia-
ted. The unfortunate sinner on whom our wrath
has fallen, is broken Of his business, and quite
humble. We reflect with very great complaccncy
on our own severity, and speak with great uuctior
and pride of the high standard of morals we have
erected and our virtue goes 10 sleep frscycn year,
more ltis quite true, that we all ought to be
guardians of the public morals II is quite true
that intcmperance more than any other one thing
binders the general prevalence Of good morals in a
community. Therefore we ought tc rut down in.
temperance. But it is the testimony Of experience
that these paroSsy sms Of virtue will not Put il
down. This kind gooh not ont but by fasting
and prayer soid the Grca; Teacher ON one occasion
3 to his followers and nemperance will not be put
, down by appeals however urgent, that do not con,
hnue to be made, nor by any action, howeye er right
that is applied by fits and starts. There must b.
one weight, and one measure. Public opinion i,
against intemperancc There is q certain amoun
OF disgrace attaching to every man whose bushes.
1t is 10 make men mcbria,cS. But the mistor,uu
is, 1t is not directed against them and their buJi
ness, uniformly, steadily, and tempentcly, an,
therefore is directed against them alpost in vain,
D Mons ANoN.