American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-08-16
COMMUNICATION.


Mr.. EDITOR AS day succeeds night
and night day, so joys and sorrows sue
ceed each other in fast rotation Time
with lightning speed ushers into exist
ence, rain and sunshine Each concom.
liant train of evils brings forth its fruits;
and if we examine and enumerate the
fruits of any great evil, our minds sink
back APPALLED, at the enormity of the de-
struction that follows the train. Take for
example the horrid evils of the intoxica-
ting bowl, and let any candid mind watch
| the monster but few short months, and
however skeptical he may be in regard to
calling it the agent of the Devil; | pre-
sumo that after careful consideration Of
the subject his opinion will be changed.
A few days ago, business called me to my
old native village, and the news that await
ed me there would have been astonishing
to any one having less acquaintance with
the principals of the tragedy. A mother
and five children were taken by force to
the place where the largest portion of the
drunkard's families will eventually go-to
the poor mouse and the sole cause of all
this is whskey. Both the parents were
otherwise healthy, the only difficulty was
that they had formed debasing appetite
for strong drink, which had proved their
ruin the only mystery to me is, why the
husband was not taken along the wretch
stood nnmovel, while the wife of his
youth was bound and taken off with her
offspring, and seemed to desire nothing
but the poisonous liquid fire. Here, ye
advocates, for the 'good creature is some
thing for you to look at you can here
see, where men can be carried by this de-
mon Of destruction; and yet, peradven-
ture, men of moral character, that wit
messed this transaction, will sign their
names to a small document next spring in
this same village, declaring that the land
lord is good sober citiz9n, an d they
think selling liquor is useful in the com
munity. Well, if making paupers, and
filling the jails, poor houses, grave yards
and perdition is necessary and useful
then, selling liquor is an honorable and
usetul occupation?
Could we but read to-day the hearts OF
N lions of our race that have been bit
ten by this serpent and see there the deGI
agonies and groans of anguish, sorrows
and lamentations depicted upon their sad
hearts, and then be permitted to look
down into the dark caver9s Of the lost
spirits, and as the smoke Of the torment
ed rolled up forever, aud the cries would
reach our ears from the dark pit Of eter
nal night; as the question would be ask
cd them, what brought you here? tho
roll of muttered voices would bring The
sorrowful answer, intemperance led US OF
from step to step, till we landed here
This is no overdrawn picture, uut some
thing that challenges our candid atten
ton, aud determine what we are called o'
to do to drive this great evil from our IA
ton If We see our brother about 20 ru,i
headlong over a steep precipice, if we pu
not forth every effort in our power to sav'
him, we may be justly called his mur
derer.
Here our brothers, sens and friend
: are plunging by scores into ruin and woe
The demand and imperative duy restin!
upon every philanthropist should impe
him to be on his guard and use all hi
. best resources for God and suffering hu
manity. Here is the largest field of use
fulness in which 10 operate. People neeC
not think that Rumsellers and whiske,
imbibers will fly at the first approach o
Temperance Reform; they have taken {
strong stand and will make a stubborn
resistance But it is the decree of higl
Heaven, that this monster that biteti
like serpent and stingeth like an adder
be driven headlong from the face Of GU
fair earth No doubt the reproach o
, the tanotogical part of the world vii
fall thick and fast upon the heads of thos
suppressing the traffic bat when tn
+
storm blows over and the inebriate j
restored to his family; aud plenty take
the place of want, and the sanctuary
filed with pleasant and sincere worship
pers, and midnight revellings and stree
fghtigs are heard no more, it will be a
ample compensation to that person {
know he gave his aid and influence to 6
worthy cause. d.
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