The Portland daily press., 1865-12-20
Does Portland Ignore the Temperance Re-
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Does Portland Ignore the Temperance Re-
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Mr.. EDITOR THE above question was painfully
sugges ed to my mind, while attending the lectures
of Gen. Carey ut City Hall, and more especially ON
hearing from lin the announcement that on account
Of insufficient patronage, the completion Of the Tenn
psrance Course was t. be abandoned. Al ZuDl
Tlat Gen. Carey is unsurpassed as temperance
orator. need not say, for 1t IL well known, and sell
dom are our people favored with listening to public
speaker who can claim to be his superior.
II he could not draw out the people, it was sure
Others could mott so the truly laudable undertaking
Of the "Good Templars" was obliged to succumb to
the pressure. ..s ..s....,-.-. . i4..,..a..
The lecture on Sunday evening was more fully at
tended than any OF the previous ones, but it was
thin audience, and it very noticeable that the
sof the city, the wealthy the learned and the
fashionable We're not there, showing conclusively
that the leaders in public sentiment those who right
fully bear the responsibility of giving character to
our city, do apparently ignore this great subject.
We have seen City Hall crowded, packed, to listen
to lectures in the Mercantile Course from persons of
no great eminence. even in stormy weather. when
reao ling home Involved wading through deep snow,
or facing pelting rain.
Must people deny themselves the rich entertain
ment of Gen. Careys stirring eloquence simply be-
cause Il is not just fashionable to attend to tho
Gains of the temperance reform?
Do not loyalty, socia purity and religion, alb
soutely demand that the public attention be turned
to this all-inportant matter? laai 5ll3 si.La ahT
How can the public morals thrive or the cause of
Christianity progress when intemperance reigns ri-
umphant, and rum floods the land
Gen. Carey stated that every Governor Of the Sc
eeding states was notorious drunkard and that ev-
cry convention which completed the internal work of
treason In rushing their state out of the Union,
screwed themselv,s up to the sticking point by
Locking the doors and getting drunkw
Ibis accords with tie testimony Of many others
well Informed on the subject. 1 40 -li1ldt
Is not liquor selling and liquor drinking then the
damning curse Of land the clog TO every virtu-
GUS undertaking, the see.hing cauldron in which
sink the manhood, the integrity and the hopes of
thousands upon thousands who should be the pride
and hope Of our country? H48 tanl i-a;i
1t is shame and a disgrace that in any Christian
commun ty every movement for the crushing out Of
thus terrible evil IL persistenty neglected or abso-
la ell ignored. And is it not so Lere? What mortal
excuse can now be offered in extenuation of the Ia
mentab.e fac.? Will it stop enlistments Does the
state of The country demand all our attention? or
has the lime arrived when tove OF country, love Of
friends and ove Of God, all conspire to make this the
paramount duty?
Shall rumsellers and their symyathizers longer
triumph in this iminal apathy and fattsn and grow
rich upon the degradation of The youth of city
and state ~ .a.a.1i r i5zl .sld .aaa liitrC-ii
God forbid it, and cause that the hearts of those
who profess good principles may awaken o just
view OF the situation, and Of their duty. b.