The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-01
Thursday Morning, February l, 1855.
Shall These Things Bep

Heaoin9 Matter on all Four Pages
7 -lTT u -r-- .f-E--tl--a C-a
10 na Snau These Things BeP sE eaiis
To the Editor IF the Press, L.,. ~.
In your paper of last Thursday, under the
head of Robbery and Arrest we are told
that, in a certain rum-shop on India Street
and its vicinity. four robbenes have already
BEEN committed, and that several of the par
ties are now in the State Prison. \, ~, r-,r .
But we. are not told that any active mea-
sures have been taken to put an end to thee
Iobberies, although the @place" is so notorious,
and the cause of the robberies so apparent
So we are forced to believe that ;this ,s'rum-
hole"-for we may as well use the right term,
and hundreds more of like character, are still
longer to be suffered t, disgrace our city; stin
longer to keep up this ruin of our young men,
and the strangers that enter the city,, ,oe0
Shall it be ? Is there no power alive to stop
this wicked business2 Must we look on and
see the fair youth, the ihconsiderate boy, the
niddle-aged man, thus tempted beyond their
power to resista Is 1t my brother or my son
that fills in his weaknessa Is is yours 2, No
matter whose ;-'tis your business, and It's
mine, to shield from the curse, even the
stranger within our gates. 'Tis the business
of every man every woman I Yet who
aushes to the rescue? Who dares to beard
this monster in his ldens Who win save our
community from this woe-who win snatch
from the snare tie dear boys who have brave
ly rescued our beloved country from the pow
er Of an insolent rebellion? Staggering along
the streets we see them often, with pockets
rifed-with manhood gone. We watch them
with tears Of ri,y and Indignation in our eyes,
and turn away to forget, in our hurry of b,isi-
ness or pleasure, the anguish Of a stricken
mothers desolate wife; to forget that the
world Is immeasurably poorer for the wreck oi
that intehect--the loss of that manhoodlI or
Is there no ahelp--no' @balm IN dGilead" for
this great and consuming woe? Where Is
the great army of Temperance men who
should rise up and close the doors of these
desolating places? Where are the thous- -nds
of noble Temperance women, who should
boldly and bravely demand that their sons
and brothers and husbands shall be protected
from these snages2 non % tr5mrs4e SIR <
O,women Of Portland l. who have walked
our beautiful streets when all nature seemed
smiling upon you in her fairest glory, when the
firm, e.astic step Of the loved ones at your side
gave no token or intimation of the fowler, that
hJyered in the, by-ways 10, crushed and
brokenrhearted women of Portland |! who
have covered with weak and stottering
steps by those demoralizing rhaunts, whose
pale cheeks and weary eyes have long yainly
appealed for shelter from the blasting woe,
whose little ones have lvainly clung to your
arms for that warmth and suecor of which the
enemies of humanity and of God have de-
prived you!-come, plead together for that
wronged humanityl Here is a question upon
which you can meet for q common goodl The
smiles and the commands of the one-the
tears and beseechings of the other would
soon avail, and Public Opinion the ruler OF
the world, would bow his submissive head to
Jour just demands, sd, paroigsh a,o-l SIN ~.
Come, then, stricken onesl Plead with your
favored sisters; tell them of your agony-your
sleepless nights-yonr -wretched daysl They
win-they mast listen to your CRY! They win
they must take you into their love and pity
and placing their foot upon the neck of YOU
'ppressor, declare, @rhese things shall be no
norep
1tis sad fact that this work of redemption
is left to the tew! that fathers and mothers
oeing too proud to join hands with the minor
.ty, will stand still and see their own beloved
sons descending gradually but rapidly to q
irunkards gravel Q, that they might awak
N ere it is forever too late, to saye-not only
sheir own, but their neighbors' sons from Sc
dread fate! & l'sidw .4iihan.ds srasr.,..is y
Y 1t has been suggested, I am informed, that
| i meeting be Gained of all the Temperance
women IN the city and vicinity; meeting t
consider the present state of intempeIance
md to counsel together in regard to the du
les deyolving upon them, aud to decide upol
he emost efficient measures to help the grea
eform. it..fts~; 4s,rt gei+ess8 4ga.z-a. ,I-..
Ihope it will be done, and that the mum
'ers in such a gathering may be too great 70
me house or hall to hold. Let every TEN
,erance woman, old and young, heed the cal
+ foung ladies whether you beiong to any tenn
,erance body, whether You have ever given
,erious thought to the question, if you wish t
| ,ind your brows in living wreath of honol
| md baths your souls in satisfying joys, com
Up to this noble work, with your fresh, happ
nearts-with your smiles and all your infr
snce. Have You thought of it? Shall ou
'rothers be longer led astraya Shall our si
Iers again touch the wine cup? Mothers
giyes--do your part; withhold not your al
wherever and whenever the call cometh, an
leclare, from the depths of earnest, prayin
hearts. These thing, shah be no moreP' b.
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