Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-02-15
Far The Delaware Republican.
TEMpERANOE.-AOTION.

l
to the terrible habit, and as we look upon their
danger and degradation, and are told of their
ui sconduct abroad and at home, our hearts
ara panied and our language Is denuncitoary
AGAINST the traffic, full Of sorrow and pity for
the erring creature, and of condolences and
sympathy for those near relatives who are
tortured by the weakness, misconduct, or vio-
| lsnce of the inebriate. How wise, how Just,
| how pitiful we all are as we contemplate the |
| present condition OF our community; and how |
| unanimous we are in the sentiment that all |
| the sources Of drunkenness should be demo- |
ished, and extraordinary efforts be made to |
| save the victim f ON the poison and destruc' |
ton OF the Intoxicating bowl And yet, when |
/ we come to look at this matter IN business |
like aspect and as having claims upon our
moral sense, how ridiculous and contemplate
we appear. We see this evil, we feel its effects,
and talk sensibly about 1t, saying that action
should be taken to prevent the terrible scourge.
But all this prevents none Of the evil: feeling
and talking does not lessen the sale OF intoxi-
| eating drinks, nor does 1t prevent the drunkard
from indulgiug In his destructive vice. The
rumseller laughs at the impotent msledictions
of individuals; there is no power, no effective
strength 10 the sympathetic tear, or halt whis-
pered condemnation of the trafHc. The vender
of apirituous drinks neither sees or hears what
is done or said by the individual, and all the
pity and indignation OF tender or ipcensed
hearts 10 entirely lost in the gurgling of beer
barrels and the sparkling OF glasses. 1t Is
all inefficient talk and wasted condemnation
for separate, individual effort 10 weak and in
efficient. II lie all well meant aud sprn &c from
good principles and humane feelings but 1t is
without power and its fragrance sis wasted on
the desert ir,"-it is light, has no solidity,
| no weight, no velocity it is entirely without
MON ntum, and fails Of accomplishing any
benefits. Some one may say How do you
prove tina ineficiency of all this tender feel
ing, honest indignation, and boundless SYM
pathy2' Very sasily:-it has all existed from
the time drunkenness commenced; and where
the vice and all its attendant crime degrHda-
ton, and suffering have most abounded, these
yirtuous feelings have most brightly burned
and extensively prevailed. And yet the traffic
has extended, and drunkenness has spread
wider ami wider, If individual signs, tears,
prayer and intense suffering, were potent in
the prevention of intoxication, our nation
would have been honored with the name OF
quietness ahd sobrety. Had there been pow =
er, we would have seen the happy results -
With these considerations before our minds,
ia it not palpably unwise to look to individual
feeling and wishes with the expectation that
they alone and exclusive, will ever diminish or
u remove the enormous evils We desire to pre-
vent or DESTROY
Blu re have intimated that the conduct oil
some persons, in this movement, is contempt
ible How many profess to be decidedly
nd temperance friends and advocates, who neye
fet eVince by action the existence OF such char
acter2 Yes they are friendly TO total absti
ence, bsve taken the pledge aud wish we'll t
he the causel But when asked 10 place the
lr. names upon the list OF any organization thu
10. requires its members attendance Mt social
nd. public meetings, or demands the payment
ng times a pit.ance to meet the necessary, b,
highly beneficial expenses, they decline whit
ne they call exposure, aud peuurously witho
"a all pecunisry aid to the cause. Now is n
$50 such conduct utterly contemplate PRETEND
. ing to give a warm approval OF policy whiC
1st they acknowledge necessary and highly ben
mt fetal, yet refusing 20 enroll themselves Wi
as jealous men embarked in the philanthrop
u effort Of overthrowing the great political, 81
10 cial and moral evil. Call you this being tru
I'm and honest and zealous2 Does it not exhib
lie more hypocrisy, pretension and cowardic
in than it does of faithfulness 20 the interests
%, our country, neighbors, or our God2 Ho
I'd humorous is this class OF ctisens2 The
th form the mass OF our people; and it would b
w really humiliating were it not so contemptibl
40 to dwell upon the consideration OF this stat
1e of society. This numerous class expect some
u body to work a great temperance reterm;--
ce thSJ pIuSoud ~ IS~L S------i 70 .LS d"y utiS
o. the awful evils OF drunkenness will be reno
Tia we'd; but whe do they think 10 to accomplish
or the stupendous work. Do they believe tina
lat two or three jealous ministers of the Gospel
as and q few bands Of organized philanthropist
nd are competent to the great work, while thous
at, ands OF such empty professors as themselVe
N. are couteut to pass their days 10 coward
shrinking from their duty, or sleeping in
roy state OF ignoole lethargy2 IL might highl
oy. offend these imbecile1 to charge them wit
,tic hard hearts and stupid heads, but to wha
ght other cause, unless ii be raj hypocrisy, ca
At we attribute their culpabe conduct. Their
I'm. are opportunities in abundance for their be
ld. coming seiul recruits in this benevolent en-
I'D. terprise OF temperance reform, and there ar
AT. organizations to which they can add tbei
re. names, and devote portion of their mean
err and influence and thus compensate Tor thCi
The culpabls neglect of duty.
led In conclusion let me exhort all those gentle
III tender hearted, sympathetic people, to add t,
ar- their generous emotions, immediate and ener.
getic action; let them throw aside their lacka
ed daisical mourning and Intellectual sig hs, ant
he be found hand 10 hand with those men an,
be women who have banded together in forma
ke organisations, but who can accomplish Blu
al little tor want OF members to Increase their in
n tuence and augment their strength. And Il
49, those who'ye professed 80 high approval of til
mt temperance effort, let me urge immedat
ma practice. There are op portunities and posi-
at tons where you can distinguish yourselves
by ana by combination with others your indi
vidual activity and power will be increased
n ten fold. Throw aside the lethargy tina
lie, clothes you with uselessness and make your
IRE selves truly philanthropists aud Christians -
an 1t you be Christian, land we presume 20
.he are) and believe ia the doctrines of fright
ow eousness and judgment to come .believ
The also ia Temperance" as Christian virtue
md aud be found spreading tina, reform which wi
Inc save millions from fear, suffering, poverty
ace vice, crime, and Infamous death
GOOD TEMPLAR.