The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-06-15
For the Nashville UniO.
For The NsshViIIe Union.
An Appeal from the Sons of Tempe
rance TO the Benevolent of Nash

An Appeal from the Sons of Tempe
rance to the BenevOIent of Nash
Vile.
Our citizens have been called upon fire.
quently, Of late, to sympathize with, and
contribute to the relief OF, their suffering
fellow man. We now desire TO call your
attention to an evil in our midst that has
caused more suffering than anything else
War. Pestiience and Famine not excepted.
We allude 70 lSTEaPERAScE.
That intemperance is a great an d grow
inc evil in our community, and a curse TO
our land, you viii all admit. Then, is it
not our duty as Christians, is it not our duty
as members Of an enlightened community,
TO do something to eradicate this eEil, to try
and save the many hundreds and thousands
who are going down in shame and degrade
ton to drunksrds' graves
You have doubtless often heard the story
of the drunken, beastly husband, the i'll
used wife, the starving, ignorant children,
and have said, Oh, that is a very strong
argument for temperance, but we do not be-
lieve such things can be seen here" If
YOU have not seen all these things right
here in our midst, it is because you have
not taken the trouble to look around you.
To know the misery Of this world we must
see it. Let any one visit the wretched hoy
els of human abode, Astounding in this city,
look al the inmates, see the pallied cheeks,
the emaciated form, the death-like visage;
there you will see crime and vice in every
form. The picture is a sad one TO look upon.
What kind of knowledge and refinement
may you expect from such life. Roofess
houses, breadless cupboards, coatless backs,
and fireless chimneys, are not very success
full things in making people happy, con-
tented and good citizens.
Ard what is the principal cause of all
| this Intemperancel
Of course it win be said that similar peo-
pie and circumstances may be seen any
where. If that be Sc, more 8 the pity. But
| this evil does not only exist among this
class of people, but pervades all classes Of
society.
There are many persons, doubtless, who
| feel the importance Of this evil being rooted
/ out of our country, but this feeling is rot of
/ the kind to induce them to exert themselves
| outside of their own social circle, and if this
| evil is forced upon their attention, they take
| shelter behind comfortable sort of belief
| that the course of events, or the gradual en-
| lightenment Of mankind, or at any rate,
| something which is too grand for them to
| have any share in, will set it all right. But
| if we really feel an interest in this great
| work, we must not shelter ourselves behind
such erroneous belief. A vague feeling of
kindness and sympathy toward our suffer
| ing fellow beings will not DO, for in piomot-
| ing the welfare of others, we must devote to
| it earnest thought, constant care, and zeal
! Gus endeayOr; what is more, we must do all
this with patience, and be ready in the
| same cause to make an habitual sacrifice OF
our own tastes and pleasures.
This 10 the great work in which We are
| engaged and in which we ask you to lend
us a helping hand. Do not say that you
are not addicted to this vice, and that il
! will do you no good to join a Temperance
| society: at lesst it will do you no harm and
may 90 others great good. Therefore, il
not plainly your duty, if you do rea y fee.
an interest II this reform, to attach your
self to some organization which has for It's
object the destruction of the destroyer OF
millions, and the promotion OF the virtue
and happiness of mankind?
1t has bean demonstrated that the only
way to succeed in this great reform is
through voluntary organizat; ons like Oul
own. We therefore ask you to come for
ward and aid us in this great work. Intern
perdnce is peculiarly a ocial evil, we there
fore resist It's terrible power by social and
fraterBal combination. Unaided we can dc
but little, but with the weight Of your in
huence and example we can accomplish
much. *s@