The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-04-02


That there should be In all cities and
towns an element antagonistic to any
Temperance Organization Is not n,~tts.
Of surprise. It IL expected that the
liquor seller, and the habitual liquor
drinker, will be Of this class. The form
er for the same reason that Demetrius
the silversmith raised an uproar against
Paul-because their ''craft IL in danger
and there is reason to fear for the honor
of the temple of their great divinity
The latter because such an organization
is standing rebuke to their Immoral
practices. For however low q man may
fall, yet in his sober moments he il ready
to admit that drunkenness and debauch-
cry are evils Of great magnitude, and
subversive of the general good Of society.
But that men who lay any claim to re-
spectability should be found in opposi-
ton to a reform in the community in
which their lot is cast, is q strange an
omaiy. Yet il is not more strange than
true. And the worst feature Of 1t Is,
that among this class may. be found
some who profess to be followers Of the
Prince Of peace. How to reconcile the
professions of such men with their prac-
tees, is task l shall find too hard.to
perform. Whether it be desire to pau
der to the passions and appetitcs of the
more dcpraved class for the sake of their
patronage or trade, or on the other hand
because they think the movers in the
Temperance reform are actuated by
purely selfish motives; in either case
they are occupying a position ut war
with their own interests as well as that
Of the public at large. For their innu-
ence is with the incorporate and tends
to encourage them in the road to ruin
-"they strengthen the hands of the
wicked Yet these men claim to be
good temperance men. But does not
the course pursued by them give us
good cause to call in question their sin
cerity. You will hear them charge
members OF the order with violating
their pledge. But if asked to testify be-
fore an investigating committee as to
the truth Of their allegation, they will
almost invariably refuse. They may
perhaps make their charge by the
Wholesale" rvowing that nearly all
the members of the order are in the hab-
it of using intoxicating drinks, but will
not help to expose the guilty to disci-
pine. Now this attempt to stab in the
dark the reputation of whole lodge of
Good Templars, or any one of them,
thus destroying as far as they can its
power for good is cowardly, unjust, and
beneath the character of gentleman or
good citizen. The man who will do so
IL not worthy to be believed and should
not be patronized. That there are mem
bers Of the order who are not true to
their pledge and who will wilifuly vio-
late their most solemn obligation, for
the keeping of which they have pledged
their honor, is not denied. There are
two reasons why such is the case. One
is. there is no honor in them to pledge.
There Is not enough Of them to make a
good templar out of. TO effect the OBJ
Ject with them, 1t would be almost
necessary to destroy every faculty Of
their hearts and create for them an en-.
| tlreiy new set. The other reason is
there is not honor enough in those who
see, and know these facts to cause them
to assist in exposing the guilty ones t.
discipline. That the order does exert {
| salutary influence in the community il
& fact, patent to all who will candid,
look at the subject. /. And to the under
handed attempts above alluded to, t.
destroy its influence, and the want Of
hearty cooperation Of those who arr
nominally friendly to the cause is to b.
attributed large proportion Of tn.
rowdyism aud immortality that so dis
nrnpoo rsr fxsxss