Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-08-03
For the Snecfator.

I Mr. EDITOR :-Iwish to say little through
the columns of your excellent paper, (of which
lately had the peru-all on the subjecE of Tenn
perance, and first. | will tell you that | am a
woman-not ranting ''womans rights wo-
man-not strong-lninded woman. contending
for seat in the Legislature, but woman with
a woman s heart that can feel for the Distress
| the anguish of others-that can appreciate the
| scanty wardrobe and desoate, comfortless
home, made SO by the cups of drunken hus-
| band. A heart, also, that can loathe, and des-
piSe the traffic and were it not for the love Of
Jesus, the men who carry on this traffic r the
promotion Of such things as these. Neither
am literary character, and it is only the
great weight that this subject has upon my
mind, that now inpels me to write that may
possibly say something that may lead some one
who has the power to do something that will
annihilate the Dram-shop, and all It's concoml-
tants from our land.
When | see men Of wealth renting their
houses for this business, and giving them ia
yorabe notice-when | see the draln-seer,
putting bread into the mouths of his family by
taking it from those of his neighbor-
see him garnishIng his own home by desoating
the homes of ofhers-when | see a dnzen men
enter this dram-shop on the Sabbath day
when | see the blood relative holding literally
the bottle to his brother lips-when see the
III, Il.
with shabby garments, bare footed, and bare
legged, upon rude bench, forgetful of every
thing but the fatal glass, willing away the
precious, golden hours that ought to be bring
ing food clothing and happiness to his family
when see his pale-faced wife turn sadly from
the door of her miserable home, whittier she
has so frequently gone to look for the form Of
which she was once justly proud. but which she
now is SO often forced to meet with sickening
horror. He is not coming and as she turns
again to her plain duties and her children. she
lifts her eyes once more heavenward and ex-
claims with the dying crucifed One, while the
last drop Of life blood seems to be ebbing from
her crushed and wifhered heart-'My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me- - When
see all this, it seems to me that were | to
hold my peace, the very stones would cry out
The worst of all is, that these things are
either disregarded entirely. or treated lightly,
by those in authority. They have failed to
plead the cause Of the widow and the afaic'ed
10 them we look for tight, but behold ob>curi-
ty-ior brightness, but We walk in darkness
Shall this continue? Something in my in
most soul seems to tell me 1t shall not Il |
seems to me God will not bear much long,
with this proud marion, whose land is indeed
land of milk and honey, of countless mercies |
and luxuries. We have called the Gnd of
Heaven our God. being of infinite Purity and
Justice. Can we he pure people when snch
impurity is practiced by us? Can e.be just |
peonle while we thus temnt orr fellow men by
making and selling that which will ruin both his
sonl and his body? VIII not this great God
whom We have thus mocked avenge his own
elect, who cry unto him day and night? and if
we do not as people cease from this sin, have
we not reason to expect. that by reason Of the
prayers, groans, cries and tears of those affljc
ted by it, God will come and will not keep ST.
ieHv. that a fire shall lievOur before him and 1t
shall be very tempestous round about him, =
He may come suddenly and smite the. earth
with a curse. Then may not even my feeble
voice be heard calling for Judgment and plead
ing for truth? May not plead with those
whom we have been proud to call our rulers,
and to whom by a vote of the people we have
given the P,yer mighty word for good or
evil) to turn back this rapid tide of iniquity.
Oh may we not hope that the time will
soon come when these nets for the feet of the
youthful and unwary will be broken ard made
TO cease their dark dongs Then shall many
very many, both I'D and young both rich and
poor rise up to call you blessed.
ORPHA T. SwINK.
Rural Home, Warren county, Ohio.
July 18th, 1869