The union Democrat., 1869-07-03
iFor the union Democrat

~N'No'h'H az bOAcs ItuNCttuR great QlscEeOlt
upon the organization of Good Templars. se-
lecting as particular mark at which to aim,
Columbia Lodge. No. 323. The writer Of the
article knows better than any one else caa
his private reasons for so doing it is evident
to every careful reader, that he has personal
plque against some particular members of the
Lodge, and being too cowarily to come out
boldly and attack the s' Two he has taken
this original method of striking at them over
the shoulders Of an entire society. The arti-
Gle is too low and scandalous to answer in
hiinutia Twill only notice one OR two points.
The strange device be suggests for " Ban
ner for Columbia Lodge, must be original
with him. Those, only, who have had expe-
-icnce are fit to give counsel" According
to his ideas, Good Templars are placed in
rather precarious situation as regards their
associations, all untitled as they are for what
he calis) refined society. lie says q The Tenn
plar's organization is not the leading order of
the State, and it will never be able to coerce
an American citizen; / admit all this. Coer-
eio'a is not their motto, but, contra, they de-
'site voluntary obligations. Again he asks,
" What are Templar's doing for the cause of
Temperance Says, he would have some
faith in the order, If they took in more con-
hrm"d drunkards, instead of gathering in
those who have not n habit of drinking, and
therefore are comparatively safe !" l am con-
scious of the latIc power welded by Temp
lars, among the class first named, but let us
take another view | know, and all who ,cilt
see, cannot fail to know, that it is lamenta-
bic fact. that the Sons, Brothers, Fathers, and
even Mothers and Sisters Of our beautiful
State, are fast becoming the willing slaves to
the fell destroyer, intemperancs. The tide of
evil is rushing past, and with its Siroccc
breath, spreading devastation and death on
every side Is this an argument, that friends
of humanity shall do nothing to stay its pro-
Gress? And why is it, that this overwhelm-
ing tide still continues to increase, and the
Temperance reform proceeds so slowly?
The temperance reform, at its onset. was
met with scorn, stigmatized as fanaticism,
and derided as weakness, by those who had
'lcil!tuliy closed their eyes to prevailing facts
Parents, accustomed to the moderate use of
the intoxicating cup, were not aroused until
they heard their young children calling for
their morning dram, and found them living
drums by their oicR cider barrels then were
they forced to believe that their oicn erdpap1e
was making drunkards of their children
The betrothed could not realize the result of
her influence and example, when she proposed
the sparkling wine to her lover, until the sa-
cred precincts Of her home were deSolated hv
n drunken husband Whatever the poor in
ebyiate may do to blight his own happiness.
or the peace of his family, 1t is not he who
perpetuates the curse of intemperance in our
land. lt is the respectable the virtuous meni-
bers of society-men ard women in social
life, who, through perverted principles, ur-
hold the existing usages of society, which
lure, betray, and ruin the rising youth of our
land Our marriage festivals, our feasts and
parties of pleasure, our public dinners and
picnics are made to perpetdate the reign of
seusualism While these perverted customs
hold sway over the public mind, the innocent
epjoyments and usGges of society, that might
lie productive of good, are turned to the in
Jury of man in his highest relation. Drunk
enness has enthroned itself in the land, and
in some instances, dared to lift its shameless
front in the church of God 1t seems almost
~ ro;p ,bot tha OWLS of ;pto,,oor,noo o,o
brought before the people. Ministers preach
against drunkenness, heart stricken widows
aud orphans, made so by its dreadful ravag ges,
raise their imploring eyes to heaven TO stay
it's scathing curse. but still the tide of woe
and death rolls on lis not the secret of its
advance most evident to all? Until this
fashionable home wine drinkiRq of Fathers
and Mothers. Sisters and brothers shall cease,
our land will be cursed with this Hvdra-headed
Monster. Years ago, when the Temperance
reform first stalked abroad under the name
Washingtonianism' 1t startled the selfcom-
placency of the proud, excited the speer of the
credulous, reused the ire Of the selfish. but in
many instances, broke up the Slam6ers of tne
deluded. The principles Of 7iWe TsmpldriSm
point to further progress, and they, too. Rolc
as then, have their Scorners and seofers, and
many there be, who style us poor fanatics
But can any enlightened patriot or Christian
innocently hold back and remain an idle
spectator of the progress of this reform
When intoxicating liquors do more than any
thing else to harden the heart, scar the con-
ccience and hinder the progress of the Gospel,
can it be right for Pastor and people to coun-
tonance its use? Go ask the aged parents of
that waywsrd boy. what rum has done. Go
ask the mother weeping over her band of suf-
fering children. Their wretchedness and
want and sorrow are the work of rum. Go
ask the graveyards of the land they speak
from countless graves of the fallen and lost.
Go ask the poor-houses, the prisons and the
gallows; their fearful record of sorrow, and
crime, and ruin. have voice. 1t cries Look
not upon the wine when it is red, when it
Sivcth its color in the cup, when it moveth
Itself Alright. At the last il biteth like ser
pent and stiugeth like an adder" And even
az the last, the cry of the poor inebriate is II
lrlU Sres. ~ xat