The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-07-17
FROM ILLINOIS.

r. ne Editor Of the woRKsaHAEs ADvooArH
SIR,-Being, comparatively speaking, a
stranger in Chicago, was glancing over
directory tie other day, for the purpose Of
ascertain ing the localities in which some Of
the public buildings are situated. Ia the
perusai Of this directory somewhat unex-
peetedl came upon the words /" Workinq-
mans AdUocate, l55 South Clark Street,
Until that moment | was not aware that
such a paper was published in Chicago, and
| determined to secure a copy the first op
pCrtunity. 1 obtained a copy Of your last
issue, and was glad to observe that il com
plesely proves itself to be the organ Of ali
that its title signifies, or would be apt 10
lead one to suppose. 10 that issue observed
a letter from Washington, by one ID. S. G.,
in which be lad down some strong argu-
ments in favor Of the Temperance Cause.
AZ member Of the ranks, | would beg to
return bin nv sincere thanks for Bis letter
and would humbiy seek TO follow him up 10
the rear.
OF all the many curses with which our
world has ever been burdened, intemnerance
has proved itself to be the greatest and
most aggravating. IL has been the most
successful instrument which the devil has
ever handled for the purpose Of capturing
and imprisoning in the prison house Of hell
poor fallen unsuspecting man, and | would
earnestly call upon the friends Of he cause
to lend their united aid 10 help h remove
this great stumbling block from the feet Of
the human race. Why cumberetb IL the
grOund Surely if working men could zee
g, they can find better place for their hard
earned money than the beer saloon. The
is indeed giVingi your labor for naUght,
and the sweat Of your brow for less than
vanity, and, writing upon the belief that
No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of
hesven,' ! would press the question home
70 the heart Of every one whose eyes NAV
chance to fall upon these few lines to the
dFunkard first Do You ever realize the truth
of those biblical words No drunkard shall
inherit the kingdom Of heaven 2'i and next
70 the temperate man-t0 the individual
who is enjoying the inestimable blessings
which the abstaiuence from intoxicating
liquors yields, DO you ever realize, when
you behold poor fellow creature walloW-
ing IN the mire from the baneful effects Of
strong drink, that it is your duty 70 do the
very utmost which lies ia your power 10
save that individual from going down to
the PIT, and deliver him from the degrade
ton into which be Ia fallen Or, 40
you stand alOof from such scene With
Pharasaie pride, and callously give utterance
TO the words of Cam, " AN / nv brothers
keeper Better things are to be hoped Of
every member OF the TemUerance Cause,
but, alas ! from all that | can learn, there
are many in our midst VITO are dead mem
bers-many who have a great and flourish
ing profession, and know nothing even of
the rudiments " possession I am not
one Of that class Of individuals Who strive
% uphold temperance as the one thing need
fol.
consider such az idea as this verv er-
roneOus one--an idea which ought to b.
speedily dispensed with but this saw, that
temperance il a moe efectua organ towards
he happiness and comfort Of working
mans home, and my earnest wish il that it,
stakes may be strengthened ard its cords
heightened in this city. friend Of Ia
cause whom | onee heard lt-turiug. t,ld
the following story in illustration Of the
real character Of temperance.
I" was," be sand, "once travelling IL
London, gland, and being an xious 70 be
present al a temperance meeting which vas
beng held there, inquired to the where
abo0ts Of the place Of meeting Of little
girl Who was standing close w. Her reply
was little higher up, on the right band
side, ID through An iron gate, and next door
70 sweet shop"
Now those words of the girl are words
on which 40 excellent temperance sermon
nj BIT be preached. What a vast amount
Of meaning il wrapped up il them DJ
they not paint in truess cOl0rs the charac-
ter Of temperance ls Temperance. so far
as morality Is concerned not little higher
Op Is Il not on the right hand side and
has not every drunkard who il attempting
to regal the RANKS from which be has fallen
70 push himself through a gate If irou as
be contends with the world and bis old
craving, before be can arrive next door 90
this sAeetsh0p, which, from a spiritualized
point OF view, might be interpreted Is re.
present heaven The place of meeting was
not m toe sweet-shop. IL was next door to
it, and so it Is with temperance, il WON'T
save q man, but ii il the preventive Of
much sin ard CRIME, and 1t is generally
forerGnDer ofs better, boiler, and altogether
more consistent life.
In conclusion, allow me TO press this fact
on the minds of the friends or the cause,
that though at present they may apparently
be casting seed % stoney ground, the day
l. coming, al hough II may far distant, when
"A glorious harvest shall attend their lab0urs.
We have the divine promise for the full
hllment Of this. . Every plant which IL not
Of Gods planting shall be rooted up"
Strong drink il plant Of the DEVILS plant
ing, therefore ii shall not endure in our
midst, but shall, when the appointed time
comes, be torn Up BY the cry men who
cnce we're its supporters Let Us do our
utmost to make Z" the good time coming les
and less distant.
1 have The honour TO he, Sir,
IJurs very truly,
A. NACNUO.