The Shasta courier., 1869-03-06


the weight of bodily infrmities, they drop
with deep sigh of relief into the grave
Measure up in your minds the great unfath-
omable ocean of anguish and despair stirred
up to its deepest depths by the demon OF
drink, and then pause and reflect how utterly
insignificant and contemplate is the campari-
son. mol Let appeal to those who are
content to indulge in the qualification OF this
acquired taste. You may consider yourself SO
hedge6 in by moral resolutions; so guarded
by natural temperament as to safely put at
defiance the great Prime Minister of He'll, but
do not willingly blindfold your reason by en-
bracing this sanitary plea in justification OF
your course but more especially would en-
treat you to weigh well the responsibility you
incur by the dissemination of this dangerous
snare. Halt, then, friend, and examine your
own heart. Ponder well on the influence you
may possess over the customs and tastes OF
your everyday associates, and rather let your
brain cease its mysterious workings, or your
tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth, than
to peryert the noblest gifts of God-binding
them in slavish apprenticeship to the devil
Your own experience, earnestly and carefully
examined, cannot but carry the conviction to
your mind that, whether considered in a men
tai, moral or physical light, the absorption of
stimulauts is a habit fraught with the greatest
danger to theindividual, as well as inimical to
the interests Of mankind in general.
But there are other arguments which must
now claim our attention. Among the many
objections urged against our organization is
one already mentioned and this we Will now
consider. 1t is based upon the right of all
men to use their own Judgment in the choice
of schemes for their own comfort and happi-
ness. God forbid that | should be understood
as denying the truthfulness or force OF those
immortal principles enuncated by Jefferson,
and so nobly championed by Washington and
his heroic followers but may God also defend
me from the degradation of being found among
those who could advocate the unloosing of the
bonds of society, and the precipitation OF
mankind into the gulf ofanarchy, by upholding
the right of one man to prey upon the rights,
privileges and immunites of Others Tins is
the ground on which we base our right, and
not only our right, but our bounden duty to
use every endeaYor towards the liberation of
mankind from the enthralling grasp OF intem-
perance.
No Order can surpass us in the enthusiastic
support of the right of a citizen to use to ms
own advantage the honest instruments placed IN
his hands by an all-wise God but we most
emphatically deny the right of any one OF
Gods creatures-be he emperor, king or peas
ant-to use those implements for our discom-
fort or destruction. Let us consider situ-
alton as one great family, composed, as we
are, of an infinite variety of tastes, customs,
manners and creeds, and all confined to this
narrow sphere The absolute necessity OF Pc
culiar plants for peculiar soils and tempera-
lures will always occasion communication OF
a social or commercial character among the
inhabitants of the different quarters of the
globe Emigration, immigration and trans
portation are now ominons words.
may be settler in some cosy dale. My acres
have been brou ght q a high state of cultva ton
bv nv own industry. The hills about me stud
ded with sheep and cattle, reared under my care
full eye let ask yOu,-suppose yourself stran-
ger, wearied foot sore and hungry, just from some
distant country Have you right to seize my
cattle for the satisfaction of your hunger my
home shelter you ffom the driving ram or chill
ins winds; my lands to yourself from the
attacks of poverty No =! God started you and
out upou the road of life, bestowng upon us hands
to execute and brains to project. You have wan
dered idly about the world cursing your Maker be-
cause He has not added the riches of this world to
your collection of blessings; l have struck out
boldly into the sea of fortune, and Drawing waves
and breakers, am progressing sure TO my goal
Here are Ehts which nobody will accord you, but
there are others less finely drawn which you can
never possess. You have right to shut out from
my dwelling the light of the sun; no right to i'm
| pair my health by commercial operations, even
| upon your own domestic hearth no right to en-
| danger the life of me mine in pursuance Of
schemes for your own profit and pleasure; but more,
far than all this, you have no right to appear
among your associates armed with deeply subtle
and damnable agent, whose influence can compre-
hend within its grasp, not only their mortal lives,
but the welfare of their immortal souls for all time
| and eternity.
| These are all rights which you do not or cannot
possess; but you have rightto restrain your own
evil passions and tastes; to eonne IN bonds strong
| as adamantine that agent or that influence which
works only for the utter decentralization of society
and you also possess the right, in common with
| your fellow beings, to open your lips IN the utter
| auce of admonito.s, and to stretch forth the arm
of authority when the noble gifts of God being
prostituted by adaptation to the vile uses of the
| devil.
! do not wish to be understood as advocating
the suppression of manufactory and traffic OF liquor
| by the arbitrary arm of civil law. No, brethren !;
| our weapons must be morality, and our greatest
strong hold safety and dignity. If we to war,
| let us war against principles, not against men if
object is destruction, let not operations be
! accompanied by the wild surgng of popular pas
sion but let pass silently about, here erecting
sturdy fortress; there cutting off some necessary
supply; when 10 J the victory is gained the enc
my, first encompassed, then annihiated and the
| dignity of man vindcated in the broad face of
heaven.
But have yet still further objections to meet.
The one now to be considered rests not upon either
perversity ignorance it would appear to be fully
apprised OF the terrible danger incurred, but still
lugers about the preceRce, confident in the po
sion of the requisite moral strength to preserve it
from degradation. These objecters will explain
" Do not fear we are safe" But are you safe
How many thousands there of your fellow
creatures who have made this their plea. Starting
out in their career, the first glass is taken merely
for sociablity. True, a wry face or even feeling
of nauseau may prove your experience but de-
pend upon it, repetition o. the draught will ap-
pear less and less Objectionable until at length you
look forward with feeling of pleasure to the pun
gent flavor of the wine cup and its pleasurable SEN
satiOns.
In connection with this subject cannot but
call to mind the mourAful history of an acquaint
ance several years ago. The person referred TO
was young man of about "a when first encounter
ed him. He possessed splendid personal appear
ance tall and well proportioned,- with frank,
open, genial countenance, and warm, generous
nature that won all hearts. Too weak to withstand
the solicitations OF his companions, the young man
entered into temptation His first experience was
decidedly unpleasant but nettled by the sneers of
his companions, he persevered until a taste became
established Still he deemed himself like too
many others, alas safe and secure. At the break
ing out of the war he left comfortable home, and
entered the army of the Union with the rank OF
Lieutenant. But now for the first time he felt the
force of the influence which had been silently over
reaching him. For days absent from camp the
thirst for his accustomed stimulant almost over.
powered him. Returning, the commissary stores
would be rapsacked, and with an appetite whettled
by delay and fatigue, an undue quantity of the