Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-04-01
LECTURE ON 1NrEMpERANcE.

On Tuesday evening Ast the citizens Of Per-
rrzburg we're favored d with a Lecture on Inten-
prrancs by Rev. W. s. PETERSON, editor Of the
1smPsruHee Times, Dayton. The lecture was
given in the NJ. f. Church, under the auspices
quito a respectable audience being in attend
ssce.
Tbs nsia topics discussed by the lecturer
we're the magnitude Of the liquor traffic, its evil
effect on nankind iu all the relations Of life,
and the means by which this giant evil may be
eonuteraeted and destroyed.
II was stated that there were $4,000 persons
IN the United States directly engaged in the
liquor trathc, who, t,gether with their subordi-
mates, would probably number 500 900 persons,
nhn we're acquiring wealth BY the sale Of an
article which gave the customer no equivalent
for Cue money which he invested in il. Tho
nrmber Of such habtual customers in strong
drink was said to be some 4 200, 900.
The consequences resulting from this traffic
wore manifest in individuals, in families, in
communities, and in the nation at large. The
physical powers Of the drunkard were impaired
by the use Of alcohol, his nerals blunted, aud
life shortened. Is 10 computed that iu this ma
ton alone IT'S 900 persons sink into the drunk
ards grave every year, whilst 400 suicides and
500 cascs OF mur der per annum have been
traced Immediately to the same cause. De
sides these victims Of this accnrscd evil there
are over l0o,oe0 women, aud their innocent
children, who. by parental inlemPerance, are
exposed to Penury, want, and in many cases Il
starvation. Then there ~ that large army o
agents Of the social evil whose stepS leads,l
unto death" How great the influence exercised
10y aie0tiol in depraying the character Of sucl
victims, NJ tongue can tell. Then, when w'
i.ass FROM tie in dividual subject Of intemper
gucs to the cOllsteral evils which attend il, anC
neesssarily result from it, the magnitude anC
tho consequences Of ibis evil overwhslm the
imagination aud sppal tho mind.
The poor house, the jail, the lunatic asylum
the hosts Of coDstables for protecting public
rights and preserving the peace aud numerous
other objects which are sources OF expenses Il
the people, are mainly required as defense
against aud as a popular provision for, the in'
temperate and those dependent on them
Tho speaker adverted t. The insidious innu
C0cc OI lntcmperdNce ~ i'hhlnE t"IiHV HN'
man Of generous heat. First his ircni'ines'
and the love 0l society induces him u drink IL
reciprocity with others; the habit Increases II
power, until the once generous hearted y0unG
man becomes a ddveling sol and nm oulcasI %
society, and then passes unann"nreed W th'
dtunknrd's grave. Nor ia this evil less insid
Gus IL its influence on the Legislation nf ou
land. The laws relating TO other crimes agailis
peTson And property are terse and positive u
their character, but those which relate to intenl
VcTance, the fruitful source Of most crimina
acts, are so complex and abstruse, that IN mas
instances they have remained rs dead letters Or
the statute buoks. IL Is against this condition
Of matters that temperance men protest. Thej
desire the laws 10 BE- amended and made appii'
cable 10 the repression OF the liquor iraiiie AM
the Just punishment Of th0ss wh0 lnlnre tlei
fellow men aud sOcety by such practice.
The el0quent speaker closed his renlAiks b.
an earnest appeal 10 profrssed Christians an'
the people at large " co'operaie In The effort I
correct aud rem We this gigantic evil from on
midst.
In Justice To Mr.. PETERSON II must BE- sale
that bis lecture, in pint Of its array oi facts
cogeut logic, aud earnest appeals Ia the con
Scieuco aud intellect, is certainly one OF The mos
appropriate aud eloquent TO which we have hal
the pleasure Of listening. We trust he WI
make u e0pvelient again II lecture here whe'
we promise him AS large 40 audience ~ any
hUuss here may contain.