Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-01-21
Eternal vigilance" is the price Of such
blessed liberty as that favored town en-
ioys. There are others like it.

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blessed liberty as that favored town en-.
joys. There are others like it.
Now, good friends. 1 am heartily in
favor of local prohibition. believe that
it is the only method oEapplying legisla-
tion to the liquor.trafiic which is present
feasible and successful. Iwould advocate
law which should require tho suppress
sion of tippling.houses in every town or
city which voted to protect itself against
them. This is pure Christian democracy.
This would offer q premium to each COM
munity to become temperate. Of course
this system could only be successful
where the most determined efforts were
made by the pulpit, the press, by societies
and public meetings to array the majority
of the voters against the rum-traflic. In
this glorious work of moral suasion. the
Christian church should take the lead.
To aid in n would welcome all such
auxliaries as the Sons Of Temperance,
the Templars, the Bands of Hope, and all
sorts and stripes of honest toetotalers. l
would also magnify the total abstinence
pledge; for it is at once protection, n
bond Of union, and protest against the
drinking customs.
2. How shall local prohibition bc got?
! answer. by petitions for it. 1t the state
legislature will not grant it, then agitate
for the election of legislators who will
enact the law. lfneither party will NOM
mate temperance men for the Legislature,
then our friends must select candidates OF
their own and vote for them. A third
party, based on single moral issue, is y
prodigiously difficult thingto organize in.
! 10 victory but il the needed reform can
not be got in any other way. then the third
party must be tried One thing do pro-
test against, and that is the foolery Of or
ganizing parties on paper and by mere
| resolutions" without thorough cduca-
ton of the public mind. and n thorough
canvass in the most manly and honorable
style. A political campaign which shall
succeed in crushing OUT the dram shop
is no boys play II requires great wis
dom, great courage, great unity, and not
only grace, but grit.
3. As prohibition of the liquor traffic is
question for state legislation | believe
that the best methods for carrying it
should be left 10 the friends OF total absti-
nencc in each State. | cannot yet see
the wisdom and expediency of q National
Prohibition party. In those loca li,ics
where third parties are demanded. and
can be made successful, let them be or.
ganized. Parties grow; they are not
manufactured to order.
We must not deceive ourselves by false
comparisons between the conflict with The
lquor-traffic and the conflict with slavery.
The institution OF chattcl slavery existed
only in fifteen states land in those statcs
every voter was in favor Oft. Outside OF
those states majority OF the people were
opposed TO it, But even this outside ma
iority did not overthrow slavery by the
ballot. 1t fell by the bullet; and If the
liquor-dealers appealed msan ely to arms,
we should serve them rs we served the
slave holders. There is no parallel be-
tween the two conflicts.
4. Our warfare against intemperance
is largely political; because the permIs-
sion or the prohibition of the rum-trailic Is
question of legislation. But temper
snce is still more largely n question OF
dietetcs and of morals. Alcoholic slim
ulants are popular. Millions believe
them to be useful We must correct this
fatal error by argument; and prove that
alcohol is poison. Millions believe
that whiskey and wine strengthen, warm
and nourish the human frame. We must
explode this error. Thousands OF Chris
tians have wine-bottles in their houses!
4 faithful pulpit--using PauIs teachings
for "ball and cartrid idge"-must smash
those decanters. The children and youth
are in danger of falling into the destruc-
tive drinking customs. We must push
the reform in the Sabbath school. Drunk
enness is sin against God it opens hell!
Letus bring against it the combined pow
er of preaching, prayer and press and
personal example. The Temperance Re-
form is linked to Christianity; it is rs
truly born OF Gods Word as the precious
doctrines ofthe Cross.
Brethren in the West! This glorious
and beneiiccnt reform is making more
rapid progress in your region than in any
part OF our beloved land. In behalf OF the
"army of the east" stretch out my hand
to you over the prairies and let us make
fresh VOW to do our utmost. with the
help of God, TO expel the hideous curse OF
strong drink from the soil which bears the
ashes Of our fathers, and the hopes OF our
childrep!-AdCdnce.
CoLoRED THEOLOGY. -"Say. Mr.Junis,
is dar any place is de Bible whara cullur'd
pusson is mentionedp" said old Cesar to
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