Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-05-20
HOvv TO EFRECT a TE1IPERANoE
REVIVAL.
BY HON. scHUYLER coLFAx-


If a peshlence were raging IN the |, iaIle. /
snreaflina from city to city, from haIlliSA
NJ hanIet. filling our cemeteries WIN
e-raves and our houses with mourning,
every lover of humanity would teel Il
5,Ifvt TO use his utmost influence to arrest
its deathIy progress. Every preventive
to its spread would be tested Every
habit OF life that contributed to its pro-
press would be abandoned. Boards OF
health would appeal to the people. The
press would vigorously second these aP-
peals. and organizations Of those who
appreciated the danger would labor per
sonally with those less informed TO IN
duce them TO aid IN arresting the march
ofthe destroyer.
But a more fatal epidemic than the
cholera from the jungles of India, or the
yellow fever from the malaria Of the tTop-
les, is in our midst. Not as an occasion
al visitor. Not to yield to the health
reviving frost Of the autumn. But, year
afteryear, in winter as well as in summer,
acclimated and nationalized, it goes on
with its Work-sweeping on, almost IN
checked, in its career Of horTld triumph
Without criticIsing any
other plan of labor, therefore, or arguing
against any other theory, I ask to pc
permitted to suggest what regard as the
most effective way to awaken the much
needed Revival Of Temperance IN our
land. It involves personal efforts ana
unremitting labor It elevates the idea
ar individual responsibility. It does not
content itself with one, or two, or half
a-dozen public temperance meetings per
wear. It remembers that, to promote re-
iigion, faithful, constant, persistent con
= = 4
and an organization are insufficient with
out the constant preaching of the Word,
the oft and oft-reiterated appeal to the
sinner, the Sabbath and weekday meet
iugs from year to year, and all those
other indications Of healthy, effective,
active, and growing church. What
propose is. similar labor, animated by a
Similar spirit, and imbued with a similar
individual responsibility, which looks on
every inebriate as a brother fallen
though he may be, and holds out help
ing hand to save him from the destruction
to which he is Fastening, and to restore
him, clothed in his right mind, to family
and friends. Il is to so persistently and
unremittingly present facts and argu-
ments before the minds Of all, that the
rising generation may be thoroughly for
tilted against its temptations and pre-
served from them, and that those who
drink moderately may realize their dan.
ger, and, if not for their own sake, ye
for the example upon others, voluntarily
surrender such habits.
The intelligent reader will see thai
what allude to is the revival, as far as
practicable, of that kind of labor known
thirty years ago as the Washington Re
form, whose ruling principle was "tc
persuade rather than compel" It's won
derful history has not yet faded away
from the public mind. Never was there
such a work accomplished in any nation
Never were there more beneficent result:
from any earthly effort. Never wa:
there more labor cheerfully performed
Never did the labor bring forth such
good fruit in joy, in the hearts of all the
laborers.