The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-10-15
The Cause of Temperance.
ADDRESS OF REV. THOMAS L. PoULsoN.

ADDRESS OF REV. THOMAS L. PoULsoN.
We publish below an address of Rev.
Thomas L. Poulson, Grand Worthy Chief
Templar of the Grand Lodge of Maryland,
Independent Order of Good Templars,
which was delivered at a Temperance mass
meeting held a few evenings since at the
Methodist Protestant Church, corner of
Lombard and Washington streets, Balti-
more, under the auspices of Peabody Lodge,
No. 100, l. o. G. T. Mr.. Poulson said:
Man is naturally a barbarian. The
presence of a Divine principle alone can
civilize him. Upon its withdrawal he
lapses Immediately and inevitable into the
most disgusting forms of barbarism-sel-
fishness and beastiality. We need not look
African barbarity for illustration of such
fearful evidences of human depravity
Our beasted civilization teens with equally
hideous out groupings of the same natural
barbarism, skulking in the back ground of
our nature, startling the best of us at times
as an apparition. The fearful Alps of the
rum traffic shoot their glittering, glaring
peaks amid the mountains of Antichrist far
above all the surrounding heights of bar
barism. The traffic in alcoholic drinks is
an unmitigatcd evil. Not an honest word
can be spoken for it. All other trades
have just and honorable foundations; but
this is the trade of death. 1t hides in the
gorgeous halls Of the rich and crouches in
the novels of the poor, only to blind and
destroy. 1t clothes its fiery decanters
with the cleaning sheen and tinsel of
pride till the votaries of fashion become
the flattered patrons Of Bacchus, and lead
the van of bluated devotees that fairly rival
Falstatf's ragged army of boasting towards.
Three thousand years ago God declared
wine to be mOcker, and strong drink to
be raging. Every decade of the worlds
history is prolific of illustrations of the
Divine enumeration. The terrible history
of strong drink repeats itself. What is it
now, in this our day?
tional interests, the most important agency,
in a free Republic. There are, from the
official reports of State Superintendent,
two millions of children of suitable age
that do not attend school regularly. These
are chiefly the offspring of drunken parents,
who clothe them in rags and deprive them
of the use of books, and turn them fam
ished and destitute i'll mind and body, into
the highways and by-ways of vagrancy,
loaferism and vice. The system is so
upheld and protected by the egis Of law,
and the imperial moral support of fashion
able social circles, as that it is impossible
to train our children into Just abhorrence
of the traffic. The dram shops, as educa-
tors, neutraliZe all the work of our school
houses. Our public school systems at BEST
are inadequate to meet the needs Of the
times; but when our taxes are diverted to
repair the damages wrought by rum,
instead of flowing in the channels of educa-
ton, no wonder we have four dram shops
to one school house in the United States
We spend 100000 annually to provide for
the criminals, paupers and idiots that are
made such by the direct influence of legal
lied rum. Two hundred thousand children
are annually sent to poor houses and chart
table institutions by rum. We see at a
glance upon what substantial and SPLEEN
did basis these wrested means would place
our common school interests, affording
ample facilities for the education of the
masses.
The rum power also seriously impedes
the work of religion. 1t is in open hostility
to Christianity, by unanimous consent of
its own friends, who close its avenues of
gain to professors of religion. 1t prevents
attendance on the public worship of God
1t is the fruitful and only source of dis
turbance at religious assemblies. 1t is the
potent agency in procuring backsliding
from a life of religion. 1t absorbs the
means that ought to 90 to the support of
the gospel. All the Christian Churches of
the United States expend annually $50, 000,
600 for all purposes. The retail liquor
business in one year amounts to 81, 1885,
491, 800 more than the sum expended in
the interests of religion. This surplus
IN Non ooh IT, t,aeia sn e. I;,IS ~ ~,
,,,,,,bor. 81 t,,o Shn;..;o,, Ch"oi'n 20 sno
innd that tbow Jonnsi+ mali o,o ,'i ~ Gor
IF votes fnr c,nd;Jotos for ros,ons;L1a
osooo 49,, n,a o ,,so tha;n noIi+;an, a auaI
i,H,'a,oo - ,ornnt,,,to tI,e -. 80 M q, u
Chmrcb holds tba IaIance Of ,'o,,.a, =, ~.
resnect and If her n;IIion If vptes could ha
Lald nc ono ,oto oyor tLo ho,Js ~ LIE;
clans. to be deposited for God and temner.
ance, to elevate the best men to office. orr
last victory would soon ne achieved.
The rum power dishonors and oyerthrows
our domestic relations. The Lord has set
us up in families, the better to meet and
discharge the commanding duties of life.
The liquor system impoverishes, embtters
and ruthlessly murders all the endearing
ties of home. The money that ought to go
to make our homes in the United States
comfortable and happy is expended for
Intoxicating drinks annually to the amount
OF 81, 4Ss' 49l, 500. This sum would give
over S45 TO each man, woman and child III
the country, or about S6oo to each destitute
family mus we nave an easy remedy
PROVIDED pro-! Ior the poverty OF nation.
;" nj ene ioiesolhs is"liui sun vi ilo,ey
Il, Is "oiso :h'i ""Sleu every year III 'iie
lquor BUSINESS VIC lthu thG saiue Oh SIX