Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-06-09
HOW TO EFFECT A TEMPER
ANCE REVIVAL.
BY HON. SCHUYLER CoLFAx.

II a pcstilence were raging il
the land, spreading from city tc
city, from hamlet to hamlet, filling
our cemeteries with graves and oul
houses with mourning, every lover
| Of humanity would feel it duty to
use his utmost influence to arrest
its deathly progress. Every pre-
yentiye to its spread would be test
ed. Every habit Of life that con
tributed to its progress, would be
abandoned. Boards Of health
would appeal to the people. The
press would vigorously second
these appeals. And organizations
of those who appreciated the dan
ger would labor personally with
those less informed to induce them
to aid in arresting the march Of the
destroyer.
But more fatal epidemic than
the cholera from the jungles Of In
dia, or the yellow fever from tho
malaria of the tropics, is in our
midst. Not as an occasional yisi-
tor. Not to yield to the health
reyiying frost Of the autumn. But,
year after year, in winter as well as
in summer, acclimated and nation
allied, it goes on with its work
sweeping on, almost unchecked,
in its career of horrid triumph.
Without criticising
any other plan of labor, therefore,
or arguing against any other theo-
ry, | ask to be permitted to sug-
gest what regard as the most et-
feclive way to awaken the much
needed Revival of Temperance in
our land 1t involves personal eff
forts and unremitting labor. 1t
eleyates the idea of individual re-
sponsibility. 1t does not content
itself with one or two or half-a-
dozen public temperance meetings
per year. 1t remembers that, to
promote religion, faithful, constant,
persistent, continuous work is
needed-that an edifice and an or
ginization are insufficient without
the Word, the oft and oft reitera-
ted appeal to the sinner, the Sab
bath and weekday meetings from
year to year, and all those other
indications of a healthy, effective,
active and growing church. What
l propose is, similar labor, anima-
ted by similar spirit, and imbued
with a similar individual RESPONSE
bility, which looks on every inebri-
ate as a brother, fallen though he
may be. and holds out helping
hand TO save him from the de
struction to which he is fastening,
and to restore him, clothed In his
right mind, to family and friends
1t is to SO persistantly and unre-
mittingly present facts and argu-
ments before the minds of all, that
the rising generation may be thor
oughly fortified against its temp
tations, and preserved from them,
and that those who drink moder-
ately may realize their danger, and,
ifnot for their sake, yet for the ex-
ample upon others, voluntarily
surrender such habits.
The intelligent reader will see
that what l allude to is the revival,
as far as practicable, of that kind
oflabor known thirty years ago as
the Washington Reform, whose
ruling principle was ito persuade
rather than compel" Its wonder
full history has not yet faded away
from tile public mind. Never was
there such a work accomplished in
any nation. Never was there more
beneGcent results from an earthly
effort. Never was there more la
Dor cheerfully performed. Never
did the labor bring forth such good
fruit in joy, in the hearts Of all the
laborers.