The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-05-05
TEMPERANCE CAUSE IN MARIETTA.

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ence than any other, and those .who
have moral courage to advocate 1t,
with the pen Or upon the rostrum,
are not only subject to the vllest
abuse from those who are slaves to
alcoholic stimulants, but they are too
often denounced as fanatics by many
who acknowledge that the evil of
incompetence is growing one, and
which if not checked, will ultimate
ly undermine society, and plunge
the whole community in misery and
despair. Undersuc circumstances,
it is not difficult to understand why
so many men who are recognized as
philanthropists, and who are possess
ed of eminent abilities, shrink from
openly advocating it; yet it is to
be regretted that men are so devoid
of moral courage as to refrain from
the discharge of a duty which they
owe to their God and their fellow
creatures. TO such it is not consid-
cred disreputable or disrespectful to
publicly profess and advocate the
cause of Christianity, and therefore
it is exceedingly remarkable that
they should hesitate to array them
selves on the side of Temperance
One cannot succeed without the 9TH
err; hence it may be truly said that
no man can be a true Christian who
is addicted to intemperance, and,
therefore, every churchman should
lend all his energies, contribute all
his talents and abilities, and exert all
his influence not only to check its
increasing ravages, but to destroy all
the means which contribute to its
existence. What manner of man is
he who sits quietly in his own Parlor
while the house of his neighbor is in
flames, and yet how many are there
who daily look with unconcern upon
their dearest friends and relatives,
as they are being consumed by
strong drink.
1t is too late now to speak or
write in favor of prohibiting liquor
law, for intcmperance has done got
a hold on society, and the time has
now come for action, and the sooner
the people are brought to a just sense
of their duty to act the better. In
Marietta, intemperance is rapidly in
creasing, and it must be checked
by bringing into temperance socle-
tios those addicted to its beneful in
huence. Beggary is one of the
fruits of intemperance crime and
immortality result from the same
cause, while vice, degradation, pau
perism, and every species of human
depravity have their origin and flow
from the same source. Is there, in
this enlightened age, no remedy
which will prove eficacious in
removing this great evil ? Yes
God has endowed man with certain
faculties, principal among which is
reason, andas that faculty, while it
constantly reminds him of his de-
penysssee upon his Creator, also adj
moAFhes him of his duty to his fell
loV=man, and as he is thus warned,
it cannot be denied that in order to
manifest his gratitude for the bless
ings which he enjoys, that he should
do everything in his power to allie
viate the misfortunes and sufferings
of his fellow creatures, and, as in
temperance is admitted to be the
most prolific source of all evils, then
it is mans duty to destroy it.
The most effective means to ac-
complish this duty, are those en-
ployed by the temperance Organiza-
ton, and those who desire to pro-
mote the public welfare should not
only connect themselves with that
movement, but they should become
active co-workers in all of its plans
and operations. Bestow praise,
rather than ridicule upon those who
play an active part in the philan-
thropic enterprise of temperance,
for encouragement is necessary to
inspire them with confidence, and to
assure them their labors are appre-
ciated.