Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-06-07
Writkr1. for Tie Journal
Drunkenness and its Curses.

DIuuhtuubSS duu lIS OuISoS'
Who can point US to single benefit de-
rived from our present license law? Who
will dare offer single argument in its favor,
save those who are lest to every sense of
duty pertaining to the cause of Christ?
When the court grants license for the sale
of the intoxicating lava of destruction, why
not set forth at once the full meaning aud
intent of said mandate? Why not have
under frame covered with glass and seal, in
plain language to be read by all the full def
milton of the word, License, that so
many of your town or neighborhood will be
made victims of everlasting destruction,
whole families destroyed, children reared in
crime-their father instead of being their
protector, has become an enemy to his own
household, perjuring the vow he solemnly
made before God and man to the wife he is
now in his mad career sending down to the
grave in sorrow and disgrace; and this is
but drop in the bucket of the fruit of your
license law under .he cover of all the re-
otrictions claimed for it. But, friends of
the cause of common humanity, will you
stand idle and shirk duty encumbent upon
you? How long are we to behold this de-
mon of destruction doing its two fold work
of misery, without an effort on our part to
save the innocent child from a drurkard' S
grave? This Is portion of the fruit of
your license law with all its restrictions.
But when the court steps aside from the
qualifications imposed upon it, and deals out
license without respect to these Gualifica-
tions, is it not high time for the people TO
be aroused to the true sence of their duty :?
Who can refute this cbarge-that license to
sell intoxicating liquor in this community
without proper qualifications has been done.
Is this not heaping corruption upon cor
ruption, vice upon vice, misery upon
misery, crime. upon crime, with broad road
opened wide for our children to travel down
to the lake of eternal perdition? Now,you
who profess Christ, you who claim place
among the membership of the house of
God, what are you going to do? L am ask
ing you plain question, when L say your
conscience has already, preceding the ques-
ton, given the answer what you should do
Do you comprehend me? IF not, a little
reflection may cause you to see the ground
which you occupy. Can you hold fellowship
with the Christian, and at the same time be
instrumental in the destruction OF human
souls? The license law, with all its restric
tions, is the greatest curse that ever dis
gFaced the American nation. But when
court derogates its own bounden depth OF
rights, and pursHes course antagonlstic to
common humanity. How long, under such
state of things, will it require to steep our
country into carnage blood, and ruin ''Ye
cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the
cup of devils ye cannot be partakers OF the
Lords table, and Of the table OF devils,
lst Cor. chap. 81 v. But, notwithstanding
the divine injunction set before you, with the
sounding of the monitor within you, ike Ju
das you deny your LORD and accept the price
paid by Satan's agents of the whisky ring.
You are truly objects of commlsseratlon
you are objects of pity ; you cannot certain
ly claim ignorance for your conduct. No,
not in this dayiof gospel light. But, for the
love and the influence of Satan's minions
you have bartered away your own peace;
and, the neverendless destruction of thous
ands upon thousands of your fellow crea-
lures, IS the fruit of your work. What ex-
cuse can you offer for handing out license as
it has been done, without regard to the
qualifications imposed by the statute book ?
But the excuse can easily be reached. 1t
was simply to secure the vote Of the whisky
ring, and your conscienees will fully confirm
the charge. Man that is in honor, and
uDderstandeth not, is like the beasts that
perish" Psalm Xviii, and 20v. And they
who lend their aid and support to such men
and measures, are simply accessory to the
crime of drunkenness. When you cast your
vote, whether you are Democrat or Re
publican, please remember this.
HUMANITY.
n. B.--Have just seen short article IN
the Republican over the caption OF Far
Play" Contents noted will give 1t due