Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-11-21
For the Spectator.
So Called Friends.

! Scarcely day passes that we are not ap
preached by the so-caed friends of quite
large class of our fellow-townsmen, with the
questions Cant you bring our young friends
A., B., and c., under the influence of your Or.
der? Can't you persuade them to Join the
| Friends of Temperament" They are clever,
warm hearted, generous young men, whose
greatest fault seems to lie in their inability to
say INC" when asked by thoughtless friend
to take drink. Once get them within the in
huence of your Order and you will have armed
them with at least one good weapon to use
against the insidious attacks of a ruthless de-
stroyer." -'
TO such questions we have but one answer to
make: My dear sir, the Temperance men of
this and other communities are doing all they
can to reform the drinking usages of society are
doing all they can to save such men as A., B.,
and c., these friends of yours But have you no
part to play in this work of reformation? Are
you doing your a0hole duty in this matter? What
influences are you bringing to bear upon these
young men for whom you profess so much
friendship, and for whose sake, l doubt not,
you are trying to persuade yourself that you
would do so much-would practice so much
selfdeuial.
Are you identified with the Temperance
cause? You answer no for / do not drink. :"
Very well, so far. We hope you never may be
pie thus far is very good IF you do not drink,
of course, upon all suitable occasions, you dis
claim against the traffic in ardent spirits ?
Again you answer mo, why should dlsclalm
against it? 1t is allowed By law, and l have
no right to disclaim against lawful traffic No
right to disclaim against it ! All, my dear sir,
be as honest upon this subject as you are upon
others of less vital importance. We have 9th
er iniquitous laws upon our Statute books,
against which you are constantly heard to dis
claim, and you are now ready on your part to
instruct those law makers, but SO recently elect
ed by the aid of your vote, 70 use their influence
to have them repealed. Why not instruct
them to repeal or modify the existing laws with
regard to the traffic In ardent spirits-the most
iniquitous laws upon our Statute books. Think
of it-men licensed to KILL to multiply widows
and orphans, and to bring gray hairs with sor-
row to the grave-and you no right to dlsclaim
against it. Shame Shame!-Away with such
miserable excuses You can dsclaim against
an iniouitous twelve per cent law, affecting only
the pocket, and remain silent upon law which
effects not only the pocket, but the bodies and
souls of your fellow mortals Away with such
philanthropy. If We, by our patronage, or
even by our silence, encourage a traffic which
fills our land with heggars, widows orphans
and crimes, and the world Of woe with victims
VI UlspalF, IL We COuultu6ilcS
In extending and perpetEating q national ca
lamity, and those whose example is pestlferous
and whose presence withers the tender .chari-
ties OF lie, and perpetuates weeping, lamenta-
ton and woe, are We not partakers OF other
men's sins? All how many thousands may
be saved from entering into temptation, and
how many thousands saved who have already
entered, if the temperate part Of every COM
munity would not eniy disclaim against estab-
lishments which thrive by the dissemination oi
moral contagion, but will begin to act with de-
termined discrimination, Will but separate
between the precious and the vile, the living
and the dead, and burn incense betReen, that
the plague may be stayed. Reflect apon thi:
matter, asd be guided by your honest eonvic
tons
NO Al.