Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-07-02
NUMBER 40.
TOT the Spectator.
"Middlebrook" 2rays,

1t won't do, friend "Middlebfook." You
must not change the position of the characters
introduced into your article purporting to he an
answer to ITO You" written over mo. Al
While writing your article you seem to have
laoored under mlsapprehension as to the rel
atlve position OF the characters introduced
You seem to have lost sight of the fact, that
Balaam and not the Ass was the rider, and that
the Ass and not Balaam was the party feeling
himself aggrieved. And it is most remarka-
BILE fact, most remarkable coincidence, worthy
of note, that the Ass did not rebuke Balaam
until he had struck him three times. mid
dlebrook" did not bray until ''No. At had
struck him three blows-the third blow doubt
less under the fifth rib
Believing we are right, we have buckled on
our urarmor-'Faith, Temperance and Charity
and are ready at all times, God helping US, to
do battle for the right. Our work is below, but
our faith Is on high, and we look for success to
Him alone who is able to give US the victory.
We are neither disheartened nor discouraged.
The thunder all around the Temperance sky
indicates earnest, unremitting fighting against
the common enemy.
If it is your purpose to champion drunkard-
makers, permit Us to advise you to change, not
only your mode of attack but your Weapons
Ridicule will never drive US from our earnest
purpose to labor for the good of others neither
will ASS -braying avail you anything against an
organization whose principles are not merely
things of expediency, but eternal truths.
Heretofore, ridicue has been the chief weap-
on used against the Temperance Army. The
whiskey-ring is indebted to you for having in
troduced Balaam's beast, an improved weapon,
combination of Ridicule and Ass-braying.
mo. Al" may be crazy fanatic, aye more,
he may be the veriest Ass that ever brayed,
still if these facts were established beyond
peradventure, they would not detract from the
truth and purity of our Temperance principles,
nor prove the Temperance enterprise to be a
failure nor disprove single statement made
in the article headed ITO You."
Notwithstanding the tremendous odds we
have to contend against-enemies from without
and enemies from within-speaking enemies,
writing enemies and brdying enemies, We re-
oice to be able to say that the light of truth is
advancing and our foes are retreating. Thus
far our Temperance enterprise has been tri-
umphant success. As witnesses to the fact, we
| point to the fruits Of our abors-we show our
| Faith by our works: The Temperance enter
prise found humanity PROSTATE and bleeding
and is raising it tenderly In soft and loving
arms and is placing its feet firmly on the rock
of total abstinence. 1t has fed the hungry and
| clothed the naked, healed the sick and taught
| the ignorant, elevated the degraded and glad
dened the sorrowful, and led to the cross many
that had been wandering far away--it has
gathered again the fortune that had been scat
| tered, and built again the home that had been
ruined, and raised again the character that had
| been blasted, and bound up the heart that had
| been broken-it has given peace where there
was discord and gladness where there had been
| woe 1t has broken open many prison door
and restored, to his right mind many ma
niac--it has turned into useful citizens those
who were a pest to society. Like some fair
spirit of another world, she has trodden the
wilderness and flowers of beauty have sprung
up upon her track-she has looked around,
| gladdening all on whom her smiles have fallen
she has touched the captive and his letters
have fallen off-she has spoken and the coun-
tenance of despair has been lighted up with
hope-she has waved her magic wand and the
wilderness has rejoiced and blossomed as the
rose. Like the tabled Orpheus she has warbled
her song of mercy and wild beasts losing theil
ferosity have followed gladly aud gratefully in
her train She has raised up those that have
been worse than dead, sepuchered in sin, and she
has led many to the living waters OF salvation.
Ali these speak out with emphasis and say thai
! thus far Temperance is triumphant success
No good cause, no noble enterprise ultimately
.saiis. Temperance must pass through Its sew
er al phases-but it Is born OF truth and cdnno
f,;' Numbers of those who, during the late
war. bad the courage to look IN the cannon
mouth and 10 march through hurricanes O
flame. are nov wearing the regaha and bearing
the bann,ar of Temperance, and they and thos
who march With them kaog no such word
fail-it is not in their vocabulary; not In ther
songs and speeches and passwords.
God speed the right. 'AO. AZ.