Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-03
Help the good Reform.

Help the good Reform.
Please allow one who, in his early youth
suffered much, and to-day feels the blighting
land, and of our age, intemperance, to make
a simple, earnest appeal to all to give not only
their assent, TO the christian excellency OF
the grand reform now moving the hearts and
influencing the lives of so many of our peo-
pie so deeply, but to give it their sympathy
and aid; not in words merely, but by acts and
deeds such as will gladden. the hearts of all
who have suffered from the cause, or are suf-
fering. Desolate homes everywhere abound.
Many mothers this day are Sitting in unutter-
able sorrow. Oh, how many little children
there are whose haggard and sorrowful faces
tell such tales Of woe, as no words can speak !.
! And this cruel wrong is done in christian
| land. Does any one ask where such homes
and such victims of this cruel wrong may be
found? The land is full of such. And in
almshouses, jails, houses of correction, insti<
| tutions for the insane and idiotc, State Prison
and Reform Schools, you find their graduates.
| Everywhere where sorrow is, there are the
victims of rum. l need make no array of
facts and incidents, to prove this to you; the
fact is patent TO all. Do you ask who, is to
blame for the existence of these wrongs! All
of us are guilty. All men who drink the vile
poison. All who traffic in it in any way.
The man who drinks little, more than he who
drinks much. The moderate or temperate
drinker, than the drunkard in the gutter.
And here deny that there can be any tenn
perate use of anything hurtful, any more than
| there can be a temperate violation Of the ten
| op nnf mo IN u |
have already referred, are not the only suffer-
ers. The whole community suffers in many
ways. Additional burdens are laid upon all;
not Of taxes only, but of care, responsibility
| and fear. If we travel on sea or land, this
vice thrus.s itself upon US. If we send our
friends by any public mode of travel, it is not
without more or less apprehension for their
safety; induced by the common use of rum.
From all such anxiety, we have a right to de-
mand exemption. No engineer who drinks
one glass, should ever be allowed to run
train freighted with human souls. No con-
ductor is qualified to start train of cars in
the morning, or at any time, who spends the
night or any part of it with drinking compan-
ions. No pilot should put his hand to the
wheel who drinks. No coach driver should
be allowed to take his seat who touches poison
But am told it is fashionable to drink
! Fashionable, / once asked man who had
just driven wife and four small children from
their home, why he drank, and he said ''all
gentlemen drink. | am gentlemen" Think
of this answer, moderate drinkers. This man
only few years since, stood where you now
stand to-day, a respectable moderate drinker.
He lies day where you may, in drunkard's
grave; and the inheritance of his children is
a drunkard's shame. The blame is with you,
moderate drinker, and with you is its remedy.
Whoever you may be, you are the men and
women, the power that holds up this great
wrong. Social exaltation does not, cannot re-
lieve you from this fearful responsibility.
The more exalted, the more potential your in
fluence upon the young and all who look to
you for example and judge of the moral quail
ty of acts by you. The drunkard's deeds are
loathing to youth, and they turn from him in
disgust. But the wine that sparkles and gives
its color in the cut glass and silver of the rich
and socially exalted, has led and is leading
thousands to exclaim in anguish of soul, sit
bieth like serpent and stingeth like an
adder" DO you ask, IAN l my brother
keeper l answer yes, upon every principle
of good morals. You ask again have l not a
right tQ. drink what please? answer as de-
cidedl~ no. Upon no principle of law, hu-
man or divine, can you claim any such rights.
Science proves that all alcoholic drinks are
poison. Animals below man will not touch it.
Vegetable life dies at its touch. Divine law
sanctions no such indulgence of appetite; and
it is principle of common law, as old as law
itself, that no men can have any right incon-
sistent with the public good Can any man be
found who will contend that the use of rum
however moderately, is consistent with the
peace and well being Of the people? Admit
ing all this to be true, what is the remedy
The remedy lies with you, fashionable, mod
crate drinker. By your example you encour-
aged and supported the wrong. Your duty is
plain. You must now lead the right. Your
faces have been turned tward Sodom, you
must now turn them toward Zion and help
sing the songs of the redeemed. Do l hear
you saying we wish we'll to the good cause
This will not do. While you continue &c
drink you give the lie to this and show youl
insincerty, and by your example teach insin-
cerity. Every day you declare that men ir
responsible stations should rigidly practice
total abstinence. But men in such situation!
doubt your sincerity, because you do not give
them your example and lead the way. You
can have such men when you practice your
self what you demand in others, and not til
then. Streams do not rise higher than thei
sources. Homes where the wine is allowed
to give its color in the cup, to say nothing O
stronger drinks, must not expect to be exemp
from drunken sons and debauched daughters
To yoa, presidents and directors and agents o
great enterprises; you, merchants, farmers
and mechanics you, judges. lawyers an'
doctors; you, men of all honorable callings
appeal for aid in behalf of this great re
form. Sign the pledge, and thus by your ex
ample lift up the fallen, and be lifted will
them to higher plains of thought, duty AM
action. l call upon all who love their kind
and see in man a brother for whom Chris
died, to strike hands and help make all home
happy. Do this, l pray you, in behalf o
beauty, innocence and childhood betrayed
and outraged Do it, that all homes may be
come sacred to peace. Do it that our safet!
may be secured both on sea and land. d,
it in the name and for him who said, ''inas
much as We did it unto the least of these m,