The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-06-13
For The Interior Journal
ISTEMPERANCE.


"Wine is mocker, strong drink is
raging and whosoever Is deceived there
by is not wise" The minds of the peo-
pie have not been properly worked upon
in regard to the evils of intemperance.
That il is a curse in the sight of God,
as well as the greater portion Of mankind
that is, the well-thinking portion, at
least-no one will deny. That it has
been blighting curse to the better and
noblei qualifications Of man, and is, to-
day, dragging down into the lowest pits
Of degradation our most learned and en-
terprising men, no one will attempt to
gainsay. How degrading it is tosee no.
bic, highminde1 and well educated per-
son drunk ard wallowing in the cutters,
or lounging in the dens Of iniquity and
by-ways of sin. See the blood-shotten
eve, the cold, uncertain stare of inebri-
alton, verging on the very brink If in
sanity. What can be more degradingi
Go look on the records of the insane
asylums of the country, there you will
find enrolled upon their pages thousands
upon thousands of names, of both sexes,
and from all the various walks Of life,
the cause of which is attributable to the
love of the wine cup; first acquired at
the family table, then gradually devel-
oped in moderate drarn-drinking, and at
last receive the finishing touch in the
lowest and vilest dens of infamy-the
bar-room, where night after night are
held revels to Bacchus, the sight of which
would make the most hardened inebriate
blush for shame were he to witness them
when entirely free from the influence Of
the fatal cup-from thence to the sta
/ tion-house, still on to prison, and finally
to be carried to the gallows to die the
death of an outcast and murderer. The
above picture is not an imaginary or over
drawn one; but on the contrary, from
the writers brief, though sad experience,
and partly from observation. These and
many other facts should make every one
against the use and manufacture of this
great evil. Drunkenness is a sin in the
eyes of Heaven, and imprudent in those
of the world.
1t has truly been said, that the associ-
alton in which person mingles, often
leads him to touch and quaff to the dregs
the poisoned cup. Why not discard the
companionship of those who are daily
leading you to your own destruction 7
Far better that you should eschew socie-
ty altogether, than have the finger of
scorn pointed at you, for allowing your
self to be lowered to equality with the
vilest beast of Gods creation. Have you
not vague suspicion that there really is
Providence which, sooner or later, even
in this world, will return
''rhe ingredients of the poisoned chalice
To your own lips"
1t is false sense OF propriety that re-
quires one to indulge in the cup of intox-
ication at the solicitation os a friend.
"Wo unto him that giveth his neighbor
drink, that puttest thy bottle to him and
maketh him drunken also, that they
mayest look on their nakedness.'
How sad is il for mother to see her
son, the pride and stay of her life, sun
ken in the slough of drunkenness, that
even his former associates avoid him as
being unworthy Of their companionship;
who but mother thus bereaved Of her
first hope, can paint the agony Of a moth
er's hearth Who but a sister who has
seen her brother, whom she looked up
on with pride and affection, torn away,
as il were, descending the paths Of intem-
perance and vice, can imagine sisters
sorrowi With such facts as these be-
fore US, enacted in ever day life, imme-
diately under our very noses, cannot
imagine why our goOd-tbinking citizens
will countenancs the sale and use af in
toxicating liquors. Christians, honest,
welldeserying and law,abiding men, we,
the Good Templars, want your hearty
support to drive intemperance from the
land, and establish instead government
free from the curse Of intoxicating IL
quors, murders, and all such kindred
crimes. The opportunity will, perhaps,
be presented to you next August. Then
rally around our standard with hearty
good cheer. DON JUAN.