The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-02-21
For the Republican
Intemperance.

SAVANNAH, February 10, lisa.
We are not ~agitating the public mind TO dis
turb the p sacc, nor do we work with a feeling Of
malics or spit,, but for The purpose Of arresIing
the evil Of drunkenness, that is now sweeping
over our land like n vast sea of dcstruction-rush
ing along through the ranks Of men, bearing on
iis black Matters of pollution men of all ages,
rank and condition down, down, through the
dark valley and shadow Of II drunkard's death,
where the doors ofhell are always opening In
waris and the prayers and anguish I lnd avail
not. The curse ofthis tempting serpent, this en-
efny Of mankind, is visited not only tn the poor
and uneircatod, but in all ages and nationalifirs
nun In his noblest estate has been ruined by
drunkenness: scholars, philosophers, statesmen,
orators, soldiers, poets and artists; some hold
ing the very destiny Of nations IN their hsnts.
others who have explored the vast fields OF ma
ture and brought Ia the light Of science gem. Of
truth that must shine forever; such have been
victims Of u vitia,ed appetite and died drunksrds:
and youth Just coming into manhood, his moth
er's pride and comfort: 1t was but a short time
ago when he WAS one of cHrth's brightest forms,
beautiful in his ~infantile purity AS lie played
upon her knee. She has tUiled and hoped. aud
now her reward Is that the tcmptcr has won him;
he IL transformed into u worthless, wicked be-
ing. She suffers in mute agony she canno, cx-
press her grief. This l. u case that must ava
ken our best sympathies. Here We would ask
the dram-seller, when lac looks Mt his own young
boy, il he fees for that mother H. has helped 10
rob Of her treasurer
BY the conunonest Information, We find that
England spends YEARLY five hundred millions Of
dollars in alcoholic drinks, and from INV To
seventy millions of dollars 10 support her pau-
pers; and we spend in a similar ratio, according
U tn. cost of whisky.
II is useless to argue that inicInper,nce Is
wrony, for we have living monuments telling
The too sad story. TO 10 nur jaiis, penitrntiaries
and lunatic a-ylums, squalid, dirty novels of
want aud suffering, and that relic OF barbarism.
tl,. UgllnN,-1l Will nrpaput Vnl Inn ,frnnv eyl-
'lcnce that the chief march of life II in the wine
cup. But the practice of selling intoxicating
liquors or Haunting TEMPTATION In the face OF the
masses, who are so differently constituted. makes
II one of The most dangerous rs Well rs the great
est crimes that tie legal authority in any country
ever tolerated. ] am aware that this Is n strong
assertion; nevertheless, true Ninety-nine men
out nj one hundred, after they have contracted u
morbid appetite, cannot govern themselves.
Whenever they can get it they will drink and after
being intoxicated the most OF them ARE like hends,
seeking whom they may destroy. The BRAIN Is
80 infinm-d by the poison thai In their soberest
mood, they are nothing better than immoral ma
MACS. j. W. Booth was an example while his
brain was -rcthing with brandy his evil coad-
tutors induced MIN TO pcrpetrate his great crime;
for such u cause do We mourn our beloved Lin
coin.
we would think very hard Of Mr.. Barnum II
he should come through Our Towns and cities
with his mammoth mrnngcrie, and turn his ami
mails loose 80 tha, They would deyour our people;
yet men degraded below the level Of beasts are
tuuN III u''t iI'lh ihNii t'Hs va " " ainl
upon morality, deiiie religion, destroy peace and
happiness, 10 lead our Young men by their evil
down the path Of rrim, IN an early
grave, host to themselves. lost to their country
their God. ! believe thai from forty to fiity
die annually in our country 81 strong
drink. They die and MI itishonorable graves;
the only legacy left devoted wives and helpless
children Il shamr. disgrace and poverty.
Shall the heart of thts great Nations nation of
free schools, free institutions, the founder of hui |
man liberty, beat in mufll4d sorrow to this
ghastly tread. or shall we have a change so that
zach pulsatiDu will hiring rcacr, harmony anil
wealth. and safety for all? We ASK for II change.
How nrc We to procure IL? We have tried tcm-
pernncc associations, total abstinence clubs, the
revenue tax on whisky, yet the cries oi our
brother still come unto u>. We feel that We are
our brothers. keeper. yet we cannot keep Cain
from Staying him. There seems To be two corul- |
laries TO this hard probIem-iirst, that the fun
lamental principles Of law are based ON the NOR |
81 and social condition Of the people. governed
by the consent and for the protection Of said pro-
pie. We have no laws to protect us from this
What laws that do cXist concerning the
liquor trafhc nre contrary to the wishes Of the !
majority of the people. There should be u law
for the liquor seller, with u severe
holding him responsible No far ~ POSI-
for the evil he does.
econd-ih we can educate the masses and
bring them to o higher plane; hence, out Of the