The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-12-12

ders aud prevents the accomplishment of
much good in the community where such
an one lives ] set il down as q fact, then,
that there is no excuse, no defence, no pal.
iation that can be offered that will, or can
by any possibility, justify drunkenness. 1t
is An unmitigsted evil an indefensible thing
and totally berel OF reason and argument.
The question, then, Is whether in.
toxicatiug liquor shoud be used at all. as a
Beverage or Tor any other than medical pur.
poses.
Temperance people believe, ,.and assert
that reason, experience, and religion teach
most emphstically, and in manner un
mistakabiy plain, that the use oi intoxi-
eating liquors for any but medical purposes,
isa gross violation OF the laws OF our
nation, an abuse OF the mind and body,
aud great moral evil, that iebauches
snd blun,s the moral sense of the com.
IN view OF fact patent to every observing
mind, that total abstinence is the only true
rule OF lie in respect TO intoxicatiu. drink.
Some OF these facts propose to enumsr.
ate. The county poor house, the jail, the
penitentiary, are filled with men and
women, large majority OF whom were
accustomed, before incarceration, to the
frequent and habitusl use OF intoxicating
drink The criminals OF the land are almost,
without exec ption, devoted TO the cup
Much Of the crime daily committed
il done by those under the Influence of
liqnor at the time as is abundantly proved
by the press OF the country. Nearly the
whole amount of poverty in the land is
the result, immediate or indirect, OF the
Use OF Intoxicating drink. AJAX the at.
iention OF all who read this statement,
to the history OF those whom they know
! To be in absolute want, in proof OF my
assertion. Intoxicating liquors debiltate
aud enfeeble the body, destroys our letters
the finest faculties OF the mind, and makes
man slave, unified for busiuess.or any OF
the high duties OF lie For proof OF this,
look upon any one whose drams are taken
regularly aud frequently. Business men
hesitate and refuse to employ or trust those
Who use the cup, Tor experience teaches
them that liquor cannot be trusted nor
the man who drinks it,
Tue largest fortunes, the highest hopes,
the greatest regulations, have been destroy
ed 10y liquor, rs attes. the declarations OF
many poor unfortunate. The use OF
even single glass no matter how firm the
resolve TO never imbibe to drunkenness, If
unsafe, dangerous, aud may lead on to
drunkarj's grave, for l:qnor il insiduous,
tempting, and strong, and regular or occa-
sional drams foster, beget aud feed an
appetite aud passion therefor that controls
even the strongest minds Let the history
Of thousands attest the truth OF the state
meat. Why, then. WW men run this risk
II does no good challenge the whole
army OF whiskey men and whiskey advo-
Gates to show any good whatever, arising
from the drinking a. "A beverage, OF glass
OF liquor to the person 90 drinking it; aud
II It does no good and may do much evil,
what reasonable ma will take the chan
ces? Does not ordinary caution, such a.
men use in business matters, does not rea-
son, does not truth, urge and prohibit even
a single dram? The history Of inlenpsr-
ance, in most cases, l. n rapid stride rom
the single glass to overwhelming ruin, and
this act l. patent to all who will see and
reason ] judge intoxicating drink by its
fruits aud effects, and ~ view ~ these,
denonnce it as dangerous, and ,ubyer.iye
OF all that true men must prize, a foe OF
mankind, unreleuting, remorselrs- and
lmplacabe. PRomBrioN.
dec Id 1879