The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-10-23
CHE Mgatietta gnnrnal.
Marietta, Ga, Friday, Dot 49, 1874
THE TERRIBLE EVIL

Of intemperance and the necessi-
ty of organized opposition to it, is
more than admitted, it is felt by all
who have given the subject any Sc
rious thought. 1t IS therefore not
the purpose of this article to discuss
the matter in general, or to offer
any special arguments against it (;
but to call attention to only one fea>
ture in the temperance movement in
our own city, a feature much to be
be deplored, and it is hoped soon to
be remedied.
1t is the lamentable fact SO many
of our best citizens have stood aloof
from the cause, and failed to join in
actively and comparatively in push
ing it forward to that 'sconsumma>
ton so devoutly to be wished"-the
entire extirpation of the whiskey
curse from our midst; and this too
in the face of the fact that the lodge
has been in existence for years and
weekly opportunities have been CIV
en- to all to come up and join it
This class, thus recreant to their du-
ty to society, consists largely Of our
most prominent and influential citi>
zens, men and women who are tenn
perate themselves, who love good
order, peace and sobriety, who re-
ioice in all individual happiness and
municipal prosperity, who claim to
be always found on the side of phi
lanthropy and good morals, many of
them christian men and women,
whose Bible if daily read must daily
teach them that they must "love
their neighbors as themselves" = that
they are "their brothers keepers"
But what is more surprising than
this, is that the ministers of the Cos
pei in our midst with but one noble
exception), who Ego in and out be.
fore this people" and who should
lead them in "every good word and
work." who not unfrequently lift
their voices in the pulpit and cry
aloud against the lruinous conse-
quences of strong drink both to
body and soul, have also failed to
come out boldly and indentify them
selves with the temperance cause.
The friends of temperance did
think and reasonably too, that they
would have the prompt, hearty and
active cooperation Of the messen-
gers of "peace and good will to
man."
The permanency, the potency for
good, the power to finally drive this
dreadful curse from our city and our
homes depends entirely on the uni
ted and determined persistent eff
forts Of all the friends Of cause.
Not that you should be simply |
we'll .wishers Of the cause, not that
you should say "Go ahead, "'I hope |
you'll succeed" at is a good thing
and I am with you," this is not
enough /; we want your sympathy
and influence tits true, but we want
more; we want your name on our
roll, your personal identification with
the cause and active cooperation in
it's interests. We want you and we
ask you to come out boldly and
unite with us in heart and hand.
In view Of the vital and pressing
importance of this question and in
the light Of the truth, so earnestly
rung into your ears by the eloquent
Hickman, "that if an evil exist in
our midst and you have it in your
power to put it down, and refuse to
do it, just as far as your influence
goes, just so far you are responsible
for its continuance" how the good
people Of the city can longer hold
off and disregard the claims the
cause has upon them is to this writ
err and all the friends of Temper
ance matter of great
AsToNisHMENT.