The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-27
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Temperance Cause with Us.


At this date, We, as a people of Somerset, are
being surrounded by marked achievements, for
the present at Ieast. OF the. " omens Temperance
Movement" Our daily papers are fraught with
wonderful reports Of so-called victories from
near and distant villages, towns and cities
Runners for the wholesale liquor firms are on
their latest trip only selling their hundredth
barrel Evidently, our free trafEe Is thus not
only being impeded IN its baneful current, but
10 4 great extent is radically suppressed. The
cause as such, has enlisted the interests and
personal influence OF men Of every rank in our
nation. Temperance is the ery-hut total pro-
hibition and abstinence the manifest desired
result. This prohibition, 50 far, has direct ref
erence TO the traficker, and abstinence 10 the
diinker. The maker or distiller as yet is unno-
ticed. We have comments TO pass upon the
so-called "wonen's Temperance Movement"
Their object is good; the means they employ to
attain said object are good in their normal place
and sphere. The per1nanency Of the good they
accomplish will be proved by time itself. As for
Temperance and its cause We are willing and
ready to give our entire aid and influence, while
permitted TO labor within the sphere of Gods
wisdom.
Temperance, in It's native sense and nature, is
of heaven-born origin. 1t is gift profered
tue it is one OF the foundation stones Of and yet
the keystone 10 the true and immortal character
Of man. Thus, comparatively with its sister
virtues, it stands first and last in rank. To be a
living virtue in man, 1t must peryade the human
heart, and thus stay every lust with the Seepter
of Life. Abstinence nor prohibition is not ne
cessariIy temperance. Either may be the crea-
ture OF statutory law, Of sheer necessity, and
either or both be the observance of the most in
temperate heart. The Jehovah OF Israel, the
Jesus of Nazareth, and the Paul Of the ''most |
strictest sect Of the Pharisees,' would have
Temperance TO be ''nsoderafioH ia al things
When this, however, is not observed in either /
sphere Of vice and debaucheTy, then we, a
people arr ever Justified in making special Ell I
forts 10 secure Temperance, or at least, its most
general fruits TO fallen man. Drunkenness, ac-
cording to the present temperance agitation, is |
our most besetting and alarming sin and vice.
And while the work of reform is being executed
all around us, what shall We, a. the people OF
Somerset, do in this matter Shall we remain |
silent and inactive, and thus practically affirm |
that there is no room for reform with Us? That
there Is a common cry with us for temperance, |
no one is too deaf to hear-and we hope no one
10th to believe. But what shall We do TO secure
the hoped for result?
ed Of the following, which we contribute in the
form Of propositions, to be published read and
reflected upon by the reader at large, and by that
class Of our citizens directly referred To in the
proposition.
We have reports from few Of oar S,loonists
that they propose, to-wit:
1--WE will cease all liquor traffic, if our dry
goods merchants will give the entire trade in
groceries. Or, will quit the traffic il all our
saloOnists and our druggists will quit"
Here worthy citizens of the dry-goods firms,
and YOU fellow-trafiekers, have two very fair
and just propositions. Ponder them well.-
Hold an early meeting of equalization Of mer-
chandisc Hold an impartial interview in a fun
assembly of trafickers, upon the evils, the re-
sponsibilities of your fhquor-trafiicking. You are
the proper men to modify or stop it. You have
the timely opportunity-the individual honor,
ability and cOnseientiousness. What day of
rejoicing will it be in families who daily
being ravshed of all social physical and spirit
ual comfort, honor and joy, by habitual drink
ing. What Il hope will community, our
State, our Zion, have when our youth, our young
men shall no longer be found quafing the $50
cial, 4" but bdneftt drink. What greater prompt
ings could we ask than these of the living pres
ent to inspire us TO consistent, immediate and
hopeful action?
Respectfully,
d. NJ WEIsMAS.