Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-19
Misfellaneons. g
Something About Temperance.

The excellent report of the committee
on the state of the Order of Hancock
County Lodge |. .. of G.. T., published
i'll your last issue. gives, it seems to me,
despite the slender proof TO the contrary,
q hopeless outlook on the future useful
ness of that order and also family init
mates the dead calm into which the peo-
pies cause-Temperance-in our coun-
try, has driited.
The question may be pointedly and
properly asked, Why is not the cause OF
temperance further advanced? Why is
the woeful drama of the gutter still al
lowed TO display its riotous scenes on
our streets: Surely the cause has taken
TO itself the powerful aid of organiZa-
tions. The Sons of Temperance, Wash
ingtonians, Tcmplars OF Honor, Good
Templars, and others equally effective;
and il has invoked the aid OF the strong
arm of the State. Language has held IT
up with its tsstrongest words. The loath-
someness of the gutter; the villainy OF
the grog-shop and the squalor and
wretchedness Of the drunkard's home,
are themes which have been lifted from
the garrnlous tongues OF village gossips
and put into the mouth of elog1ence.
The pen of the editor and the verse of
the poet have alike sounded the praises
OF temperance. Good seed has been
plentilully sown aud we have looked for
a glorious harvest, but it delayeth its
coming. We look about us and set
these laborers holding their hands as
they look over their dismal harvest
fields. Their disappointment is heart
felt and sincere as they hold up their al
most empty hands. Well might they
exclaim in the language of the vine
dresser Of property. "What could have
been done more TO our vineyard, that
we have not done in it: Wherefore,
when We looked that il should bring
forth grapes, brought it forth wild
grapes:' / claim that there is much
that they might do that they have not
done, or perhaps had better say they
have done all that mortal can do with
machinery that is eternally getting out
OF order. There is an apparent want OF
adaptation of means to produce the de-
sired results. | venture the assertion,
Mr.. Editor, that were we endowed with
the power to visit every Lodge of Good
Templars i'll our State which holds il.
weekly meetings we should see evil
dences of this lack Of adaptation. Now
l am MT going TO reveal the secrets ol
that very worthy order or to assail il
with invective. Ny purpose is very
different. The distinctive work Of thi.
order is "to save the fallen aud to pre-
vent others from falling How mucl
of this work has been really performed
| know not. But now that we know Of
what tl.is order is the savior. let US eli
ter. The first thing that meets our Wis
, ion is a very respectable company o
ladies and gentlemen-men and wOmcI
with VIII, IN we should be proud to as
sociate, with good hearts and heads and
really desirous of doing a saving work
But where are the lost sheep! Where
the man who has been into the 'fal
country" and who ought to have bceI
brought in here that he might "coine IL
I himself!' Where the brother whos'
evil habits have labeled him all Ovel
"Bekold beast" = Where! Not here
From the highways and b ways OF !ii'
the mandlin laugh of tie debaunche
e rings with lis old time ieartiness. NJ
hand is here that has reashed down deep
not a sleeve is here asorned from cuf
: to shoulder with the nire Of the gutter
We smell not the olors of the slums
All! but we are told by some apolOgeti'
? brother-"Our dod's are open TO all, WI
should be glad tofeceive any that ma!
' need our assistsice, buI-adds he-yO,
must not forge'that there are some VIII
: are morally dad, 4. e., have not mora
principle to work upon, and If thel
should com, in here we can do them NJ
d good"
Excue me. my apologetic ffiend-bu
n that il not the true reason. Morall,
}. dead, indeed! l fling back the vile pro