The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-07-25

For The Cecil Wing.
TEMPERANCE SERMON.
NORTH EAST, July IA, 1877

NORTH EAST, July IA, 1874.
MIR. EDIToR-Dedr Sr.-No new thing
write unto you, but merely to stir up the
pure minds Of your readers in way of re-
membrance, "that wine is mocker and
strong drink is raging, and whosoever is
deceived thereby is not wise" The use 9t
intoxicating beverages is acknowledged by
all respectable persons when Intercepted
on the subject to be very great evil. But
intemperance has SO long and universally
prevailed that it has shaped all things in
conformity with itself; its attitude is that
of an institution resting it's proud struc-
ture on the pillars of appetite and preju-
dice, interest and law, it has grown to be
| gigantic system of sin, yet the whole
community has become utterly blind and
Supplied under the dominion of intemper-
ance, our youth are daily and nightly edu-
Gated to intemperance and vice. Still a
strange blindness is over all, and there
seems to be but little sense of the evil, and
no effort on the part of the citizens to re-
| strain it. The cause and the remedy of all
this is apparently unthought of, and pre-
sents quite singular prejudice in favor of
the rumseller and Intoxicating beverages
where there should be natural and intel
ligent dread of both, knowing as we'll they
do, its effects upon the human system and
on all human interests. 1t is no unusual
thing to see men who have INDUCED in the
poisonous beverage, to the expulsion of
Judgment, conscience and self control, and
surrendered themselves for the time into
the possession of demon to be used by
him at his will; and it is plain to any
unprejudiced mind that no human being
has the right thus to turn himself loose
Infatuated among his fellows. In this con-
dition of society, voluntary inclination
should be treated as a crime. Alcohol
should take its place with other dangerous
drugs, and be treated as other poisons are.
The man who drinks it should be taken
care of. If mad dog would make its
appearance in town, every one would be up
in arms against it, and crying out danger,
but there is more dangerous enemy in
our midst and not finger of warning
pointed at the dire evil, Or word spoken
from the pulpit or the parlor; neither from
the street, publicly or privately, to warn
the youth from the coils Of the serpent
which is fast twining itself around them.
If temperance could be sustained and pro-
NOTED without personal sacrifice, it would
| flourish like a tree planted by the river
side, and bring forth fruit in abundance.
But alas all the friends of temperance in
this community seem to fold their arms
with complacency and wait patiently for its
future and spontaneous Developments
The merchant is fearful of loosing the
sale of pound of coffee Or yard of mus
| lin; the doctor, perhaps, would loose a
visit; the lumberman, per chance, loose
the sale of board; the agriculturist a
bushel of grain; the mechanic days
work or pair Of boots or the shooting of a
horse; tho preacher or politician might
loose his popularity; or you take up news
paper and find a temperance article on one
page and on the next an advertisement
informing you where you can find the best
bourbon whisky, brandy, or wine: every
one for himself; and if call is made for a
little assistance to prosecute more vigor-
ously the noble cause of temperance, the
answer is, "We have nothing to spare
The merchants will say, "Our losses are
heavy; bad debts are on the increase" &C.,
&c. We would ask where are those bad
debts? Is it not with those who spend
their time and deposit their money at the
rum mill where every inducoment is laid
out before them to destroy their otherwise
useful and precious minds and morals with.
out murmur from the people? Just sup.
pose for minute if man was to enter a
town or community, and begin to admins.
ter some destructive element amongst the
canine race (Which we could very readily
spare ninetY-nine out Of every hundred,
what do you suppose would be the result
Why tits useless to say; the citizens would
have him before a magistrate before two
hours, and perhaps before five hours would
have him heavily fined for damages OF
imprisoned. How much better are dogs
than men? Paul says, I" Be not 70, there,
fore, partakers with them.* Have no fel.
lowship with the unfruitful works of dark
ness, but rather reprove Them"
Intemperance assumes and maintains the
attitude of an institution. 1t has its sys'
tenn, and talks loudly of it's rights and
interests, and sustains policy of vigor-
GUS and almost universal operation. Its
dram shops line our thoroughfares and
1 float on ALI our waters. Every point Of
concourse is seized and occupied by lts
agents. The tavern is perverted from the
travellers home into den of tipplers and
fitted out in the name of the State with all
that can entice the temperate, and push on
the falling to their ruin. Let this horrid
engine play on and we shall forever have
woe to alleviate, pauperism to provide for,
crime to punish, and victims to pull from
the burning gulf.
| There is but one position We can limo
Gently occupy in relation to this traffic
that of incorporating hostility and cease
less opposition. 1t is a baneful and God
forbidden business, and we have no sane
ton, no permission, nor any such thing te
give it; and only as we hold this position
are we guiltless of the traffic and the
crimes attendant. Statute law may make
it honorable with some, but never can il
annul the moral law. We can conclude
with nothing better than PauPs admoni
ton to Timothy, Neither be ye partaker'
of other mems evils
[=With the dogs, does the Apostle mean ?
Ed.
EB-On tho evening of Hooks arrival a
Oxford he joined party of old school
fellows in carouse at one of the taverns
Sundry bowls of "bishop" and egg fiji
having been discussed, songs amatory ant
bacchanalian sung with full choruses, ant
altogether the POPULARITY began to pass the
| b~onp,;pr u,irth the PrOctO