National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-05

bined and desperate exertions ofthe liquor power.
ofths iocSi option law, and though the courts, on
some legal teehnieslity, have since declared the
law uaconstitational, and therefore itIs for the
PSstsd cne pts Il hat or hope Il being Eener
ally admitted that they have 90 leayened public
soon IS he way Is again open q come Co the polls
In MsS Issssy, Hna some ne Of t1e
the women, this same locslloption law has become
/ realization, and hundreds, probably thousands
and SstsSSnsS people S ne Sy BToof
lately about COO saloons have been closed ss the
tO asss "a pSs prsyet1 n tennesapse WOmep
Note also the great and increasing interest on
the subject Of intemperance which pervades the
both in the church and ont Of II, Is aroused and
| personal obligation more deeply felt. Even deal
nature Of their business, and their thoughts
"trouble" them. While, indeed, the greater
portion q these aLe only e1cseG ~ sna
most bitter denunciations yet there are not few
who see that the day u coming when this whole
crimes against society. Their secret conscience
is with the women, and they hope for their sue
msnifestsd itself 80 decidedly among the Ofcers
Of the army IN their recent annual gathering In
Ohio, to renew their friendships and pledge
that their pledges were not drank, as usual, In
strong drink. According o the testimony Of our
present on the occasion, they left the liquors
touched on the table, and rose up unpolluted BY
this common and fashionable vice. Il was an
event unprecedented since the war, and an Illus
tration Of the power Of q pure public sentiment
following this earnest crusade against the drink
may mention also the growth in numbers and
zeal Of all the temperance organizations In the
land since this movement began. l would not
successful efforts. Identified as 1 am with them,
acknowledge with gratitude e God that the
orders engaged in this good work have had the
sagacity TO perceive the new prospect opening
before them and The generosity e appreciate the
crusaders in the cause, and have entered upon
their own work with new zeal, achieving I'M
But, above an other successes which cheer our
hearts on this day Of thanksgtving, u the deep
conviction Psryading the nstion and sustaining
Christ and BY Christ and for Christ alone that
this evil Is to be removed. Societies, leagues,
orders, promises, pledges, speeches. erGsading, OF
whatever sort, and even prayers are
NOTHING WITHOUT CHRIST.
Christ in his chariot "paved with love-" and
with its wheels Of IRE hashin and rolling on
before, and hts servants following after, and all
ton, "Thnnks be unto God, who always causeth
us to triumph in Christ"
A third reason for our giving thanks to God in
this public manner is the work done and the re-
suits attained in the city Of Warrington;
When the news first reached us Of the labors
and successes Of the reformers in the West some
doubted and were afraid, while others saw in the
spirit Of the workers much to rejoice in and imi-
tate. Many hundreds OF our felIoW-citizens gath
cred together forprayer and consultation. de-
llghtfu spirit Of Christian love was manifest and
the pastors and laymen Of different denomlna-
tions were united in the conviction that now, for
the first time, the temperance cause was estab-
meetings continued daily for several weeks, and
were full Of fervor and hope. In short time the
WatchWord Of all classes seemed TO be, WORK,
organized work for Christ IN behalf Of men ruined
by intemperArce through our barsrooms." As the
best means for this g Temperance Union was for
mally established, and temperance pledges for
private individuals, families and dealers were
printed In large numbers.
The city was divided into five districts. In
these daily prayermeetings were held, and sys-
tematic visitation Of families and saloons COM
menced. Many signatures to the pledge were
obtained and some 6ar-rooms closed. once 9
together and reported the work done, laying
plans for future operations. A hundred women
noiseless were they that the many hundreds who
had been enthusiastic during the hrst weeks Of
united prayer supposed that the whole matter
had Waned, so, to their mind, had that Of others.
Whereas the fact was that in some Of the dis
summer, and the work has not yet ceased. 1t has
assumed many different forms, as Providence
seemed TO indicate; many mass meetings were
deep interest to the addresses. Much was done
to intensity public sentiment against the trafic.
The great practical dificulty in the way Of
closing bar-rooms was found to be that these
sources Of death among us had been formerly re-
commended and sustained by some of the promi-
nent members Of our community, and
SOMETIMES EvKN PROFESSORS OF RELIGION.
Through the courtesy Of the excise board, &C.
sess was gwen % tne omeia records, Wnere every
the names Of all who recommended them An
inspection Of their books by the women revealed
copy the whole record for the bsnsiit Of the pub,
lie. During the hot weather they did this I'M
pSTTtant work sSPyng n Two pSlumes me names
bad recommended for license about four hundred
bar-reomA. To every one Of these thousands,
mail. remonstratIng with them for giving their
personal influence 70 uphold this terrible system
Of wrong, and begging them in gbrisps name TO
Many Of these circulars were bathed in tears, as
well as accompanied BY prayers. And now,
still more fearful, hand-to.hAnd contcstwas be-
fere them. A protest against each one Of the
four hundred applicants for license was proposed,
the whole city divided into some twenty districts,
and committees appointed to visit the neighbour
hood Of each bsr-room, urging the residents and
| property holders to sign protest against re-
neWal Of their license. This proceeding was In
| 1t was q laborious work, demanding undinching
courage. and in limited number Of districts It
The result Is seen, In part at least, in the late
report Of Police Commissioners. They state
| that while there has been one more application
for license this year than last, namely, 401 In
stead Of 400 yet the number Of liconses refused
so far is l49 more. These refusals may not be at
own conviction is that II there had not been this
unWonted stir IN the community the number OF
applicants for license would have largely ex-
t the VI -''-'' '',- '-''- '-' ' -
| PRAYEnTuI, PERSISTENT AND WISE RESIST
ANCB
| made to this unholy traffic If only one OF these
| fountains Of d, ath had been sealed up there
would have been Joy in the presence OF the
angels Of God How much more now may they
| and we rejoice with Thanksgiving that so many
| sources Of temporal and eternal ruin have been
| closed in Washington
| In conclusion, I would remind you, as reason Of
gratitude for the past and Of hope for the future,
| that President Grant and the members OF his
| Cabinet, and many ladies and gentlemen in
high position, refused last season to furnish
/ liquors for holiday entertainment, and that they
WIN probably pursue the same patriotic course
been consistent teetotaler for forty years and
/ in all his entertainments Of his many guests,
with cheerful and unstlnted hospitality, ne has
| the courage and kindness to withhold from them
everything that into1icates. 1t need not be
added that he Is IN entire and warm sympathy
missioners who have governed this District SO
| wisely and successfully OF late have co-operated
with US in the arm purpose to free our city as far
Their law officer, General Birney, and the chief
Of police, Major Richards, have furnished us
with all necessary information and advice, and
have proved themselves the warm and consistent
friends Of the great cause. Lastly, the public
| press, though hardly as earnest and sympathetic
as we could desire, Is yet improving in its SPIRIT
ana we trust, under tie influence OF q strong and
allperVading public sentiment, is destined 70 be-
come q great helSer in the reform which shall
purify society and save the nation Let the key
note Of our thanksgiving to-day, and the Inspire
ton Of our work in the year now opening, be the
/ words Of our teXt-"Thanks be unto God, who
always cauEeth US to triumph in Christ" Amen.
| As an appropriate appendsge to the above elo-
quent and logical discourse the following verses,
from the pen of Mr.. H. Clay Preuss, are printed
Mr.. Preuss is poet whose verse, though highly
imaginative and nervous, is strong and exact IN
construction. Our felleWtownsman will yet win
the recognition his singular talent deserves.
While this song will remind one Of the sOld
Sexton" It has no other impress than that OF
originality:
1 SONG OF THE WINE KING.
By II. CI6y PTeuSs.
| HoI gamble for souls in every cline,
| And millions and millions Of victims win;
| From tottering age TO youth in Its prime,
| i gather, / gather, gather them In.
1 1 AM monarch suprIme DER a boundless realm,
| And the name Of this realm Is the "Klngdon OF
| SIM
| On the Va ssel of Fate stand at the helm,
| And steer for the breakers TO 90 ther them In.
Il ath 4 0Athart