Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-09-18
For ih" Beacon
DOTS on TEMPERANCE,
No.
NpSsrS. EddOr%:

NO. 1.
NcSSrS EditOrS:
As we advance in these "lIofS,
enemies to ne temperance movement
thickcn on our hands Secret enemies
are found in our councils, more dan
gcrous than all outside opposition
combined The great anxiety ior
numbers entails upon our couhci'o
evils incalcuabe. Quantity, not
quality, appears to be the controi'ihS
idea. The obligation assumed ny
many seems Of little worth no
crime attaches itself to the breaking
of the pledge, provided they are not
discover, Should tody be desired
an eA,use is easily found. No neces-
sily for consultation with aphyslclan,
as he understands the wants OF his
constitution. Under this loose
regime he takes his drams and violates
his pledge of total abstinance. He IS
arraigncd before the council. and with
q brazen face tells the brethren that
he did not take it rs q beverage, but
because he felt his need Of II. The
council sees that such liberty must
not be withheld, and the offender is
excused. The gutter drunkard only
takes his todics as he feels The need
of them. Wherein lies the difference
This fimsy excuse covers up the true
one. an in,card lore for 1chtsky
brethren of the United Friends OF
Temperance" think o: it, when such
an excuse is received we then and
there offer premium for drunkenness.
All sorts of excuses are being framed
but mark IL. in every case whisky, or
its equivalent, is taken. We have
only to 20 on in this way, and our
glorious banner must soon trail in the
dust and our councils be made re-
proach among men. Our brother has
a delicate constitution and needs a
stimulant; no remedy within the
range Of medical knowledge suits his
case so well as whisky. The reason
is apparent, as there exists chonlc
desire for it IN The stomach. The
patient occupies high places in society,
and the physician bends himself down
TO the emergency and recommends
the desired medicine. Under this
treatment his love of whisky is being
rapidly revived. AS his imagination
takes in the situation he becomes
alarmed. He sits himself down, and
soliloquizes thus: Perhaps ! may
90 TO far-l do not wish to break
Sy pledge. Oh! how sorry | am
now that ever took it l do not
like to be hampered up in this way
In taking this pledge l acted very
foolish; it will be lesson to me in
the future. My mind is made up tc
withdraw. Yes, l will send in my
petition o. the poxt meeting Of th'
council" We discover that thi
lamo disciple Of temperance onl..
wishes the liberty to drink to the fill
Such members are positive dis
advantage to any well regulate
council Could not the scientif
physician find some other tonic
suit this carse? 1t will not do to ;
too inguisitive on this point.
would have been better for the inte
ests of the council had such an on
never Joined. The weight of his big
position and influence is now brougl
to bear with telling effect by o,
enemies. Others are thereby induce
to withdraw and again assert the
lost independence and liberty. Sat'
uses this character also to keep othe
from embarking in the temperan
cause, and thereby saves them, as
asserts, from modification in Il
future. How disinterested oil
patriotic he makes himself appear
the unsuspecting youth, and oft
times to him Of ripper years. Satan
not particular as to the crossing
his own track, so that the track to /
own territory is trodden by subjeC
being thus conducted by his strate,
into the great highway leading doy
to his dismal chambers. How s.
and siIken the strings he sometin1
wraps about the limbs, till his prey
securely fastened beyond the powt
of redemption to the gates openi
to the yawning gulf, in hearing.
the clanking chains of the lost, whit
tears may fall thick and fast, but 1
in mercy's sight. Is it tco late
sound the alarm into their ears n
nearing the dashing of the waves
sorrow across bosoms once respo
ing in some degree to mercy's vol
but now forever stuffed and mailed
endure the accumulating hail of div
wrath and the uldying enunciati
ms its echo breaks forever over
rocks of dark damnation, "ye kr
your duty but ye did 1t not?"
Another, destitute of honor, to
his cups On the sly. "Hear, o Heac
and glue ear. 0 EARTH" this m
periured before God, has the affront
to mingle in our councils with
"Regalia" wrapped about him.
would break into your smoke hous
night were there no possibility in
mind of detection. The fear
being found out is the only secu
the community has in its prop'
against such character. The {
hope of such being is to bring
omniscience and the omnipresence
our God to bear upon bis console
Listen TO the pise man: "The {
of the Lord are in every place. beh
ing the evil and the good" He
us he already believes that God