Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-03-05
[For the Monigomer' County Sentinel. I
Town and County.

In addressing m, self 10 The people of this
village on The subject Of such grave and vital
moment 10 their true and most substantial
| interest, nm acimated by no feeling OF vanity
or personal luminosity 10 any one, but from an
honest and conscientious conviction OF duty
aud sincere devotion for those princi-
| pies OF morality and virtue which should exist
10 every community, and upon which depend
the welfare and happiness Of those who COM
pose it. ! address myself 10 you men and
women Of Rock vile. because upon you, IN a
great degree devolves the decision of matter
in which everyone of you should feel the deep
est and liveliest interest The honest, intel
ligen. and thinking people of this noble old
county look 10 You, my fellow-cisizens, TO
take prompt and decisive action in this most
momentous question. Dear, tme-honored
village yon that have witnessed the suns
of nearly century rise and set--yon that
have always responded so ably and cheerfully
to the voice OF suffering and distress You that
have heart which can vibrate 10 a generous
and feeling tone when touched by that hand
hitch makes the world akin" yea, from
Your maternal bosom flows The warm, genial
life current which imparis energy and vitality
10 the general pulse. DO you think for
moment, my fellow citizens, that 10 nm effort To
check niemperaDce your own midst you
deal il a death blow throughout the county
No most assnredly not. The bond Of union
and ~ mpalhy which exists between town and
county can not be severed. Whsi affects one
affects the other Yon can not doubt il wheE
you reflect that your material growth and
prosperity, nay, your very subsistence, de-
peBds, in great measure. upon The sober,
industrious working men Of this county. The
LAWYER the merchant and The mechanic are
all alike nourshed and sustained by the fruits
of Their industry. Then is not this fact alone
sufficient TO impress upon them the urgent ne
cessty Of making this war against intrmper-
ance common cause. and BY united effort
and unf1nching courage wipe out this damning
hlenish on your time honored institutions 2
Is il not therefore a matter in which yon
should earnestly and heartily cooperate and
with one voice send forth such q loud and
emphatic protest against this I" license sys-
tenn, = TO which the Grand Inquest of Mont,
gonery county can not Turn deafear. They
are Your servants and are hound by their oalhs
TO inquire into every species of vice which
comes to their knowledge Therefore, in your
hands is the remedy It's the bounden duty
of the Grand Jury 10 apply it.
Grand Jury Of Montgomery county. permit
me TO say few words to You Can you con
sceniiousy refuse to disregard the wishes Of
the people? Can yon preserve The integrity |
of your oahs BY refusing 10 grant what they
demand? Can you faithfully discharge the |
grave aud weighty moral obligations which |
rest upon You by ignoring the existence Of
this evil2 No. I scorn 20 think that en-
lightened and conscientious men would sane
ton this moral system OF poisoning or encour
age traffic which produces The wares Of
SIM Do you doubt for an instent Grand |
Inquest of Montgomery, that alcohol in It's
varied forms is not the chief cause of crime
the chief canse Of poverty The chief means by
" hieh the prison is filled by which the gall
lows is fed, and lastly, by which the Chris
iian religion is retarded? This being the case,
then, in the name Of Heaven can You hesiate2
Do you not think what hns been done else
where can be done here? Thousands can
bear testimony 10 the results which have been
achieved in other places How often in the
page of history rs in that Of romance have you
cen toncheG with the tenderest sympathy by
the story Of some prisoner Of war, Mt last lib
GRATED and restored 10 love AID friendship
OF the soldier, weary and worn after the hard
fought battle. returning snfe TO the bosom of
his hume and family: of the long absent mari
ner, his voyage over, coming home to rest
once more Mt the Preside of his early years ?
Have you never shed tears Of JOY mt these 6c-
tiions tales Of romance2 Have your minds
never been enlightened nv the evidence Of
history But what stronger testimony can
history present? What more thrilling story
.can romance exhibit than that produced BY
The cause Of temperance Though your
neighbor has fallen, he is a man still; though
he has gone astray, smooth the path for bis
returning footsteps; should he be a husband,
unite him again in the love and confidence Of
his neglected wife, though he be a wayward
and erring son. can yon refuse to restore him
10 ihe parental bosom which he has torn with
grief and angUish2 Now, lastly, gentlemen
Of the Grand Jury, as a mere question Of wise
human policy. the cause Of temperance claims
your sober and serious attention. The case is
with you--can you return .ignoramns?'