The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-12-01
Il Plea for Iep,Der0nce.
FULL TEXT or AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE
IbE HAYDEN TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY
OF CARuoLLrOwN," SEPT. IS. 1876,
BY JAMEs c. Easily, ESQ.

OF CARuOLIrOwN," c SEPT. 2S. 1876,
BY JAMKs C. Easily, ESQ.
j, Felloc Members of The Hayden Total Abstinence
c"cictg ana my teIDb Citizens: HUnored by
your partiaiity i'm being selected to appear be-
Tore you this evening, can only ex press to you
your kindly Indulgence for my inability to fair
~ and htiy respond to so prominent a mark OF
your generosity and friendship.
But poor as am in ability 70 worthiy meet
your expectations, can at least bring TO the
honest will and an earnest eDdeavor to merit
your.sttentfon and IL possible your hearty ap-
proval.
And now, myfelow citizens. ss the promi-
neni cause OF our being here tonight has been
the organization OF what is commonly called a
Temperance Society" it is bet fitting, I con-
ceive, that my remarks should mainly cores
Pond with the objects and aims of such All or
kanization. Associations of this kind, il is true,
are not SO rare or unusual as to need any very
run or explicit explanation, yet 1t is fitting that
in order TO prevent any MISUNDERSTANDING and
avol1 any misconceptions as to motives and
acts II ortei resume OF the particular ends to be
accomplished by this society should be present
cd TO you as they are understood by your lee
turer-
In the fret place. then, be it fairly and fully
Understood that this society has no enmity with
either as body or as individuais-the bust
ness or other pursuits OF any of our citizens.
No, IL ie not organized for the purpose OF
ihgonIzing or in any way interfering with the
affairs OF others: On the contrary, it designs
holding rs one of its cardinal maxms that the
interests of the individual and OF the coInmu-
nlty are best eubserved by each and every mem
Der OF society mitdtug hS OtCn bilsl}icss! Hence.
tuef1, When our constitution prOCluIfDS one
OF our principles "a concerted effort towards
the abatement OF intempcrance in this commu-
any interference with the traihc or business of
any person as a means TO that end But IL does
mean aud II does intend a reasonable, cbarita-
bic, neghbory influence with the individ-
nalS ana persons who may unfortunately bc
the victims OF the evil consequences OF frequent
lntoxlcauon and lntemperancc. With ibis aim
no houest- uded or fair thinking man, no
matter what mis- business pursuits or interests
may he, Will not am sure, take issue; for am
free to say that in this community do not be-
lieve there Is any citizen who could look with
anything put pain and sorrow upon the weak
nesses and wnfall OF his fellow man, who
formation believing this, have no hesitation
in saying that thus far our society will have
citizens.
And truly is not the object grand and praise
WORTHY 1ne! Nay, more, could any one de-
serving the name or possessing the common in-
stincts of humanity feel otherwise than friend
ly towards the effort to reform and upraise the
fallen or his fellow men from the degradation
and misfortune attending as handmaids upon
the terrible evil OF intemperance.
Alas, my friends, who gaze around him
at the appalling train of evils il produces and
not feel concerned and interested in the awful!
picture OF woe, destttution and destruction pre-
seHted by the crime Of frequent intoxication
aud drunkenness. Yea let US look at this evil
from Whatever standpoint, or in whichever of
it's varied aspects we choose, and a moments 3
reflection cannot help but cause us to shuddcr
at the dire results, both for the present and for
the future, that dance attendance at its side
lntemperance! On, H1temperGEce! word so
easily uttered, so frequently pronounced, SO
giioiy said and yet so mprehensive and SO
iTaught with conseq uences for evil that Saffic,
nay be2gar, descr ption word comprising so
much OF misery and degradation, so much OF
woe and want, so much OF broken hopes and
tei!-tale OF despair-Of fond aspirations aud
dreams of joy and happiness frustrated and be-
trdyrd; word that includes so much of domes-
tic sorrows and family strifc--so tnuch of ds g
troycd virtue and realized vice-sn much, alas,
of wrecked fortunes and ruined home; word
lhat synonyuis forfeited honor and r.sDact and
lost chances sacrificed forever may that re-
CORDS 80 much OF snaInc and humiliation 10 hu-
Inauity and the world. and prociainis 50 many
fF
ty-how can | Dare attempt a fitting lliusira-
tion of thy wretched fame;
Oh my fellow citizens. is there any one pres
ent here to-uiI.ht vino has never pictured to
himself, from the experience and observation
OF everyday life, the horrible and Uuending
chuin OF sorrows that connect them selves with
the drunkard'5 home-nay, almost said, ;he
fora moment with me, in imagination, 10 the
wreichei hovcl Of a man just past the middlc
feast yOuf eyes and senses for brief interval
OF tiuie upon the scene prcscnf cd in that inc
steps, trembling AT every move lc-t the trail
staIrS ay give way beneath your feet. yuu hear
HrEry reprOachcs aud recTiminutions with her
VIII" should be to him as The apple of bis eye
seem from his drunken rawlings, was to him
more like the vampire of evil or the curse or
yoI continue until you arrive aU the door. and
rs YOU rop tor a,iInittance the weakened ANA
FAINT voices OF Starving. furnishing children
greet your ear, despniriugiy bcscechinr the
brokcn- hearted mother FOR bread. and she dis
them. The door at length opens and you are
met at he same instant by the blood-hOt eyes
and besotted counteTIance of :he raving hus-
band and the reckiuR, sickening odors OF poIlu-
tlOn, nlth, sickness and diseRec intermingled,
OF the wretcEed abode. Once inside the dreary
walls what sight meets your attention. In
rags and misery the remains of u once hand
some and beautiful woman present themselves
q living spectre rs terrible death itself.
them scarcely recog nizabie as human being.
and in one corner the iifeiess remains OF IL
fourth stark and cold in the embrace of death,
brought on directly 10y starvation, but Indirect
~ 10y the poisoned chdiicc of strong drink.
shrink back in horror at the sight; but. alas
this is hut single instance--onc only Of the
caused by Intemperance. And, oh, God ! is it
, not a sight ut which angels ana men mig hit
he.' father standing in mute Disregard over the
iUan. mate form OF the child OF his loins. un-
| ly preath hes. Iol turn to administer word
of info, to the furnishing aud hrok en-beart-
ed mother but your heart sickens at theeGOrt,
for, alas, VIII 1t word of consolation can you
utter in her e:,r? Turning, you enquire into
their former history, and you lind that few
years ago the husLn'd and wife were the hap
ny heads of a family, The happieSt of the happy,
full OF trus; and love ard ionn hopes Tor fu-
ture promising brigh, and ful! rcaiization-a a
household respected, loving and auectionate--
a wife idoizinga husband in every way
worthy OF her esteem and yeneration- gifted,
affectonate aud kind. But Just this one even
ing" he was induced to join party of convivial
friends, and, as in thousands OF ca 'es. just his
once" was but the beginning, and night after
night he went out, again and again repeating
Just this once" until at length the fond wife
began to observe the heartstrings OF cnpjuga.
affection gradually loosen, the ties OF love
slecken. the prattle OF children less pleasing
anc attention to business less prompt and earn
est. With tears and entreaties tried she to re-
can him to himself and TO the forSaken path of
| virtue and duty. but the fatal blindness tina Z
ever attends thu downward ca reer of the drunk
| ard had fastened itself upon him, and he could
| not see himself failing otf day by day from his
| hnbits of duty and diligence. until all at onco
| disgrace and ruin burst upon his crazed and
! blinded senses. Then again the fatal cup is
| resorted to, now to drown consciousness OF
/ dishonor and disgrace--the same cup which
was first raised TO his lips in joy and convviaii-
| ty-and at length the fatal draught becomes as
! necessary to his existence rs the sweet, pure
| air of heaven. Home. too, with all its former
! endearing ties, becomes mockery and re-
1 preach to him. and the idolizcd wife and chill
| dren are transformed into slaves of drunk
| arti's whims and brut al passions.
But few days more after the death scene
! we have witnessed and the new mound of earth
! in the "Potter's field marks the last resting
place OF "on!y druukard.' and the bright
hopes of immortal soul have sunk in the
! deep darkness of everlasting despair. But let
I us quit this scene of anguish and misery: vel
"a