The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1876-06-02
PLAIN TALK.

Reader, don't skip this article. 1t
is intended especially for you, and
if you will read it through carefully
and digest what is in it, we have no
doubt but that you will enjoy night
of sweeter repose thereafter than
you have experienced for a long
while. We presume that you are
temperance man or woman, and
would like to see the evil of drink
removed from the land. There is no
sane person but what would be
pleased 10 see such a condition Of
society exist. A man or woman
who could desire this to remain for
ever cursing the race, is either an
idiot, lunatic, a fool or a villain,
But there are many who desire re,
lief, and are working to bring it
about, in half hearted way, it Is
true, who still believe it can not be
done. We have heard temperance
men and women, or those who pre-
tended to be such, say that they
wished all the whisky in the land
could be destroyed, but" they say,
81 don't believe it will eyerbe done"
They excuse themselves for being
engaged in what they term a hope
less work, on the ground that they
can mitigate some OF the evils, and
save some from its curse, but, fur
Their than this, do not expect any
thing to result from their efforts,
OF course We are not the keeper OF
others conscieuces, nor is it our
province to Judge others motives
because every worker in this cause
does not believe with us, we are not
going to call them traitors and hypo-
critics, however much we may depre
cate the lack of consistency between
their professions and actions. Men
and women ought to do all the good
in life they can. If they believe
they can only do 50 much, they
ought to set themselves aLoat doing
that amount A.; but the point we wish
to make is this, that when people
permit themselves to believe they
can do only so much work in any
given direction, they very seldom go
beyond that. Where there is a be
lief in the power to do anything,
coupled with a freedom Of action
touching it, that work can be done.
The exceptions will be few indeed.
1t is thus in the work oftemperGnce.
If the temperance men and women
OF America believed that they could
put down the evil of drunkenness,
and resolutely set themselves about
to accomplish it, using the means at
hand to aid them, the evil would not |
exist year longer. But just SO
long as they believe that there is a
limit to their influence, and only |
strive to reach that limit, they will
never 90 beyond it. When we look
at the immortal nature of man, and
comprehend his power and destiny,
we believe that he can become om>
nipotent to crush cut evil and per-
feet his own nature. To believe
otherwise is to doubt God and falsi,
fly His promises. Man was not
made to live in subsection to his
animal nature, or to be enslaved by
his appetites and passions, but he
was created for higher, nobler and
holier purpose-a purpose which
God expects US to fulfill, and which
he promises to aid us in reaching:-
If temperance people realized this
truth, there is absolutely no power
that could Withstand their progress
A man who believes in God, and
who feels that lie is present with
him in his labors, can bid defiance
TO "the world the flesh and the dew
H." 1t is want Of faith in our cause,
at the bottom of which is want of
faith in God, that makes Us such
poor and feeble and tritilng soldiers
10 this great warfare.
Temperance people, wake up
You are sleeping on our your posts.
The voice of the Almighty sounds
the advance, and if you fail He will
brand you as towards and traitors to
His colors.--Ricer5tde Weekly.