Middletown transcript., 1877-07-21
Let Them Die.

aIf thousand Of men die drunk, it
don't hurt me-they only injure them
selves-they'll get sick Of it BY and by
and stop it. Can't legislate men sober
have no right tor
Such was the declaration Of a poor So
called reformer, who believes in no
law but love, now drifting without
compass upon a shoreless ocean which
he calls true reform.
The man is to be pitied, and we said
not a word to him. But the thought
occurred to US, how quickly the law Of
love would rebuke his alet him die"
doctrine, and rush to save from ruin
the ten thousand brothers.
There are many who fold their arms
over this crater that ruin Of others
does not effect them. So long as the
flames does not consume theirs, let it
burnt is none of their business how
many of their race is swallowed up.
Thisis adevilish doctrine. Itlacks the
heart of our common humanity, as well
asintelligenceand common sense. There
is no man who is not injured by intem-
perance. Its blighting shadow may
never cross his threshold, yet he does
not 20 unseathed. Everything which
saps public or private virtue ruins all.
Every vicious influence adrift IN socie-
ty will float evil to every threshold. A
good principle corrupted, institutions
undermined, or a right periled, rem
ders life, happiness and property less
secure, and weakens the safeguards
which protect the sanctity of our hearts
and homes.
Don't hurt me" How utterly
false. There is not a man in the com
munity, who is not injured. His house,
or barn or horse is not safe, for incen-
diaries and thieves swarm from the
dens where drunkards are made. His
life is not safe from the assassin's
knife, or his wife and daughter from
the ruAian's grasp. By stage, steam
boat or cars, his life is jeopardized by
ruin. He cannot escape it. It pene-
trates every avenue, lane and nook Of
society, and none can flee from its ac-
cursing influence. The lake, the river
and the oceans bed are strewn with
millions of property aud thousands Of
dead. The sea-weed sways and min
giles with the locks of manhood and
beauty, and the coral builds his monu-
ments beneath the waters which forever
hide the dead. By land or sea, rum
fend, death, with murder, violence and
conhagration walk hand in hand. Yet
intemperance Injuries nobody Chill
dren are thrown into the streets pau
pers, and educated in vice and crime
Pauperism presents its haggard formir
every community The people mus
support the paupers, and try, imprison
and hang the criminals. An enormous
tax rolls back on the people. And yef
no one is injured.
By and by men win get tired O
dying drunkards, and intemperanet
viii cease land with the legalizec
system of death eating out our yitaIs
we must waitpatiently until that time
comes, and 10 there viii be no more
drunkards. Millions will go down tt
their graves and the earth viii be filed
with lamentations but gloriousprom
Use! away in the future there viii ap
pear day when men VIII ger drunR
no more-when intemperance will dry
up Of itself.
And so let us wait and cease our ex,
ertions. Governments have even been
wrong in attempting to restrain the
vicious by penal statutes. God was
wronged Let man alone, and he will
come out an angel, and our earth be.
come paradise.
Let us waitl Away with the idea
Niagara will by and by dry up and
cease to run. Old ocean viii evapor-
ate. The devil viii be chained. The
grave will cease to follow its yearly
tribute of rotting millions, and death
will find himself without an "occupa-
ton" Only wait long enough