The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-11-23
Woman Is Temperance Column
"IHe Lord of Hosts Is wifh as, the God
ofJocob is our gef1ge."

There has been and is much said
about the use of alcoholic stimulants as
a beverage, and yet there is compare
lively little accomplished TO stay the
fearful tide of intcmperance that is
spreading over our fair country with
such ruthless destruction.
There can be, fear. no permanent
change effected until those who use il
and sell il can be brought TO see this sin
in all its disgusting and loathsomc de-
formity.
IL is no imaginary foe with which We
have to deal. II is none other than the
very same serpent who deludcd our
first parents in the beautiful garden of
Eden. He has lost none of his cum
ming. but deccives crring, fallen hui
manity with promises of greater happi-
ness. lie says, ''iust one social glass.
surely there can be no harm in that,
and then he leads his victim on and ON.
away from Christianity. away from re-
spctctabiity, away from nanlincs-.
down to the lowest depths Of degrade
ton!
Many struggle bravcly against bcsci-
ting ssins and live honestly and up-
rightly, but let them drink just one
glass of liquor and every evil propcn-
sity of their nature is aroused. How
is it that a strong man becomes So
powcrless, so weak, so i'll prepared to
break away from this habit, and regain
the mastery of himself? The appetite
for strong drink is the most dangerous
to tampcr with of any appetite. from
the fact that n man intoxicated is no
longer controlled by reason but by the
lowest impulses of his nature. 1t i,
when under the influence of liquor that
men dare to commit crimes from which
they would rccoi in horror when s..-
bcr.
Let us consider for moment. the
situation of the rumseller or saloon
keeper; just III proportion as he gain,
wealth, those who patronize him lose.
As he goes up. they 90 down. The
countenance Of the rumsellcr's wife i
fair with the sunshine of prosperity;
but the countenancc of the ruIn-drink-
er's wife is pale and worn with
many cares and many tears. He is do
ing, he says. an honorable business: hr
is making for himself an honest living.
But those with whom he does this hon
orablc business are growing dishonora-
bic; and those at whose hands he re-
ceivcs this honest living are strongl,
tempted to be dishonest. His prosper
ity is their adversely; his victory is
their defeat. As he rises, they descend.
If he were sworn enemy. then the
conflict might be an equal one. But
no. under the guisc of friendship, he
sets the snare which cncirclcs their feel
and weaves the web into which they
are entangled and destroyed. lie does
not say IL have come into your midst
to take comforts from your home.
clothing from your wife and bread
from your children" But he comes
with the kiss of Judas and the dagger
of Joab. lie does not hoist the black
flag with deaths head and crossbone~
upon it, but he raises the white flag Of
peace over his piratical craft. lie
treats his victims as friends, but he
knows full well they are being lurcd
on in dangerous ways: that they are
his victims rather than his friends:
that the game he wins they must lose
But would say one word in regard
to medical drunkards. 70 me they are
the most pitiablc of all drinkers. OH
ers drink the poison upon their own re-
spOnsibility. but these drink il upon
the highest authority, and therefore.
with no fear of consequences. Others
are open TO admonition and rcforma-
ton. but these have infalliblc doctors
to shield them from ignorant admoni-
ton and exempt them from all of their
need of reformation: and believe it to
be truth. that no other tipplcr is GO
ing so surely to drunkard's grave A.
he who lets his doctor lead him there.
"Frown not upon the nllcn what art thou but
clay:
| Who gave thee thy breath and who takes ii
aways
Does the sun hide it, beam. at humanity's fall:
What were heaven fits gates did not open to all:
'Our brothers, our fathers are draining the cup.
Th future is draped with the woes of their sin.
Go bids us in mercy, 'Oh, give them not up,
Go speak to the ,runkards and gather them in.
s'Oh think of that mother. who in her embrace
Once ella sped the dear form Of thy poor euing
brother:
Oh, turn not thine eye, from the wine swollen
face,
Go speak 10 the drunkarl for the sake of his
mother
C.