Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-30


one party tn that contract over the bar, but
allows the other TO go tree, and even 10 be
theaccuser OF his associate. But, OF course.
the Law does so. not because this is per-
iectly right. III II does,it Is most alpaby
unjust but because it is the most couven-
lieut. AMI perhaps the only way to strike ut
the drunkard. The dtunkards are many
aud movable. The sellers are compare
lively few and fixed. They are the centres
OF distribution. and 1t is always easier TO
manage the centre than the many points of
the circumference. So while the ain OF
the law is 10 stop drunkenness. which is
the real evil, it Is obliged TO throw all its
force upon the selling. But 1t is a false in
ference. yet one which the popular mind
seems practically 10 have drawn, that it Is
right 10 drink. but fearfully wrong to sell.
But surely ii is time to correct the public
sentiment on this point, and IL belongs to
The hlenis OF temperance, among whom |
am glad 10 count myself 10 60 il. We
must educate the public feeling not only
against the indriscrimnate sale of alcoho-
lie liquors, II is aroused there already, but
still more against the indiscrimuatc drins-
ing OF them. We must put an end to that
state OF mind which smiles with amuse-
ment or good natured indulgence while
men curse themselves and everybody con-
nected with them. which allows ladies 10
welcome them into society and business
men To TO trust them, equally with the
sober and the Industrious, and then. when
they have gone into disgusting ruin, calls
out the dogs OF the law and social condem-
nation. and goes hunting their partners.in
guilt, the rumsellers. while Il merely pities
them and is satisfied with itself.
Once set the public mind night on this
point once get it thoroughly awake to its
responsibility towards the wiful Snt. and
the number OF drunkards will decrease
wonderfully.
For, In the second place, this one sided
sentiment has bad effect on those who
are already inclined 10 drunkenness. II
strengthens that inclination hy weakening
one OF the most powerful checks to all
Kinds OF vice the condemnation of public
opinion. The consciences OF such persons
are generally dull, and they need the conl
staut and sharp pressure OF the genera
blame to Keep them awake. Take that
away. and the liability to fall aud II be-
contented to tall i by so much increased.
More thau that 1t is then easier for the
drunkard to deceive himself We stand
between him aud his conscience. We en-
courage him to cast the blame on anybody
but himself, and so deafen him TO the re-
prOaChrs Of his own moral sense. Yet
further. by talking 50 much OF Irresistible
appetite, We encourage him 10 lay down
the weapon of his viii, and draw back
from struggle be l. only too reluctant 10
carry on. II - one of the worst things
which can happen 10 any man 10 be led 70
think that he cannot control himself. that
lac j. The iclim OF irrcsiStble crcum-
stances. II he ever was inciined TO strug-
gle with those temptations which bcsct all
OF Us, he . then ready to give way I" them.
Get into meu's minds the idea that drunk
ennes- Is due, not to a guilty Yielding 70
temptations which he eau defeat by man
mi and often very slight Struggle. but TO
oyeTpowertns appetite or to the power OF
cunning rumselers, and what hope i, there
that they will try to be- mru? II We take
away their sword-. how can We hone they
viii tight. especially when the enemy /. -
attractive 70 rhenf implore you. friends
"i temperance or ot any other virtue, to
consider ihi- well. IL j. daugcruu. to give
a man any deicuse against the reprOache-
OF hi> conscience or the jn-t contempt OF
ms icilow.ncn. IL j. dangerous 70 encnBr-
age him to believe that the blame tor his
taut can be laid on the head OF any body OF
anything outside himself What wr want
i - quicken the con science. not to dcadrn
II, to arouse the sense of manhood. not 10
put II TO sleep by singin. over the head OF
the contented sinner the lui ably OF soft
sentimeutalty.
Il j. the glory OF the Reform ,luO move
men', and il Is the secret OF its wonderful
success, that il has addressed t.elf to the
thinking men. IL has Appealed 10 them 10
see he error Of their wav 10 be ashamed
Of H, aud 70 ,iraiGhtcu It at once. And
what was the consequence upon the sale:
4 - D. D
any one when say that never was the sale
OF liquor At so low an ebb in this city as
when that movement made men ashamed b
drink That proved the movement to be in
the right direction. IL had become a moral
force, appealing 90 the conscicuces Of men,
and social force. moulding public ,cHti-
mcnt. The success 80 begun wlil be gx-
tended BY thu same mcthod, Of strengthen
Ing in the minds OF all men whether they
have gone far ia driukiu: or not. the utter
and uuman.iness Of bArtef-
ing manhood for tea-tllnt-, and the
dignity Of total abstinence, ii snot for
their own SAX. yet Tor those who are weak
euought 10 need their personal support.
" hat ! have said of the wrong way OF
working may serve 10 set out more strongly
my approval OF the better way OF the Re
form Club.
What have said i addressed 10 two
classes.
First, TO the friends Of those who have
gone astray. We love those OF our ac- |
quaintances or OF our family who are vic /
lous. not So we'll but so unwisely, that we
are not willing to see them in their true /
light. We are not willing 10 believe them /
guilty and are only too glad TO be able u /
throw the blame for their sins on some one /
else. The consequence is that We encour-
age the offence which We ought 10 check. /
We help the offender 10 believe that he is 4
not an offender, but victim. not blame |
worthy, bat ill-used. We stand between /
him and the conscience which ought TO
sting him from within and the social con /
tempt which would sting him from without. /
l. is sad sight TO see fathers and mothers
eoddling their bows through a lite of sin |
helping them to throw the blame on other
peoples shoulders, and really prolonging
The vice which sharp rebuke or such frm
a. a wise love would give. might
forever cast out. Judge your children
Justly, though they are your children
Do IL for their sake as well as for your
Iwn, for mistaken tenderness is cruelty
10 both parties. When the better nature is
awake once more, when the offender rises
rom his degradation and tries to be man
again, then you cannot be too compass ion
ite upon the weakness which the long dis
ease has left In the will, nor too joyful
over the return Of what had strayed. But
u the name of all that is worth having in
ife. face the facts and act with justice.
The other class is that OF the transgres-
'ors themselves. Let them acknowledge
heir guilt like true men and do their best
% make amends for it. 1t is death to gen
me manhood to try to shuttle of upon