The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-09-13
INTEMPERANCE.
Its Effects Morally, Socially and Physically
Considered. ..

Written by request for the Democrat Star
In approaching this much talked
of and muchwritten up subject, il
is difficult matter to avoid repeti,
tiOn of arguments made ahead
My object is to shun as much as
may be the beaten track, and offer,
if possible, some new ideas, per-
haps not new of themselves, but
clothed in matter.of fact language
that will bring the subject to our
thoughts; and, while not intending
to be personal, look the evil in the
face, and bring the matter so plain
ly before us that we can realize the
personalities, and see them in our
imagination. That any man from
choice is incorporate, no sane man
and woman will believe. There
never can he an effect without
cause and, while making no ex,
cuse for the habit, | am willing to
look charitably upon the objects,
and give them the benefit, if any
can be desired, from the thoughts,
that, perhaps, under other circum.
stances, they would have acted
differently. -...-.-
Will you, in your imaginations,
go back with me twenty or twenty.
five years, and look comparatively
at the social status of one who is
now a slave to drink-the position
he occupied then, and see him to.
day-then young, intelligent, pop
ular-the general favOrite with the |
people OF his cOunty-entrusted |
with its highest honors, with a
young and lovely wife-bright,
blooming children--loved, respect.
ed, honored by all-with "a certain
competency awaiting him. Now,
see him, and wonder at the change. |
Why is it the answer is ready, |
DRINK! Was this great change |
effected at once? No, but by slow
and sure degrees. Let your ilnagi- |
go with me and see him the
first time he comes home drunk
see the remorse he feels, the shame
with which he meets the sad but
loving look of his tender, uncom.
wife; the scared, wonder
ing gaze of his little ones hear
his prayer for forgiveness, and his
solemn VOW never to be so again.
She believes, trusts, hopes. He
believes in his own strength of
purpose, and for awhile, abstains-
is again temperate-again falls, and
time and again repents, and still
but in short time, the
small, still voice of the silent mon
itor ceases to goad-has become
silent--conscience is dead, and he,
having lost his own esteem, cares
nothing for the esteem of wife,
friends, and is as you see
him today-in the lowest depths of
social degradation. And being
is but small hopes of
his ever rising, for this social degre-
iatiOn, has its moral influences,
and when he hushed the voice of
- broke his repeated
VOWS of abstenance and reforma-
ion, his moral degradation was not
ar off-wife, children, friends, un-
needed, uncared tOr-want staring
hem in the tace-sbivering in the
,old blasts of winter, thinly clad,
while he, spending the substance
,f those whom he swore to love,
IonOr and protect, in drink, sinks
over and lower, until the end
comes. Those who loved. honored
md trusted him, shrink from him
rs from a pestilence, and his only
;are-Only wish, is for more drink
more Observation-Disclosures forgetful-
less of his broken vows-desolate
learth-weeping, sOrrowing wife I
,nd little ones-blighted hopes
Neglected duties - all, all, lost,
gone, and be y moral wreck and '
Nor is this all-look-
10 you not see the troubling, pal
led form of what was once q man
IA creature fashioned after the i'm
,ge of God-your friend-trusted