Smyrna times., 1879-05-14
y The S!RArNn Tin
The PfesS-G Gang.

The dictionary says, the press-gang is "a
crew that lmpresses men as seamen." So
much for the lexicon, but words get their
meaning from their use, after they have
been used to express thought until they
become associated with the thought OF
fact or business, then they are taken up
and put into the lexicons.
This term Press Gang" has taken on a
sort Of conventional definition, and is used
to express the character of any measure
or movement that sweeps through a com.
munity or over a country, and by its ac
quired power compels US to join its ranks,
or be set up as a special target, against
which it shoots its insinuating remarks,
and criminal charges, to the effect that the
objectOr is an enemy to his race, in that he
is opposing measure that seeks to bless
and save humanity. Any objection to
methods, or any doubt expressed in regard
to the honesty or ability Of the leaders is
put down as against the measure itself.
If we refuse to pay our money into the
| hands Of some particular man, because we
doubt his wisdom or honesty, we are at
once charged with having and holding our
objections as q preteXt to shield us from
discharging our duty. lie who would 90
into some quarters and speak against the
| plan and work of Moody, had as we'll put
his head into the fire, to use familiar ex.
preston.
Not long ago there was a great excite
ment in the city Of Wilmington, Del, over
the Temperance question; Messrs. Wells.
| butcher and Lee were the lions of the day /;
public benelactors and heads of the press
gang. He who dared to lift a finger against
one of these men was at once marked, sus-
pected, spotted, denounced and left alone
in his shame, and treated as an enemy of
the cause Of Temperance, foe to the poor
drunkard and friend and ally of the
rum seller. Well do we remember the
cases Of this kind through which we
have passed.
After a while there was war in their
Heaven, and the angels fought, and Mr.
Lee drew out and set up for himself We
met him at Stockton, Worcester CO., Md
and almost as soon as we were introduced
he handed us his "scrap book" and re
quested that We should read his defence a:
written by himself, and against one butcher
and one Wells. We read littleNof the
stuff, just enough to get clear of the mat
ter, and then said we would be glad t
hear his statement, and he appeared glaC
enough to make it. The out come of tn,
whole was that Wells and butcher wanted
him (Lee) to associate with man who wa
a Hbertine, and that be would not recogniz
such man, because as God fearing maj
he could not hope for success if he CAV
countenance to such man, and to such
life.
Well, we had the opportunity to atten
Mr.. Lees meeting, hear him pray, sins
talk and cry. We were introduced to Mr.
Lee, the loving wife of the poor, drunken
worthless Lee; Mrs. Lee whose prayer
tears and kindness had saved poor Lee, an
= had by the grace of God made him tn
/. great man he ,oaS. Mr.. Lee preached an
prayed, did his mighty do, got his cash an
d departed, leaving weeping people
10 mourn his early loss.
IS Well time moved on pace, and NJ
IL Lee turned up tout West" in courtsh
,d in which he branded the Mrs. Lee
.et former days as his harlet Now Just thin
1l- of this case. The man lied first or last if
first, then he was running around as
- preacher of Temperance, Righteousness al
a Judgment to come, and at the same tin
living in wickedness with woman, goi
from our pulpits to his bed of fornicatic
What would have brought about my es
rTyy and down upon my defenseless head il
m. had shut my pulpit and home against hir
Echo answer, what and language almt
j, fails to express the anathemas that wou