The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-03-05
THE DEMON, 61RoN9 DRINK.
MRS. d. TAsREn.

length and breadth Of our land, II seems that
thousand voices should be raised, tens of
thousands of pens welded in protest against
the great and crying evils which degrade and
defile the country--full time that blow
should be struck for nobler, higher life.
am aware that much has been done, but alb
how wide is yet the field of labor.
Vice, in its various aspects, stalks through
the streets, alleys and byways of our cities
and towns, but none more baleful in its effects
than the curse and scourge-strong drink
The first step in downward course may gen.
orally be traced to this fatal poison. What is
it that reduces men from opulence to penury?
brings untold misery npon once happy homes,
fills felon's cells and brings men to the gall
lows Strong drink ! Ye happy aud honor
ed husbands and fathers who sit by your
warm hearth stones these stormy Winter ey-
enings and glancing over the columns of the
paper, read of some dark murder, or other
heinous crime, " committed while under the
influence of liquor,'' and then making an in
ventory of your own stability of character,
congratulate yourselves that you are not as
other men are," do not these words occur to
your minds inasmuch as ye did it not to one
of the least of these, ye did it not to me. -
You glance at your rosy checked boys, and
your fine noble sons vergiug upon manhood,
and mentally resolve that in future you will
hedge them in more closely from temptation
and demoralizing influence. Remember there
are sins of omission as well as commission
" these ought We to have done and not to have
the other undone." Are you conscentiously
fulfilling your whole duty in regard to this
matter, do you never take a convivial glass
Have you banished it from your home aud
board, never allowing even wine to sparkle
upon your table Do you uphold temperance
men and the temperance cause. If you fail
in this duty, you may yet live to see those
sons of whom you are so proud, bring your
gray hairs in sorrow to the grave. They will
soon take their place in the great battle of
life, probably far away from your influence
and advice, they must be exposed to tempta-
ton, must conquer or be conquered they
may fall and no hand be raised to rescue, as
you would have others deal by yours, deal
by others now.
Can men, brave true, strong men, stand
idly by with folded arms and ask, "am my
brothers keeper" Dare you draw the man.
tie of our sanctity about you to avoid contact
with fallen brother, and pass by on the
other side !"
Somv may cad tisis ARTICLE ssusl say, g VeNT
true intemperance's great rushing tide
should be stemmed " sad state Of affairs, I"
and then let the matter drop, others exclaim,
Tour church doors are open to all, rich and
poor, saint and sinner, let them come with us
and we will do them good You know full
WELL many around us sit in heather darkness,
and whom the Gospel sound does not reach
we must go out into the highways and hedg-
es and compel them to come in. If there is
a civil law to assist in effecting the object in
view, very we'll, but let us adopt also the di-
vine law of love and charity. We should as
sumo higher grounds than moral duty, even
religious principle, then when we look around
upon the great work to be done, we viii not
ask g who is sufficient for these things? -
We will look upon the fallen creatures as fell
low beings, as brothers by the tie OF common
humanity. 1t is our privilege to raise them
up from their low estate to assist them in
throwing off their debasing letters ; to elevate
their minds, and point to nobler things to
appeal to their higher nature and arouse their
slumbering manhood. Let those who have
fallen so low that they see no help for them
in heaven or earth, find there are hearts that
sympathize with them, long to save them from
a drunkard's grave and an eternity of woe.
Husbands, fathers, brothers, listen to the
voceless wall which rises up to you from the
aching hearts of wives, mothers and little
children" Come and help u.s." Who will
reply Who will strike for truth, honor
temperance and the salvation of dying souls Z?
Who?