The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-16
TEmPERAnCE LECTURE.
IFron1 One Taiegram. Aug. 4th.l

Itf TONI Inc loIeSfdlDs Aug 4Lu.1
Portianders do not often have such
treat as the Rev. s. Monroe Hubbard
servedsup for those who attended the
Open Temperance meeting at the rooms
of the Y. M. G. A., on last Saturday night.
Mr.. Hubbard took for his theme What's
the Matter ?n giving synopsis of and
combining much of his celebrated lecture
on that topic. SO popular wherever he has
delivered it. He directed his remarks
mainly in the interest of the youth of
the land, and we but speak the senti-
ments of all who heard it when I'VE say it
was one of the most forcible, urgent and
eloquent appeals in behalf of the young
We have recently heard. Reviewing the
whole ground he showed the cbrrupting
and demoralizing influences of our soci-
ETY. from the use of intoxicating drinks,
and impressively put the questions, What
shall be the close of our second century's
life as State and Nation? Shall We be
a Nation? Shall We have a stable, model
government, and an able Christian
Executive as now? Shall we have n
free and unsectarian pulpit, an untram-
meled press. free schools, an nnviolated
Sabbath, an intelligent, prosperous and
happy people, or shall we be nation of
drunkards? Shall we be reyeling in our
moral and political corruption and wend-
ing our way to the grave of nations
crushed by the weight of drunkenness
with all its attendant vices and degreda-
tons.
That's what's the matter, and the an
swers to these questions are to be found
in the culture, the training, the educa-
ton of our boys and girls. That's what's
the matter! The great question in the
mind Of every thoughtful man and woman
to-day is, what's to become of our chill
dren in the condition of our countryside
bad habits of our people-the drunken
ness, profanity, Sabbath breaking and
political corruptions with which they
come in contact everywhere? Intel
lectual culture and heart culture is
nations greatest wealth, and moral char
acter its greatest bulwark. Our people
are becoming more material than spiritual.
The reverend gentleman drew a beautiful
simile Of life from Oregon and our sur
rounding. After paying glowing tribute
to Oregon and Portland, he represented
the Willamette river as childhood, the
Columbia river as youth, the Columbia Bar
the passage to manhood and womanhood,
and the Pacific Ocean as the great busy life.
Oregon is a nation in itself-great in all
the developed and undeveloped resources
that constitute a nation. Portland is q
future. The actual is what now is-the
possible is what may be. So morally,
parents can do much, we may all do much
to make the possibilities of our children.
Many live only in the actual, for the pres
ent, and never strive and live for the pos
sible. The actual blacksmith was the
possible Eilihu Burrett. The actual shoe
maker was the possible Vice President
Henry Wilson. The actual railsplitter
was the possible Abraham Lincoln, the
revered and lamented savior Of our ma
ton. Notice the intellectual differences
of Newton, Shakespeare, Milton, Napo-
leon, Watts and others. The causes that
produced these differences are traced to
childhood, and even to the period of
birth.
Education and moral training is the
only hope of our people. Neglect and
careiessness is too apparent in the train
ing of our youths. That's arhdfs the mat
ter. The lecturer showed thoughtful ap-
plication, deep research, and set his large
audience to thinking and inquiring aoltats
the matter. 1t was, as whole, worthy the
attention of any audience, and reflected
great credit upon the eloquent speaker,
delivered as it was in his rapid and en-
thusiastic manner, furnishing such treat
as those who heard him wish much to
have repeated.
We are delighted to state that MIR. Hub
bard intends to repeat this and other
celebrated lectures of his in various parts
of our State. He has prepared with
great pains and care the following !:
whats the Matter" Americas Dan
ger,p "a Man." "How to Succeed" "Not
so Bad after ALL" "Peculiarity" and
''Shams." The very titles are suggestive
of profound and deep research in their
preparation, and in the hands of such a
pleasant, earnest and eloquent speaker as
Mr.. Hubbard will not only give very great
intellectual treats, but will do an immense
amount of good. Success to so noble q
nhiIanthronist as Rev Mr. Hubbard