Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-07-14

IL up and commences reading IL. 1t is
a paper published in the interest of the
Temperance cause. "Some one has
been kind enough TO send it TO me,
he soliloquizes 81 am not particularly
interested in the subject, but / will not
be SO unkind as TO throw ii aside with.
out reading it," He finds an article
headed "a Sad Affair" He reads it
aloud. 1t is an account of circum.
stance which had recently occurred
in neighboring county. A young
man, while intoxicated, had committed
suicide The name is familiar; he
knows him well. His family connec-
tons were highly respectable his
father was a thrifty merchant, whose
time had been chiefly given to business,
and, though not ignorant of the habits
into which his son was drifting, be
always lacked the time or the disposi-
tion to take any part in Temperance
work. The scene at the funeral was
vividly portrayed--the mother and
sister crazed with griet over the un-
timely and unnatural ending OF the
life of loved son and brother who, had
it not been for strong drink, might
have lived to be the pride Of the house
hold and an ornament TO society.
The picture calls TO the mind OF the
reader the fact that he too has a son
on whom he dotes, and who is liable
to the same temptation. Heremembers,
also, that he too has ever regarded
the Temperance movement as one in
which he had little or no interest--In
fact, he has sometimes spoken light of
it; but now he takes q different view
of the case. "What il such tate
should befall my boy" He pauses,
as if for reflection, and then with firm
resolve declares, "From this hour, |
shall do my duty it shall never more
be said that my influence has been
thrown on the side OF Intemperance.
His resolution is faithfully kept, and
the Temperance cause has gained n
useful member
And this single instance OF the effect
Of Temperance literature, circulated as
it should be into every household, may
be one among thousands OF a some.
what similar character. Who, then,
will for q moment question the inhu-
ence Of literature as a factor in the
cause of Temperance.
In short, through the agency OF
printing, the subject might be discussed
in all its bearings. And not among
the least are its financial features.
Statistical tables might be made from
official and other reliable sources which
would no doubt astonish the impartial
thinker. Let the books be opened and
fairly kept-Dr. and Cr Give the
devil his due; place TO his credit all
the blood bought earnings of his dark
career, in the shape Of licenses and
fines, together with the profits Of the
manufacture, the wholesale dealer and
the retailer then, on the other side,
charge up large share of the costs OF
our criminal Courts, our prisons and
our aims houses, the reckless waste
and destruction caused by the evil in
a pecunary point of view, then add to
these the wretchedness, the misery
and woe that are entailed upon tens
of thousands OF families-the whole
catalogue of crime from assault and
battery TO murder, so frequently com.
mitted through the agency of whisky,
with all the dark and damning evils
growing out of the same Strike the
balance, publish and circulate. Let
the people read and decide which is
the debtor-the people, or whisky.
As my time is limited, i have given
in this essay but few of the points
which might be given to show what
may be done by spreading Temperance
literature. Much moro might be said
in its favor. Let the good work go on.