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

acknowledged injury TO the people,
private and public, does il not step be-
yond its object and take a stand direct
| ly opposite TO its duty2 Does it not
become in this particular, instead OF
the guardian of our rights and liberties,
the tool of the unrighteous-the screen
and protection OF iniquities-giving its
sanction and the appearance of right
to that which no earthly law can make
right because opposed to the moral and
Divine ?
1t is undoubtedly the duty Of the
State TO protect the weak from the
expressions OF the strong but 1t has
armed one portion of its citizens, that
they may prey upon the unwary and
iatten from the weakness and follies Of
the race. Not that this was the origi-
nal intent of the license law, but such
it is to-day. Framed TO restrict the
sale and use Of intoxicants, it has be-
come the lion in the path Of reform
the shield and perpetuation, instead Of
the opponent Of the traffic,
The State has licensed the sale Of in
toxicating liquors. Is this all ? What
has it done 1t has opened the flood.
gates of destruction upon the land. 1t
has torn away the young and the fair
into bondage worse than death 1t
has armed brother against brother for
his destruction, 1t has protected dens
ofiniquity and given premiumsfo for vice.
1t has snatched the son from the arms
of his father, and the husband from the
bosom OF his family, and whrled them
on to quick destruction, despite the
cries Of the suffering and hearkened not
to their prayers. 1t hasnerved the arm
of the murderer and erected a thou.
sand gallows. II has filed our Courts
and ais with criminals and our land
with paupers, and taxed us for their
support. 1t has tapped the veins of
our prosperity and drawn therefrom
its own lifeblood. 1t has called down
the wrath of Justice upon the people
and the whirlwind Of destruction the.
tres to fall upon them. And what
for all this has it received2 The gold
of them who haved one evil the sup
port of the more than fatherless, and
the sustenance of the starving and ma.
ked. For all this shall there be no
Iretribution Every drop OF blood
drawn by the drivers lash was requit-
ed by thousand poured out upon
the field of battle and shall we go free2
But does it not bear within itself its
own great punishment. Its agent in
all this has been the iCine cup. How
much of good, OF virtue, must it take to
offset so much ofevilg How much ex-
penditure, treasure for education and
for charity, is made necessary by this
so great destruction Z How much is
for no avail and still it is all dead,
dead loss--a loss not only of treasure,
and effort and power, but of life, and
hope andI Heaven ? A loss not to be cal
culated in this world, not in dollars
and cents, but in prayers and tears IN
manhood destroyed, and the promises
of childhood untitled in the cries and
struggles of the orphaned and of them
who are more than widows in the
lives it has blasted, and the souls it has
lost to Heaven and not only in the
misery it has brought, but in the peace,
joy, and happiness which should have
been the portion of those who brought
bitterness with pleasure and met de-
struction in the way of life.
| have said the State has done all
this but what is the state2 Is it the
land we tread2 Is il, as in the days
of Caesar of old who said, ~ am the
Statel" We are the State, and zee have
done these things. If VIC are not,
another Caesar has arisen whose name
is rum. Shall Caesar rule and we be
iDiHing sldues ? Shall we obey his pow
or and murmur," We are free 7" Heav.
en- forbid Our safety, and the free.
dom of our fathers forbid that this
should be. Shall we turn traitors TO
the cause of right and cast stain up.
on the name of freedom name,
the watohword Of our land? 1t shall
not be.We must be free-not to do
wrong--but to live Alright. Shall
there be no premium on virtue | love
the freedom of our laws but would
sec virtue placed beyond the reach of
avarioe and passion, and wherever
they would respect it. 1t is in our
hands The people are the State, and
virtue still survives. In UNION THERE
Is STRENGTH