The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-03-25
Whlshsr arc We Drifting

Knowing thy6TATEsMAN 10 be
fciend of temperance and morality.
beg leave to defend those through
columns. AS you know, tales Of ho
ror are upon the wings OF the winl
and the ''daily press" is laden vii
tragic deeds'of murder, arson, suicid
and other acts of evil which sick
the heart knd chill the blood. Thes
reports of crime shake our connts'
from center to cireumference. and an
own fair state is not exempt from It'd
btighhng curse Of recklessnesa. Ne
who to-day might haYe reached th
highest pinnacle of fame, whose TOW
erlng intellccts, noble hearts and CON
handing mien would have secured Il.
admiration Of the world, whose name
might have been emblaxaned IN geld
upon our country's pages, are reelin.
under the blighting influence Of siron
drink. Ycu may enter the sacred pre
cincts Of home, see the poor wifeI
whose pale face aud tearIuE
eyes betokens SORROW, anxietS
and despair. Taken from happy
home in her youth and innocence.
where all was peace and joy, she givcs=
her heart aud hand to him who prom
ises at the ''sacred altar" to love and
cherish her in sickness and in health,
and forsaking all others TO cleavc only
unto her as long as they shall both
live" but these holy VOWS are 6iisrc-
gsr1ed, and the club, ball, drinking
dens and demi mondes have moro
charms for besotted Lotharios than the
company of the faithful, loylng wife.
or the tender pleadings Of alfectinnate,
loving children. Poor woman keeps
the midnight lamp burning, aud with
aching heart and scalding tears watches
and waite, and then che sleeps 6tful
sleep. Men often encourage each other
to drink, under the plea that the rules
of society require it, aud that
1t is breach of etIqueet 10 refuse.
Some of our citizens thero are, who
few years ago were temperate, but
can now be seen reeling upon our
streets. The social glass was the step
Iiug-stone to ruin. Wtat Is more APP
palliug9 Dissipation 10 not confined
to the low aud ignorant, but 1t has
wrapped its deadly coils around those
command them to protect each other
and their families, aud TO whom society
was looking for examples of rcctitude
and sobrety. Young men are falling
in their wske, and terrible as 1t is, pro-
family and recklessness are taking hold
of our school aud college boys. Are
parents dead to pernicIOus examples
set in gambling, drinking and fire.
quenti1g places OF pTostltition. II.
children wind up on the gallows or the
penitentiary, who is responsible9 We
each and all owe something to aocieiy,
and We will be held responsible for the
influence for veal or woe which We
exert. The age Demands courage
courage at all hazards, to do right and
to resist eFil under any and oil circum-
stances. Has man lost his manhood, and
is has conscience so scared that there ia
no hope of reform3 Do tho tears uf
stricken wife aud mother, or the tender
pleadings of the little ones, make no
impression3 Could you draw aside the
veil which hangs like the pail Of death
over some homes. and realize what wo-
man is suffering from the Inebratc's
tongue as il foams and spews froth ia
burning lava, its accursed flames OF de-
moniacal wrath, your hearts would
sicken and checks turn pale. Man, il
you will persist in dissipated course,
don't encourage your brothers 10 join
you and lead them to destruction. II
you do, your responsibility is immeas-
urable, for you not only ruin thtm, but
ha han ~ hai fur
and God will hold you responsible.
You hang the murderer or consien him
10 the felon's cell, and yet You lead
him into dissipation and license places
of decentralization and dissipation,
which are the foundations Of crime.
Let ministers of Christ do their duty
in arresting ruin at all times and in all
places. Let moLhers, wivcs and slE-
ters use their tender influences to stay
the focd.tido OF destruction. Let
MasoDs and Odd Fellows, who take for
corner stones OF their edifices the
Word Of God, friendship, love and
truth, faith, hope and charity, realize
the individual obligations they are un-
der to each other, and pursue the
works which they profess TO follow.
Man was made in the image Of God,
and he selected as the protector and
defender OF tender confiding woman.
Will he betray his trust and ignore his
obligations. Woman has her obliga-
tions TO fulfill to man, and he as truly
his to her. "Honor, love and keep
her," is the divine mandate. Good
women and good men are blessing.
Wee versa bad women and bad men a
curse. Touch not, taste not the un-
clean. or you will be deflled. Xxx.