West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-06-15
Temperance.

dICd Win oO' uluCli VI AC"A
quiet enjoyment of domestic happl-
ness and prosperity in life, as the
word Temperance. In the social fab
ric of society, this word Temperance
has a world of meaning. 1t is one
of the bright jewels in the holy reli-
gion of the Bible. In the formation
of man, in all his relations as an &C
countable individual, and member
of society, it is made cardinal vlr-
tue. In the journey Of life it be-
comes bright bow of promise-of
safety-of success. Beneath it is
seen and displayed the bright sun
light of peace, joy, tranquility, and
gladness of heart. 1t looks back
over the past with composure, and
surveys the future with assurance,
tranquility and hope. 1t becomes
the triumph-the grand triumph of
a well-adjusted and well-spent life
"a life of honor and of earthly use
fulness.
The opposite of this is iratenper-
amce. In its dark black catalogue,
it sums up untold misery and
wretchedness, unrevealed anguish
and remorse. 1t sums up the de-
struction of effort, Of hope, and the
final ruin of man. 1t is the delu-
sive and baneful aegis to destroy,
while promising pleasures and de-
lights, held and put forth in the
hand of the enemy-in the hand OF
cruel adversary - relentless as
death-more dire and appalling
than the grave.
Temperance men and women by
special and associated efforts, and
organized societies, commenced OPP
erations against the widespread
evil and destroyer of man, in the
State of New York, in the fall of
1928. At that time, through So
ciety of true working temperance
men, the banner of Temperance
was flung to the breeze, and a stand
was made against this then popular
and widespread and hitherto pre-
vailing evil-the use as a beverage
of all intoxicating drinks-with the
avowed purpose of saving the rising
generation from its blighting curse.
The persons who had contracted the
habits of intemperance, and had
thereby become drunkards, were
then considered hopeless, and lost
to society-even considered beyond
the hope of reformation. At that
time the evils of intemperance and
the prejudices to be overcome were
great and increasing The love of
money, the love of gain, ruled the
manufacturers and vendors of ar
dent spirits, while the habits of
drinking the distilled fluid were
strong, popular and unyielding,
With strange results, this warfare
among men of that day, between
temperance and imtemperance-be-
tween good and evil-was carried
on, and on, while the dark tidal
waves of death and desolation were
passing over our country, The
thick blackening clouds of intern
perance prevailed to an alarming
extent throughout the entire land.
Effort after effort were put forth by
district, county and State societies
to contract and control the evil.
The Christian churches by their
chaplains, creeds, rules and regula-
tions, were thought, and it was so
contended for by many, as all suffi-
cient for this work, yet many time
they failed even to save their own
members from this terrible "pesti-
lence, which walked in darkness,
and wasted at MONDAY" Its mem
bers, and sometimes its ministers,
went down beneath its dark waves,
while its power upon the multitude
was wholly unequal to the task of
reformation. The laws enacted by
State Legislatures failed in control
ing the evil, or in giving deliver
ance to the oppressed, or save from
the burdens of taxation, suffering
and crime. The brightest intel
lects of the land, many time, were
overtaken by this destroyer, and
went prematurely down in dark
ness, shame and degradation, and
filled a drunkard's grave.
S. G. SHAW.
Leafy Glen, W. Va, June, 1881.