Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-01-20
VIEWS ON TEMPERANCE.


principle of a God-given nationality,
and seen in truths inherent light The
American people, above ali other in
telligent nations on the globe, are
prone TO run into extremes. 1t is we'll
known by a casual observer, that the
heat Of excitement never resulted in
any permanent good; it is like putting
forth cause, so to speak, blindfolded,
without carefully examining the effect
and end OF that cause; for be it known
my friends that every cause put forth
produces its effect, either for veal or
woe. But am wandering it was the
temperance question that | designed in
this article to talk about.
The temperance question, as near as
can recollect, began to be agltated In
the western States about forty years
since, a short time previous it was very
much agitated in the eastern States,
Massachusetts, in particular, which
name is dear to me, as it was my ma
tive country; it is well known that 1t
was the land of our Puritan forefath-
ers, and as they were yet tinctured with
a little Puritanism and the heat OF eX-
citement ragged to an ungovernaole ex-
tent, so much SO that many even cut
down their orchards. My friends, how
does that extravaganza accord with
the principle of sound reason? Would
it not have been as reasonable to sup
pose that man would get drunk by
simply climbing sour apple treeT
Almost in the midst of the above
excitement | visited Massachusetts,
and having many friendsin the city Of
Boston | remained there for several
days, and according to my best obser.
vation there was as much liquor used
as when | resided there in my boyhood
days; to be sure they were little more
cautious. | felt during my stay that L
needed some liquor, and took fat bot
tie and went to liquor store, and al.
though perfect stranger, it was filled
without the least hesitancy. But as l
design to be brief will come back to
Oswego, N. Y, where | resided 25
years. And shall ever remember the
intense excitement that prevailed at
that time; every effort was put forth to
stop its traffic, the Maine liquor law
was passed, penitentlary was built In
Syracuse for the purpose of thrusting
in the victims who violated the law,
and many were sent there, women not
accepted, and l was credibly informed
that the overseers treated its victims
most shamefully, even far below the
dignity Of the brutes.
In 1861 l emigrated to Napoleon,
Ohio. The temperance question has
been agitated more or less until the
present time. The most stringent laws
have been devised to prohibit its traf
fic; the Name liquor law is this day on
our statute books, and vote for nc
license has been given, which resulted
in large majority in favor of no Ii
cense.
Next comes the woman's raid. The
ladies of Napoleon whose hosoms were
filled with love and affection CON-
menced their raid, and no doubt with
good intentions; but it looks strange to
me that intelligent ladies would take
their pearls into such places. For it is
written, cast not your pearls before
swine, neither give that which is holy
unto the dogs, least they trample them
under their feet and turn again and
rend you. ..
And to close the climax in these
heated excitements which l look upon
as not in accordance with sound rea-
son, where men, women and children
go forward, and the most solemn
pledge is signed, and in hundreds, and
no doubt thousands of cases the pledge
is broken in less than forty y-eight
hours. How think you this chimes
with the principle of nationality. For
it is written thou shalt not take the
name of the Lord thy God in vain, for
the Lord will not hold him guiltless
that taketh His name in vain.
| have thus briefly alluded to the
most prominent features of the above
subject. And now my friends allow
me to ask in all sincerity, what has all
these efforts accomplished? The people
meant we'll there is not doubt But
it appears to me that a casual observer
could plainly see that the tide OF In
temperance is running higher than 1t
did twenty or forty years ago. Me
thinks hear the question asked, what
means would you devise to remedy
and finally exterminate this damnable
and hellsh evll9 l will briefly an
swer 1t is written thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy soul,
and with all thy might, mind and
strength, and thy neighbor as thyself
On these two commandments lang all
the law and the prophets, we can give
evidence that we obey the above pre-
cepts in the exhibition of our lifes love
one is goodness and truth, which il
heaven; the opposite love is falsty anc
evil which is hell
Beyou to others kind and true,
As you'd have others be to you;
And neither do, or say to man,
What e'er you would not take again.
Perhaps it will not be out OF plat
to give some of the prominent reason