The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-19
For the Free Trader
Intain ne rance.


. change; OF conflicts and triumphs. An age OF
mental, moral, and spiritual improvement
wherein art, eloquence, power, wealth, want
and philanthropy have found broad and fertile
fields OF action. All efforts tor the develop
ment of principle honesty and justice have
been productive of good results toward up.
lifting humanity and Strengthening the bonds
of human brotherhood.
Sentiments of Il broad religious nature, both
abstract and ideal, haYe illumincd all minds
with the sweet, cheering light of divine reve.
latlon, and today men are casting the eye OF
faith toward the future They have caught
CLEAN OF the "Star of Promise" which tells OF
great events in the coming century.
But do they see the slowly rising cloud
which grows broader and darker as time
passes? Do they understand its fearful proph-
ecy for the human family. Do they watch
the Signs of the Times and can they read the
nature of that mighty evil which, if not sub
dued, will slowly creep over every threshold,
leaving the trail of the serpent by every
hearth. stone in the land?
And this ominous cloud Is lnemperancc.
Its rapid growth tells of danger and death.
Its influence is more deadly than that Of
war or pesilence; for rntemperance is a dis
temper destructive alike to health, morals and
society 1t is In vain for preachers and other
eminent retormers to pray for the divine spirit
to be poured out upon the people of this gold.
en- age while those who sit in high places,
welding the power of both church and state
refuse to aid those who are ready and willing
to battle for the weak who are falling like au.
tumn leaves before the onward march of this
mighty foe to happiness and human progress.
The divine spirit cannot reach the souls of
men while all their actions and interest are
exerted to prevent the unfortunate, depraved
wrecks of lntemperance from rising to a noble
and divine humanity. Is there no power in
religion to stay the progress of the evil? no
influence flowing from the church strong
enough to stay the tidal wave OF intemperance-
which bids fair to sweep the bravest and best
of the land into sea of ruin? Is there no
power IN the church to control the spiritual
represent and govern the material man
Where are we to look for redeeming power
from the bondage which threatens u.s. Who
can save the nation from coming danger9
Who will free humanity from the threatening
evil?
The answer comes low.toned and tender,
that 1t may reach every heart and every home
l-m0thers, fathers saUe your children. You,
who know the nature of the evil to be over
come; you, who understand the weakness of
those who have fallen victims to Incorporate
habits, ask God and his angels to give you
his guidance and the aid of his wisdom, that
by counsel and precept and noble examples
your children may be restrained from paths
of evil. Speak to them in childhood earnestly
and tendery and by guiding them Alright in
youth and early manhood, they will need no
other power than love to enforce obedience.
Make companions of your children and they
will learn to trust you. There will be no need
to exercise other authority than parental love
to guide and lead them into spheres of happi.
ness and usefulness. Teach them to know
the deadly nature of intemperance and how to
shun its many temptations. Teach them to
remember the Sabbath day to keep 1t holy,
for there Is no day in the week SO fraught
with evil temptations tor all classes of men as
the Sabbath, notwithstanding its sacred
name and the prayers going up from ten
thousand affairs, and earnest souled men and
women are striving to prepare the way of tie
Lord, and make the earths desert a highway
for the loving God to meet and bless his PEG.
pie The Sabbath is called the day of rest.
How is 1t spent by the masses? AS day of
feasting and social communion, Among the
laboring classes lntemperance gathers more
victims on the Sabbath than any other day OF
the week. The money earned by SIX days
hard labor Is often spent IN Sunday dissipa-
ton. What is the remedy for this growing
evil? Let the people rise IN their might and
make laws that will close the rum shops on
Sabbath and then elect men to office that Will
see the laws carried into effect. Remember
| you are training men and women for the flu
ture, to take your place when you have passed
onward to the higher life. You may go on
your way rejoicing if you can feel that you
are leaving behind you brave sons and noble
daughters to take your place and possibly i'm
prove upon and finish your neglected work
Intemperance is having deadly effect upon
the body pllitc OF our nation Its constitu-
tons, its tribunal and It's executives, though
armed with physical power and demanding
explicit obedience in every thing besides, is
strangely week and careless when called upon
to defend the people from slavery deadly In
its power for its subjects, both mind and body,
to bitter and lgnobe bondage.
The only remedy lies in the future and the
united efforts of parents to save their children.
j All classes, high and low. rich and poor,