The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-03-08
Intsmperancs.


EDITOR GAZETTE: The great destroyer of mans
happiness still stalks forth in the land, although
hundreds Of strong. persistent, determined efforts
have been made by. good men and women to lessen
the evils of intemperance yet the curse not only
abounds, bot seems to be growing evil. In
these fair Isles, as elsewhere man takes TO his
bosom the ire-fend; the fell monster enters quiet
homes, robs them of all JOY, peace and happiness
Man drinks the vile stuff, with the hope of quench-
ing the sorrow in his heart; or perhaps TO stimu-
late to deeds of violence or perhaps to impen to
extra exertion in the performance of some new
enterprise. But in the end comes woe, comes re-
gret, comes anguish, bitterness and sore distress
the sure results Of drunkenness. Why is this
why is il that man does not cast forever from him
the monster curse OF intemperances
Why is il many intelligent men to-day on these
Islands, were each to behold himself in glass,
would see the reflection Of one who has been re-
Gently intoxicated? and at the same time one earn
esty DESTROYS of breaking the chain that enthrals
him BY dashing the liquid poison far from him.
he knows and so do / that rum burns the vitals,
inhames the brain, deadens the moral sense OF
right and wrong. 1t dethrones reason, robs one
of self respect, and makes perfect hell where
love, peace and quietness ought 70 reign supreme.
II is because of halfhearted resolutions, because
Of equally divided for and against resolutions
that be fails to assert his right 20 freedom, and to
walk forth into the glorieus light of liberty.
Whole-hearted, determined resolutions and firm
reliance on Gods help, can save man bound by
such terrible bondage as the thralldom OF drunk
enness. and nothing short OF this will 1t seems
to me hear some one say, how do you known l
know because have been there. / was in the half
hearted resolution business long ago. and got
cheated every time. And not until could feel
that it required the omnipotant arm of God TO lift
a man out of the gutter, and place him on hard
ground, did realize my own weakness; my utter
inability TO save myself or TO let my friends save
me, however dsvotedly, however earnestly they
might try. Should any ask me why write these
lines / should tell them with the hope that some
boy who has never touched the burning fluid might
see this and be warned or perhaps some young
man seeing this might stop an indulgence he had
Just commenced and cast the glass forever from
his lips, or perhaps some one who has many times
drunk deep of the bitter agoniZing waters of dis
pair, might through4eading this simple declara-
ton, have hope revived, be encouraged TO take
God and total abstinence as security against the
possibility of ever lndulging his appetite again.
On these Islands / first learned TO believe that
liquor was good for me; here have found out my
sad mistake, and here have quit
send forth this declaration 10 the world as an
initiatory step to what earnestly hope will result
in the oonsummation of perfect reformation 70
myself, and in some small degree be help to 9TH
ers. A glow fills my heart as l reflect upon the
moment when looked and beheld a break in the
dark cloud and to my great JOY ray of light shot
forth. and touched me, and bid me hope bid me
live and say TO others what has been so often said
me. Touch not, taste not, handle not.
From ONE WHO KNOWS.