Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-05-12
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY, MAY 10. 1883.
Temperance.

Published at the Request Of the w. G. T. U.
No subject has claimed the attention
of the public more than that of tenn
perance. Its cause is strongly advocated
by the press. Its merits and its great
necessity are loudly proclaimed hg hun
dreds Of eloquent voices. Even the
children are heard repeating its good
lessons which may become practicable.
And the thrilling songs ooh, where is
my boy tonight" "Touch not the Wine
Cup" "Dare to answer No." and numer-
Gus others reach the heart of many and
do good work. Ever since the goblet
of homemade wine was freely passed
around among our good farmers in the
harvest fields, and at the social board in
private families, centuries ago, the
subject has been serious one, and to-
day, in our moral atmosphere, there is
no cloud overhanging us SO dark and
threatening as that of Intemperance.
Our eyes never beheld brighter sun
light than we see here in ChebOygan; we
never breathed purer air. We become
invigorated and healthful, and cling to
its climate as if we had truly found our
element. Well may we say God has been
lavish with his blessings in this place,
and while other shores are washed with
as beautiful water, upon whose bosom
the proud ship sails, our waters do
not threaten inundatiOn, our rivers do
not rise up suddenly and in their mad
fury sweep all before them, leaving de-
VISITATION behind; happy homes have
thus been borne away, and even precious
life itself, south and west of us. We,
too, have strong winds, but we do not
fear cyclones or tOrnadOes. In our dense
forests rOams wild beasts, the bear, wolf,
lynx, and the ever welcome, beautiful
deer. But we fear no danger from this
source. We fear not the poisonous ia
rantula, centipede, or venOmOus reptiles.
They do not modest our pathways. Che
bOygan, then, is blessed indeed. Well
may her thrift and progress be noted,
her numerous advantages Landed. We
fain would go on pOrtrayiDg the supe-
riOrity OF ChebOygan, but dark shadow
falls around us; we turn away: it follows.
We gaze upon the beautiful sky and
homes of pleasure, but the weird spectre
is there; we instinctively shrink away
as with fOrebOdings of evil. Why are
we sad in the midst OF pleasure, gloomy
where our surroundings are so bright
and cheerful? All! the black cloud of
Intemperance is lowering. The very
sunlight seems to pale before it. It's
direful effects are felt by the aged, tOtter-
ing on the brink of the grave; by the
strong young men, causing them to
stagger on the streets; even the infant
in its mothers arms, is not left unharm-
ed, the fire that flashes out from that
calamitous cloud is cOursing in its tiny
veins. The atrOciOuS effects of intern
perance beggars all description. 1t can
not he told. The snakes apparent in
delirium tremens are thOr sand times
more numerous and fatal THAN the
venomOus reptiles of the south. Better
our homes be flooded and borae away by
the clear waters of Lake huron, than
their inmates he carried down by the
current of Intemperance. Our govern
ment may boast of noble deed when
it emancipated over three millions of
slaves, but these very slaves, fettered
with iron bands, were superior to the
white men of the North who bow to, and
serve, King Alcohol. Many souls among
the inebriates are blacker than the skin
Of the African. Roman History has re-
corded on its pages horrible deeds of in
justice, carnage and death. But more
horrible are the deeds of the inebriates,
who, under the influence of king alcohol,
inflicts the greatest suffering and COM
mits the vilest crimes.
RIBS C.