Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-12-06

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who are not natives of our soil, and the
intemperance of foreigners ali over our
country is proverbial. Many of those
who come to us are also of the off-scour-
ing of Europe, the emptying of prisons
aId aims houses, the lowest stratum of
society. Now the question stares US in
the face, what will be the effect on the
Institutions OF our country of this heter-
OgeneouS population pouring III upon US,
I i'll ever increasing numbers : Snail We
! be able to work over this mass and con-
form them to American ideas and GUS
toms. or will they soon overrun us and
| fix their imported and European Gus
toms on us and finally obliterate the in
stitutionS of our enlightened civiliZa-
| tion? What will be the effect of foreign
influence on the American Sabbath, on
our public schools and on the religious
life of eur nation? We cannot check
this incoming flood, nor would we if we
could. Multitudes of them come with
energy and thrift and money and lay the
foundations of prosperity for themselves
and their children. These vast regions
to the west and northwest are waiting
for such population to take possession
earthly power can stop the oncoming
host. But it is possible TO so uphold
our institutions, to guard against the
encrOachments on cherished rights, to
proclaim the open Bible as the charter
of our civil and religious liberties. and
in the face of all opposition to keep this
great country i'll the forefront of the
Protestant nations of the earth. The
people who love and serve God in this
land are able to hold it for him, if they
will use their power and seek his bless
ing. Gods word believed by bis people,
preached aud taught among men is the
safeguard of our nation, and this through
God is mighty to the pulling down of
the strongholds of sin and Satan.
3. Another problem is MORMONISM. A
monster of iniquity is growing up i'll the
bosom of this country, increasing in
power with passing years. 1t sets at
defiance the constituted authorities of
this country and is Independent of our
government. 1t defies the laws of mod
ern society and the teachings of cam
mon humanity. From a small begin
ming it has increased by immigration
from Europe and from all parts of this
country, till now it has control of Utah
and has extended its baneful influence
into Idaho, Montana, and Colorado. 1t
is said that Mormon agents are now
busy inducing many of the poor whites
in the South to try to better their for
tunes by. joining them and taking up
with their corrupt system. What is to
be the end of all this? The crime of
polygamy is openly practiced within our
borders. The people who are under that
wretched system are out of harmony
with all the rest of the nation. Do we
realize the danger that is growing there,
threatening the peace of this country? :?
Men say, "0h, the government could
stop this at any time" Why has it then
been tolerated for thirty years? Why Are
the laws lately passed against them
treated with contempt? Let them grow
little stronger and gain more political
power and have some weight in the pub
lie affairs of the Nation, and there may
be sceASs of bloodshed before the foul
blot is wiped out. There ought to be a
demand of the people of this country
on the national Congress to put an end
to this iniquity by the power of the
government. The general government
that has exercised its power to shut out
the Chinese could at least shut off the
Importation of Mormons from Europe,
who are coming here with unfriendly
intentions. These things we have a
right to expect from the government
under which we live, to save US from
future trouble and to rid our country of
this evil. But the main reliance is on
education and religion. The school
houses and The churches in Utah are
doing a great work in undermining that
whole corrupt system. The Christian
denominations of this country have
maintained schools and built and sup
ported churches at their own expense
throughout Utah and the surrounding
regions, and to-day it is claimed that
single teacher, and that female, in any
of those schools is doing more to over
throw Mormonism than the whole of
the power of the United States govern
ment.
4. Another of the dangers threatening
our country is the LIQUOR POWER.
1t has great strength and political in
huence. Vast wealth is invested in
breweries and distilleries for the manu-
facture of strong drink. There are 49,
600 places in the country where strong
drink is sold as beverage and this num-
Der is gradually increasing. The legiti-
mate and Immediate fruit of this business
is pauperism, crime and death. In the
carrying forward of this enormous evil
there is complete organization covering
the whole country, aud known as the
Liquor League. 1t has gathered in money
from the abundance of the rich and from
the hard earnings of the poor, often to
their last dollar, till it has vast wealth
in its possession and at its command.
We little realize the power of that organ
iZation in this land. 1t stands in the
halls of legislation. watching its interests
and defying opposition to its claims.
Politicians stand in dread of it, while
they admit it's curse to the country. 1t
takes part in politics to secure its own
interests and elects or defeats at will
Within this month it defeated Maynard,
of New York, distinguished citizen of
that State while all the rest of his ticket
was elected by d large majority; and de-
feated him for what? for no other reason
than his eutspoken temperance princi-
pies. This iniquitous business is at war
with all the great interests of the fami-
ly, of the State, and of the church. 1t
trampleS on everything that stands In its
way, the rights of humanity, the peace
of the home, the laws of the land and the
laws of God. 1t is not too much to say
that this great and defiant system is the
best organized and the most dangerous
foe that to day threatens the purity and
stability Of American institutions. To
this evil public attention is aroused to a
remarkable degree. The church is of one
mind in the conviction that the time has
come for stringent measures to protect
society against intemperance. Assem-
blies, conferences and cOnvocatians are
everywhere uttering sentiments easily
understood on this question of absorbing
interest. The christian pulpits give forth
no uncertain sound and the religious
press with one voice denounce drunken
ness and the traffic in drink. One of the
most remarks able contests that ever Oc-