Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-07-21
A NEW DECLARATION.

tRcad by Rev. F. O. Blair. at Lebanon. Ill,
July 4. Iss2. at Il Temperance Picnic given
by the w. G. r. IL
When in the course of human events,
it becomes necessary for a people to
dissolve their connection with the Gov
ernment to which they have hitherto
owed allegiance, Il decent respect for
the opinions of mankind demands that
the causes should be clearly set forth,
which impcl them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be Self-evi-
dent: that ali men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalicnablc rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness; that to secure
these rights, governments are instituted
among men. deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed; that,
whenever any form of Government be
comes destructive of these ends, it is the
right and duty OF the people to alter. or
to abolish it: that ii is the first law OF
sclf-pre>ervation that any State or Ma
ton may, and IF right ought to, do all
those things which are necessary to
perpctuatc its own existence; and TO
abolish all those practices. and TO cOun-
tcract all those influences which are
calculated to ruin the body polite, and
destroy society.
For many wears the inhabitants of this
country have suffered from the cruel
acts and oppressive measures instituted
by King Alcohol. with the evident de
SIGN TO reduce them under an absolute
despotism. and after long and patient
endurance of flagrant wrongs. and after
having made many and fruitlc>> efforts
To obtain redress, until it is plainly evil
dent that nothing can be hoped from APP
pcalS to his justice or mercy. we, the
people of these United States. having
resolved to cast OFF the authority of tins
tVrant, do unite in this declaration OF
the causes and reasons which constraln
us to take so important Il step, ana or
the miscrirs and grievances which have
been inflicted on us by him. until his
government has become burden too
heavy to be longer borne. The history
of his course toward us in the past is 4
history of repeated injuries and uSurpa-
tiunS, all having in direct object the "stab-
lishmcnt of an absolute tyranny over
these States, and the subsection of the
people. through their depraved appctite5
and passions to his complete control.
To prove this. let facts be submitted
to a candid world:
He has refused his assent % laws the
most wholesome and necessary for the
public good.
He has caused the enactment of laws
which have opened the sluce-ways of
destruction, pouring forth upon
the people Of this land n dreadful
tide of intcmperance, with all the at
tendant evils of drunkenness, diseaSo
and death.
He has bribcd in various ways. and
under various di>guiSes. the legislators.
the Judges and the jurics of the country
to prevent the enactment and the exc
cution of laws, however necdful for the
welfare of the public, which would in
tcrfcre with his ncfarious traffic in in
toxicating liquors. or prevent the accu-
mutation of wealth by himself at the
expense of the comfort, the fortunes,
the lives and the future wcll-being OF
his victims.
He has taken away our property,
earned by patient. faithful labor. and re-
duccd our families to beggary and want.
He has diverted the wealth of the
Nation from its proper office to the sup
port of the criminal. the paupcr and the
IDIOT, caused to become such by his
bli@hting influence.
He has locked up vast sums of money
from the legitimate uses of trade and
commerce in the jails. the penlt'ntlarleS
and the asylumS, these having been
made necessary ny the vices and crimes
he has stimulated into activity among
the people.
He has extorted many millions from
the laborers of the Nation to he eN-
pended in maintaining the police forces,
the courts of Justice, and all the ma
chincry of Government. devoted largely
to Il vain effort to remedy the evils he
himself has inflicted upon society.
He has transformed the fruits of the
earth. given for the suStenance OF man
and beast. into Il death-dcaling poison
which changes men into demons.
He has diverted the labors of thou
sands from productive occupations to
the preparation and distribution of the
fiery flood which tleSolates our land.
He has Smittcn the people with in
sanity and idiOcy. and filled our a>ylums
with maniacS. and driveling idiots. As
we'll as the prisons with our institutions
for the fecbie-mindcd with criminals
He has cnticcd our boys from then
homes. and sent them forth as tramps.
and vagabonds in the land, and. instead
of good citizens. they have become the
dangerous classes of society.
He has won our Young men from lives
of sobriety. industry and frugalltv, to q
course of drunkenness, inqolence and
waStefulncSS.
He has drawn away our young women
from the paths of virtue to denS OF in
fanny and frightful depths of degrade
ton.
He is responsible, directly or indirectly,
for three-f -fourths of all the crimes com
mi,tcd. and four-fifths of all the muir
derS done.
He has dragged down the gifted and
| noble of all classes from positions OF
honor. trust and usefulness. and with
ruined regulations, and names dis
rraced. has CONSIGNED them to drunk
ard grave and n drunkard' doom.
He has blighted the sunny, happy
wears of childhood, and caused the lit
| tie ones to pass their lives in squalor,
| misery and want: and homes that might
| have been the abode of perennial hap
| piness have been turned into hablta-
| tionS of internal misery.
He has prostrated the public press to
| his purposes and uses. so that. too oft
en-, instead of noblv speaking out fol-
| Justice and right, and the good OF the
people at large, it basely yields to his
| demands to be sustained in his efforts to
| crush and ruin our race.
He has infatuated very many OF the
| office-seekers and otfice-h holders with the
| belief that it is far more important to