The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-10-09
II The MONITOR.
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

- ~ 49, &IG GGBNf ~ ft
manners, customs, are all included in the
Divine Book inspired Of God and given to
man as a revelation. But the question of
temperance. as defined and understood to-
day, is related to every question of i'm
provement and advancement in man. 1t is
sometimes thought to be simply a moral
question, but what is meant by the term
m0rdI. Teachers. lecturers and preachers
send forth the word and allow the people
to go from the assembly with an Hide
fined term in their minds. If you will
read some of the definitions given in the
dictionaries ard moral PHILOSOPHERS, this
term itself becomes universal. From the
latin mos. it means manner, custom,
habits. ut relates to duty or obligation
pertaining to these intentions and actions of
which right and wrong. virtue and vice
are predicated; eonformed to rules of
right or to the divine law respecting social
duties. - Webster. Thus it is evident from
the definition of morals that the science of
question, being a moral question, is a uni
yersal one.
Is it a political question? What says the
Preamble to the Constitution of the United
States I'VE, the people of the United
States. in order to form more perfect
union; establish justice; insure domestic
tranquility: provide for the common de-
fence; promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish
this constitution for the United States of
America" Now is it polite foT this nation
| to protect and harbor that which tears down
that for which our nation was established
This is a political question just SO far as it
enters our Legislative halls, our courts of
justice, and buys and corrupts those who
are elected to legislate for the people. Do
nestle tranquility is disturbed by drunk
enness. If statistics be given it will be OBJ
served that seven-eights of crime originates
from this curse. The general welfare of
of the people is disturbed and liberty, the
great boon of this people, is taken away
when men, under the influence of strong
drink. domineer over the ballot box and
insult the sober minded voter. Our pos
terity come into the world not only de-
PRAYED naturally, but with the aeA so
weakened that they already have an appetite
created within them for strong drink that
drives them to ruin, and their wills are no
more than shattered helms on hulks. As
long then as the effects of the rum traffic
tear down this government it is a political
question and ought to be weighed by every
citizen.
Is it a financial question? As individuals
it comes directly home, as physicians tell MS
There is no food in it; there is no clothing
in It: there is no shelter in it; no warmth;
no medical properties, but to the contrary,
the poor man who begins to drink this
deadly stuff is soon beggared. his family
starve, they shivera in the cold for want of
clothing and food, their home, if the hut in
which they are sheltered can be called
home, is full of broken windows, patched
by means of old paper or rags; roof almost
off; house almost ready to fall and too
often a whole family crowded into one
room. The rich man beginning this habit,
how soon do his riches leave him. Pic
ture the misery in the world on account of
this seourge. What a change to see these
men and women working the mills and
factories and stores, A friend one time
said, eve never had better times than DUR
ing the war, everything was high and
money circulated. There was a market
for our produce. An army greater than
that engaged in our late civil war is crying
for deliverance. They wish to buy but they
are so weakened and ~beggared they N
Business men, see our market. Think
upon this and see how much you are losing
annually. More than a million persons
waiting 10 be clothed, fed, sheltered and
emancipated from this terrible tyrant.
Has the Church any interest here? Just
as long as men are weakened bodily, de-
based morally and enticed from the churc
of the living God, it is the duty of every
member of the church of God to join this
temperance movement. In Gods word it
is expressly declared that "No drunkard
shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven"
Poor fellow, he is better off in a pandemo-
mum of saloon keepers than with the s'chil-
dren of the King The church indeed has
a duty in this matter. Let every christian
reach out his hand and rescue his brother
in the flesh from this horrible pit, and then
will the Lord say INTO you, .Inasmuch as
We have done it unto one of the least of
these. my brethren, We have done it unto
me- How far does Christ suffer with
Wonder inebriates Answer the question.
Thus each particular question might be
noticed-the question Of political economy,
of social life etc and the question will be
proved to be universal. But how many
have no opinions on this question: How
many have an opinion but no convictions.
Look at these of your flesh of all national
tiles. behold Your liberties taken away and
then let your opinions take shape, let your
convictions make you act-act in such a
way that you give yourself NJ rest until
this terrible scourge be driven from the
land