The Hartford herald., 1885-10-28
lutespss,eraure

lutemperanre
We CLEAN the following from an
article i'm last weeks 81. Louis ObSerrer
written by w. J. Dykes:
POWER or LIQUOR DEALERS.
The evils of intemperance are known
to all. Day 10y day we see men falling
under lis blighting influence. Women
and children are reduced to poverty,
wretchedness and want. Murder and
crime % every kind stalk abroad in the
land. The rich are often made poor,
and the poor reduced to absolute DIES
titution. As the eloquent Bishop Ire
land said, with "a much truth as elo.
quence: "Where is there sit ? Where
is there cursing and quarreling? Where
IL innocence driven To despair? Where
are souls lost? Wherever whisky enters.
Question if you may, the souls of Irish
Catholics amid the flames of hell.
am sure, II they were To answer, no
one cause of damnation, they would
tell you, compares with rum. 1t is
rum that nullifies all the potent influ-
ences of religion, and dries up for souls
the sacred channels of grace What
then, are We to do? How are we to
check the ravages of this monster evil d?
Some of the next victims may he our
own pear aud dear kindred.
The men engaged in the liquor traf-
fic control millions of dollars, and boast
Of controlling hundreds of thousands of
voters. They openly say no man
shall enter office who opposes them.
Thus the stream of intemperanee goes
on widening and deepening, and no
man knows whom it will next engulf
The liquor men defy the law, and
openly defyit with impunity. Although
in Tennessee there were, in 1852. two
thousand and forty'four licensed liquor
dealers, each one of whom should have
paid from $50 tO 5000, which would
have amounted to over 800, 900, yet
the State collected little over Sl26, 900,
or not half what she was entitled to re
ceive, and yet there We're no prosecu-
tiOns for IA violation of the license
laws. Liquors are sold within four
miles of Incorporated schools in viola-
ton of the four mile law, aud often no
prosecutions can be had. So il is in
regard to selling liquors to minors, or
to confirmed drunkards, or on Sundays.
Let me ask, what is the use of having
laws unless we eau have them executed.
What, then, are the means We must
employ to save the country, and espec-
tally the young people, from the evils
of this drink plague, for no plague was
ever more disastrous?
AS a means Of suppressing the liquor
traffic. let it he understood that liquor
dealers and their satellites are not To
control the offices of the country, and
that the pathway to political promotion
is not through the dram shop, and you
will save your children and your neigh
bOrs' children from the horrors of drum
kenness, and you will be Il much hap
pier and more prosperous people.
Banish drinking from your social cir
cles, cease your wine parties, give no
encouragement to the formation of the
drink>habit, and you will soon he clear
of saloons, with all their attendant evils
EARNEST APPEAL.
Fathers, let me beseech you, for the
sake of your wives and daughters, to set
your sons an example of total absti-
nence from intoxicating drinks, that
they may not live drunkards' lives nor
fill drunkards' graves but may he an
honor to their families and the pride
and solace of your old age.
Sisters, as you value the happiness of
your fathers and mothers. entreat your
brothers to throw their influence in be-
half of virtue and against vice, that
their example may shine brighter and
brighter unto the perfect day.
Mothers, for the sake of your dear
boys, whom each of you would shield
as the apple of your eye, ask them to
abstain from the Use of Intoxicating
liquors as they wonld shun the touch of
serpent.
And now, my young gentleman
friends, if you will resist the entreaties
of those who nursed you in childhood,
and who were your companions in ear
ly life, nothing that 1 or any one else
can say will do you any good. Your
fate is already sealed.