The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1886-04-29
For the WIrSEss.
YeIlows vs.. whisky.

For the WITNESS.
YeIlows vs.. whisky.
About one hundred years ago the
disease known AZ the yellows made
it's appearance in some Of the peach
orchards Of the Eastern States, caus-
ing much damage. It was soon dis
covered that 1t was contagious, and
unless 1t could be arrested it would
destroy all the orchards. The cause
OF the disease and a remedy were
sought for. Fertilizers were applied
to the soil and solutions and drugs
to the roots, body and foliage OF the
trees. The chemist and the student
were called to aid, and the laborato-
~ was brought into reqnisitlon, but
all of no avail. The cause Of the dis
ease and means to prevent or cure it,
are as much mystery to-day as one
hundred years ago. The only way
to save the healthy trees in the or
cnard is to dig out and destroy the
diseased trees, root, branch and fruit,
as soon as discovered. Our Legis-
lature, few years ago, passed law
requiring the owners Of orchards to
destroy all affected trees as soon as
discovered, in order to prevent the
spread of the disease into neighbor-
ing orchards, and fearing that some
might not comply with the law, it
caused men to be appointed in each
township to examine the orchards
and destroy all the diseased trees
when the owner failed to do SO. Thus
we see how very considerate our law
makers are of the interests Of the
peach growers in this section. But
can we say as much with reference
| to their course on other matters
touching the mental. moral and splr-
I itual as well as temporal affairs Of q
very large proportion OF our fellow
creatures, and those, too, Of the weak
and helpless9
Ever since Solomon, three thous-
and years ago, warned his subjects,
not to look upon wine, tor at last IL
biteth like serpent, and stingeth
like an adder, until The present time,
drink has been doing its deathly
work. The snake in the glass is no
fiction, it is a reality. Some who
read this have stood by the poor
bloated, raving, maniac, with purple
cheek, distorted countenance, and
glaring bloodshot eyes, as he trem-
bled with horror, clutching, and rend-
ing his clothing. screaming, and
striving to get away. as he imagined
that he was in den of snakes, that
they were in his boots, and crawling
all over him. Were not those the
snakes that were in the glass, small
at first, now grown to immense size,
and was not the adder there too,
whose sting is certain deathS
Drink three thousand years age
was what it is to-day. During all
the intervening ages, it has entailed
like miseries, like crimes, like deaths.
The best men and women, of all ages,
have sought cure. Precept upon
precept, appeal upon appeal, reason
upon reason, have been offered.
Temperance societies upon different
plans have been organized, the
churches have preached, prayed and
resolved, some of the most talented,
conscientious and best orators have
gone forth and used all their skill to
convince and persuade the people to
turn against this monster evil.
High license taxes and local option
laws have been passed, and with
what result?
No doubt all these means have
done something to mitigate the dis
ease, but have furnished no remedy.
Tax, or high license, only takes more
bread from the drunkard's family,
and thus increases their misery. Lc-
cal option only causes the inebriate
| to 60 to the adjoining town to get his
Ihquor. He can bring II home to
drink II be chooses, and beat his
wife and children with AZ much i'm
punity as though he got Il It home.
/ ask: Is not the effort that has
been made for SO long time sutli
sient ID convince any candid and i'm
! partial mind that tho only cure il 3