The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-11-28
AN ESSAY on TEMPERANCE.
Read Before the Silver Spring Re-
form Club.
BY MISS KATE j. PARH A N.
pnJ,1i-bn1 h1- PaunaSt


Published by Request
lThe following essay was prepared
by request and read before Silver
Spring Reform Club at recent meet
ing. 1t is highly creditable to the
author, a young lady only about 16
years Of age, and will no doubt be
read with interest by many.]
My friends, it is with tear and trem
bling, that I rise to speak to you upon
the grand yet fearful subject of Tenn
perance grand indeed it might be,
were it in my power to do it half the
justice it deserves, fearful lest | say
something that in some way prove an
injustice.
Young gentlemen and young ladies',
do you not feel it an honor to say
that you are a member of anything SO
noble as a temperance club? If you
do not let me tell you that you ought
to.
You arc engaged in one Of the
grandest battles in which mortal man
ever fought you are helping to carry
on work that Christ Jesus begun, by
saying that no drunkard shall inherit
the kingdom Of Heaven. Let me ask
you a few questions. What is at the
bottom of the dark crimes being com.
mitted to day by the young men ofour
land? Only short while ago a hor-
rible murder was committed right here
in our midst. What was the ground
work of the whole affair? What is
fast making victims for the. Jail and
penitentiary? The answer comes
clear and strong, Whiskey Whiskey
Young man, what are you doing to
break down this evil; young lady
what are you doing to uproot the curse
of this age?
Let every man and women ask
themselves the question what are we
doing, are we encouraging intemper-
ance, or are we defending temperance?
You are certainly doing one or the
other. Those that are taking part in
this great work are trying to crush a
monster that will extingush the bright
est lights in our land; that will devour
everything in its way with it's poison
Gus fangs; that will make penniless
widows and orphans ; that will fill our
Presidential chair, our Governors pal
ace, our pulpits, our lawyers office,
our judges home and every other high
and honorable office in our land with
tottering wrecks-slave to the red
wine. They might have been men
honored and respected by all had il
not been for this detestable drug, and
yet from day to day men license the
sale of it. Before we stop people from
drinking we must stop the sale of what
they drink, for as long as men are H.
censed to sell it so long will men drink
| it.
We call our republic free one, but
unless the hurricane of intemperance
that is speeping over our continent
from ocean to ocean be checked IN
some way, the time will come wher
we will be living in land ruled an(
governed by whiskey drinkers. Will
such a thing staring us in the face how
can we sit with our hands folded, say
ing by our acts that as long as whiskey
doesn't molest us we will not try t.
abate the swelling tide? 1t will be to-
late to say when it has enveloped th'
whole world in its fiery fame that yo'
would have done all you could ha(
you ever thought how it would end
Now is the time No7o! do not delay
Ere tomorrow sun shall sink in tn
golden West some that you love dearl
may be too far gone for reformation
Go today and speak to that perishln;
soul.
Mothers, sisters and wives, how dar
you say that as long as whiskey doesn
bother you and yours you will let
take its own course with others. | as
YOU to reflect for moment upon tn
poor gray-haired mother, totterlni
upon the brink Of the grave, yet dread
ing to enter for she knows there is NJ
restraint for that wayward yet preciou
boy when she is gone. Why won
some one come and tell her that the
will carry on the work she has begu1
and let her 60 on her way in peace t
Heaven? ? Why you say would b
afraid [ would not do as well as som
other person. My friend, if you ar
in the right God is going to help YOU
He will give all the assistance yo
need.
Oh, the homes that are being mad
desolate, the lives that are being wreck
ed by strong drink! Forget not tn
prayers that are continually ascendin
to the Throne of Grace from lips upo
which time has tread with heavy foot
steps, hearts that are crushed wit
grief. Bringing such scenes betor
you who can blame you for trying
exterminate the cause of these tryln
realities?
Young men here present, God fol
bid, that any of you should ever da1
ken the pupil of that flashing eye wit
strong drink. May you never bo
that aged mothers head in grief. Z