The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-09-27


ltnred Athenisns though Rome could
once excIaim, "There are no noble men
but Romans."-yet each fell, the degrad.
ed victims OF Intempersnce the monster
that holds within its iron grasp the doom
OF America.
Down the wideaed stream Of Intem.
perance, thousands OF human souls are
drifting in'o CULTS from whose seething &
torrents III, = is no rescue. The spark
ling wine-cup that graces so many
American tables, and touches the lips ot
80 many OF our dearest friends. IL no
longer filed with the nectar OF the gols.
hut with the poisoned Installations OF
demons. The alluring dram. shops oc-
cupying the Broad ways and alleys OF our
populous cities are filed with artillery.
dealing the death blows 10 our coveted
freedom. The stones Of the pr0fane
temples are cemented with the blood Of
lost and dying humanity the walls, in
countless reverbeiations. echo the or
phan e sad wall aud the widows despair
ing cry, the drunkard's hopeless re.
Quicm, and the Christians earnest PRAYER,
for the hsnishment Of the growing curse
Of American society. The victims Of
intemperance are not only chosen from
the lowIy haunts Of tho hoveI, but from
the gildcd halls Of the mansion not only y
sought among the wrecks Of minds and
bodies, but among the possessors OF su-
perior strength and abilities. The mon
arch indulging ia immoderate draughts
from the exhilsrasing cup reduces kingly
pride TO that standard Of depravity ex-
isting among the lowest menials 10 the
court. and the royal scepter which gym
bolizes dignity and dominion becomes
wavering rod 10 the hand OF libertine
dcspot. The poet. whose gifted pen re-
cords the soul's nobIest ins spirations, goes
from bis sauctified studies 10 the brill
liant saloon. and mingled with the chimes
of dreary midnight comes the sound OF
faltering footsteps; from the lips OF
ruined genius fall the prophetic words Of
despair-words rcsouuding through the
dimly lighted room.
my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on
the hoor,
Shall De lf,ed neyermore'
The scholar, descending from the su-
preme nights Of knowledge, drinks from
dangerous fountain, and
reason becomes the slave of passion, con-
science the victim Of persecution, and
manly principles fall sacrifice upon the
ALTA Of vice. The Dig
nifed form Of the American statesman
elnerges from the arched doorwsys Of
legislative halls, and moving majestical-
" across tho staeet, enters the house OF
corruption. aud his ermine robe bearing
the insignia OF fauthority. honor, and jus
tice, ~ becomes the garment Of pollution.
The American citizen who wake In
the light Of Liberty's flaming torch, the
peer among the rulers Of ma
tions, defiles his illustrions badge. and
violates his solemn obligations TO God,
home and country, when he allows the
morallxing spirit to capture the citadel 1
OF manhood character.
The would-be Christian, induIging in|
the "social glass; behind the screened
doors OF the drsm-shop, forfeits every
title 20 respect by his sober countrymeU,
aud lcsecrates the holy edifce when bel
enters TO engage in the rites Of devotion.
Vice, arrays itself IN the imperial pur-
pie, as we'll as in the garb of poverty, and
genius is in equal danger with the peas
ant. Loniness Of position fails 10 be-
come the needed rampant; II 10 only al
The darkness OF perdition. Freedom 'e|
crown and robe and scepter are seized
by unmerciful fends; her throne be-
comes the footstool Of wrong; the child
ren Of truth and honor, who once rever-
need her undefiled name, are ignomini-
rus slaves, rcvcIlug In dungeons Of crime
md wretchedness. When We witness
he downfall Of institutions. the hope of
merica; " hen we view the desoIatioD
II once happy homes, the basis Of nation
i strength: when we see around us
,roken vows, broken fortunes and brok- /
IN hearts, crowded prisons. crowded
Isylums, and crowded cemeteries, vel
AN not ovcresiimate nor exaggerate the
wills OF intemperance. We require nOl'
vision TO draw aside the cur
ain and reveal the horrible scenes Of the L
uture. In every American banquet
lall, where glasses OF Intoxicating bever- Il
ges circle freely among the guests, the
sme Hand that penciled the fate OF Bel Il
hszzar's kingdom on the festooned walls \
Il Babylon's magnificent palace, appears Il
10 the destruction Of q modern !.
cople kings Of reason and conscience y
nd volition -reveling in the transient
nd peril0us bliss Distilled from every Z
rop Of the poisonous potation. There
re magicians like Daniel 10 decipher =
he meaning Of the mvsterious writing, Z
ut like Babylon's king. the revelers
nd 1t too late to heed the warning, and Z
III without resistance beneath the 2
rokcs from that almost unc0nq uerable Y
% which at last biteth like q serpent :
nd stinReih like an adder" -
Millions Of prayers and supplicatlons 2
ave assembled from the hearts Of true i
for the safety Of loved ones, y '.
,r the removal OF these dcns OF tempta- !.
on, woe and misery, and for the pro- =
ibition Of the infamous liquor traffic. =
II over tho land, churches uplift their 2
,ires IN impressive appeal for the an. 9
IhiIation Of the evil threatening every : :
apartment OF society, government and g
'lioion, but, moro than two hundred y
ousand licensed saloons stand between 2, .
q vast congregation and the door Of y
IA tabernacle wherein IL refuge. -
- - 49,