The Russellville Democrat., 1890-08-07

have, under God, in your power tho re- demption of this land from drunken ness. Empty your cellars and wine closets of the beverage, and then como out and give us your hand, your vote, your prayers, your sympathies. Do that, and I will promise three things: CD That you will find unspeakabie happiness in having done your duty.
 (2) You will probably save somebody perhaps your own child. (3) You will not, in your last hour, have a regret that you made the sacrifice, if sacrifice it be.
 As long as you make drinking respect able. drinking customs will prevail, and tho plow-share of death, drawn by terri ble disasters, will go on turning up this whole continent. from end to end, with the long, deep, awful furrow of drunk ards graves
 Ohl how this rum fiend would like to go and hang up skeleton in your beau tiful house, so that when you opened the front door to go in, you would see 1t in the hall; and when you sat at your table you would see it hanging from tho wall; and, when you opened your bed room, you would find it stretched upon your pillow; and, waking at night you would feel its cold hand passing over your face and pinching at your heart
 There is no home so beautiful but it may be'devastated by the awful curse. It throws it's jargon into the sweetest har- mony. What was it that silenced Sher- idan, the English orator, and shattered the golden scepter with which he swayed parliaments and courtsi What foul sprite turned the sweet rhythm of Robert Burns into tuneless babble3 What brought down the majestic form of one who awed the Amer ican Senate with his eloquence, and after while carried him home dead drunk? What was it that swamped tho noble spirit of one of the heroes of the last war, until, in drunken fit, he reeled from the deck of Western steamer, and was drowned? There was one whose voice we all loved to hear. He was one of tho most classical ora tors of the century People wandered why man of so pure heart and so OK celent life should have such sad countenance always. They knew not that his wife was a sot.
 I call upon those who are guilty of these indulgences to quit the path of death. Oh! what change it would mako in your homei Do you see how everything thero is being desolated? Would you not like to bring back joy to your wife's heart and have your chill dren come out to meet you with as much confidence as once they showed? Would you not like to rekindle the home-lights that long ago were extinguished? It is not too late to change. It may not entire- ly obliterate from your soul the memory of wasted years and a ruined reputa- tion, nor smooth out from your anxious brow tho wrinkles which trouble has plowed. It may not call back unkind words uttered, or rough deeds done; for perhaps in those awfnl moments you struck herl It may not take from your memory the bitter thoughts connected with some little grave. But it is not too late to save yourself, and secure for God and your family tho remainder oi your fast-going life.
 But perhaps you have not utterly gone astray. I may address ono who may not have quito made up his mind. Let your better nature speak out You take one side or the other in the war; against drunkenness. Have you tho courage to put your foot downright, and say to your companions and friends: II will never drink intoxicating liquor in all my life; nor will countenanco the habit in others?n Have nothing to do with strong drink. It has turned the earth into a place of skulls, and has stood opening the gate to a lost world to let in it's victims, until now the door swings no more upon it's hinges, but day and night stands wide open to let in the agonized procession of doomed men.
 Do address one whose regular work in life is to administer to this appetite? For Gods sake go out of that business! If woe be pronounced upon the man who gives his neighbor drink, how m any woes must be hanging over the man who does this every day and every hour of the day
 Do not think that because human government may license you that, there fore, God licenses you. l am surprised to hear you men say that they respect the ''original-package decision, by which the Supreme Court of tho United States allows rum to be taken into the sale of intoxicants. l have no respect for wrong decision. l care not who makes it. The three Judges of the Supreme Court who gave minority report against that decision were right, and the Chief Justice was wrong. The right of State to defend itself against the rum traffic will yet be demonstrate ed, the Supreme Court notwithstand- ing. Higher than the judicial bench at God Almighty. No enactment Ma tional, State or municipal, can give you tho right to carry on business whose one object is destruction.
 God knows better than you do your self the number of drinks you have poured out You keep list; but more accurate list has been kept than yours You may call it Burgundy, Bourbon, Cognac, Heidsieck, sour mash or beer. God calls it strong drink. Whether you sell it in low oyster-cellar or behind the polished counter of first-class hotel, the divine curse is upon you. I tell you plainly that you will meet your customers one day when there will be no counter between you. When your work is done on earth, and you enter the reward of your busi- ness, all the souls of the men whom you have destroyed will crowd around you, and pour their bitterness into your cup. They will show you their wounds, and say: You made them" and point to their unquenehable thirst and say: You kindled it" and rattle their chains and say: You forged it.~ Then their united groans will smite your ear, and with the hands out of which you once picked the sixpences and the dimes, they will push you of the verge of great precipices; while rolling up from beneath, and breaking among the crays of death will thunder. ssWoa to