Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-07-31

can upon those who are guilty Of these
m1ulgences to quit the path OF death. Oil
what a change II would make in your homeI
DO you see how everything there Is being
desolatedf Would you not like TO bring
back Joy 70 your wife's heart. and have
your children come out to meet you with as
much conhdence as once they showedi
Would you not Ike TO rekindle the homa
lights that long ago were extinguished2 II
Is not too late to change. II may not en-
tirely obllterate from your soul the memory
OF wasted years and q ruined reputation
nor smooth out from your anxious brow
the wrinkles which trouble has plowed. II
may not cell back unkind words uttered or
rough deeds done, for perhaps In those
awful moments you struck herf 1t may not
take from your memory the bitter thoughts
connected with some little grave. But Il Is
not too late TO save yourself, and secure for
god and your family the remainder Of your
fast going hfe.
But perhaps you have not utterly gone
astray. / may address one who may not
have quite made up his mind. Let your
better nature speak out. You take one side
or the other in the war against drunken
ness. Have you the courage to put your
foot downright, and say to your COM
panions and friends, Il will never drink in
toxieating liquor in all my life; nor viii
countenance the habit in others?- Have
nothing TO do with strong drink. It has
turned the earth into place OF skulls. and
has stood opening the gate to lost world
to let In its victims, until now the door
swings no more upon its hinges. but, day
and night, stands wide open to let in the
agonized procession Of doomed men,
Do l address one whose regular work IN
life Is to administer to this appetite? For
Gods sake get out Of that businessI If a
woe be pronounced upon the man who gives
his neighbor drink. how many woes must be
hanging over the man who does this every
day and every hour Of the day.
Do not think that because human govern
ment may license you that therefore God
licenses you. am surprised to hear you
men say that you respect the -original
package decision, by which the Supreme
Court OF the United States allows rum to be
taken in states like Kansas. which have de-
cided against the sale Of intoxicants. I
have no respect for a wrong decision. I
care not who makes 1t. 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 a
state to defend itself against the rum traffic
will yet be demonstrated. tine Supreme
Court not withstanding. Higher than the
Judicial bench at Washington is the throne
Of the Lord God Almighty. No enactment,
national. state or municipal. can give YOU
the right to carry on business whose one
effect is destruction.
God knows better than you do yourself
the number Of drinks you have poured out.
You keep list; but a 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
cellars or behind the polished counter Of q
flrst-class hotel the divine curse is upon
you. 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 business 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, "YoJ
made them" and point to their unquench
able thirst and say. You kindled it, ant
rattle their chain and say. You forged it,"
Then their united groans will smite your ear,
and with the hands out OF which you once
picked the sixpenees and the dimes they
will push you off the verge of great pre-
eipices. while rolling up from beneath and
breaking among the crags of death will
thunder. Woe to him that giveth his neigh
Dor drink"