The Newtown bee., 1890-06-27

lowed up and plotted out through the curse of intemperance. Then. as we know how this liquor traffic controls the legislation of States and even of the na- tion, bringing it to pass so that none can be elected to office, except those who favor their iniquitous traffic; when. as it seems through the apathy of the good citizens, and through corruption and bribery by the minions of the saloon traffic, our whole national government is baser elements of our citizenship, how dark must the prospect appear to those who only look at the human side of the question. But, standing by the graves. we decorate, we are reminded of those times when our nation seemed to be held, bound hand and foot, by the slave pow CT, when the demands of that power were as arbitrary and yielded to, just as the liquor power is to-day. When, in their arrogance, the champions of that iniquity in the very halls of Congress would brutally strike down member of the House, because, forsooth, he offered objections to the despotism of the slave oligarchy. But, like Joseph's dungeon, this was only a part of the preparation for the triumph of the principles of uni versal liberty. So, in this memorial ser vice, our minds will recall the past and this will help us look forward with con fident hope that we may soon see our land saved from being a nation of drunk ards. Now, if we can thus gather new hope, from this service for our nation, then it will not be in vain that we strew their graves with flowers on this anni- versary of the nations heroes.
 Another very important thought comes in here. God saved the nation from the curse of slavery, d curse that directly af- fected but d little more than third of the land. But O, the sacrifice of treas ure and the lives it cost, the sufferings it produced throughout the whole land, q fact which this service of decorating the graves most vividly reminds us. Then, as we think how this curse of the liquor traffic affects not a small portion of our fair land, but every part, from shore to shore, and from Canada to the Gulf, and that far greater amount of money Is
 involved in ensllving men to their appe- tites and passions than was invested in
 slaves, we may justly fear the conse- quences, when God shall call for judg- ment on the nations idol. So, while
 standing by the graves of these patriots,
 we may have full confidence that the
 nation will be saved in the good provi,
 dence of God; that, even if we fail to
 stand in our lot, God will raise up deliV-
 erance from some other source, but ter
 rible will be the consequence and judg'
 ment that our palliation of this evil will
 bring upon the nation and upon oul
 children. Therefore, as we stand by tht
 graves to-day and cover them witt
 wreaths of flowers, may we each one bt led to feel our imperative duty to pu away this great evil from our land, lest
 in Gods judgments, not hundreds O thousands of our fathers and brother
 shall be called to lay down their lives
 but millions. You may easily discOye
 the fact that this liquor traffic, in the ?
 years since the war, has slain more thai
 three times as many as perished on tn
 field of battle. The most of these grave
 remain unmarked and without any flow CTS to-day. Does it not, then, call on ev
 cry patriotic citizen to awake and put ol
 the armour to save our nation?
 Again, we know that ignorance is al ways foe to true liberty and, when W gather up the statistics and find what mass of illiterate there is in the land, is enough to fill our minds with anxiou forebodings and concern for the pepetu , ity of our free institutions. When W , see how this ignorant and indoient clas congregates in our cities and throug
 their unthriftiness are liable at any me ment to be driven by their wants to deed of desperation and so to rise and aveng their fancied injury on their more indus f trious and prosperous neighbors, whe we watch the workings of these yariou evils, augmented and encouraged by tn saloons, we may we'll tremble for tn , welfare and safety of our children threat , ened through nihilism and anarchy.
 But, standing by the graves we decor : ate, we may hear the voice of Proyidene : saying the right must and will prevail , the wrong and evil must be wiped out Q : our institutions and from this fair land r We may also hear the voice of the pas saying in most solemn thunder tone; , ssTrifle not with these evils, that no' prevail, lest you bring upon yourselve
 and your children sufferings and wot such as has never been known before the history of the world.' Therefor a this service to-day should stir our mind - and hearts to a realization of the fat v that we are in a measure our brother ' keeper, in the sense, at least, that Go Q has given us our inheritance in lar a where every citiztn may make his inf : ence felt eitherfo good orevil. It shou n fix upon our hearts our duty to see tn the laws for educating the rising gene ia ations are faithfully executed and, if nee IT. be, are supplemented with others, th d shall make it impossible for any to gro Q up without at least the rudiments of . fair education.
 Il We should, by this days service. e reminded that righteousness exalteth e nation and that it is the highest intere y of the State to promote and teach son ,. definite code of morals in all our publ IT schools and, until better text book