Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-08-16

quence, ana after a wnne carried nlm nome
dead drunk What was it that swamped the
spirit of one of the heroes OF the last
war. until, in a drunken fit, he reeled from
the deck Of a western steamer n was
drowned There was one whose voice we ali
loved TO hear. He was one OF the most classic
orators Of the century. People wondered
why a man Of 50 pure a heart and 50 excel
lent a life should have such a sad c~ountenance
always. They knew not that his wife was a
sot.
| call upon those who are guilty of these
indulgences TO quit the path of death oh,
what a change it would make in your home!
Do you see how everything there is being
desolateds Would YOU not like to bring
back Joy to your wife's heart. and have your
children 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 extln,uished2 It IS not too late to
change. 1t may not entirely obllteratef from
your soul the memory OF wasted years and a
ruined reputation, nor smooth outfrom your
anxious brow the wr1nkie which trouble has
prowed. 1t may not call back unkind words
uttered or rough deeds done; for perhaps in
those awful moments YOU struck her! 1t
NAV not take from your memery the bitter
thoughts connected with some little grave.
But it is not too late TO save yourself, and
secure for God and your family The re-
maInder or your IaSt gong ire.
But perhaps you have not utterly gone
astrav. | may address one who may not
have quite made up his mind. Let your bet
ter nature speak out. You take one side or
the other in the war against drunkenness.
Have you the courage to put your foot
downright, and say to your companions and
friends. Il will never drink intoxicating
liquor in all my life, nor will l couutenance
the habit in othersn' Have .-thing to do
with strong drink. t has turLod the earth
into a place Of skulls, and has stood opening
the gate TO a lost world TO let in its vitims,
until now the door swings no more upon its
hinges, but day and night stands wide open
to let in the agonize1 procession Of doomed
men.
Do | address one whose regular work in
life is to administer to this appetite2 For
Gods sake get out Of that business! Ii 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 nottthink that because human govern
ment may license you that therefore God
licenses you. | am surprised to hear you
men say that they respect the Original
package" decision by which the Su-
prene Court of the United States allows
run to be taken into States like Kansas,
which have decided against the sale of intoxi-
~A SSPS&S - AoI W.
sion. | care not who makes it. The three
judges Of the Supreme Court who gave min
GRITTY 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, the supreme
court notwithstanding. 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 a business whose one
effect is destruction.
God knows better than YOU do Yourself
the number of drinks you nave pourel out.
You keep a list, but a more accurate list has
been kept than yours. You may call it
Burgundy, bourbon, cosnae. Heidsieck,
sour mash, or beer. God calls it strong
drink. Whether you sell it in low OYSTER
cellar or behind the polished counter of q
trst-class hotel, the divine curse is upon
you. l tell you plainly that you will meet
your customers one day when there will be
no counter between you. When vour work
Is done on earth, and you enter the reward
of your business, all the souls of the men
around you and pour their bitterness into
your cup. They will show you their wounds
=v&xele2g
and say, You made them,o and point to
their unquenchable thirst and say. "You
klndled it, and rattle their chain ana saw.
You forged it." Then their united groans
will sInite your ear, and with the hands out
of which You once picked the sixpences and
the dimes, they will push you off the verge
OF great precipices, while rolling I'D from
beneath and breaking among the crags of
death will thunder, "Woe to him that Civ.
eth his neighbor drink"