The times., 1892-03-25

Third, must totally abstain because the
probabilities are that if drink at all, l will
become slave to its power. Suppose one
drinks now and then, just occasionally?
What is he almost sure to do when trouble
of any kind crosses his path? If he fails i'm
business, what does he do to strengthen
himself? He will almost invariably betake
himself to his cups. Does affiiction and
sorrow creep into the household does he be-
come discouraged with his surroundings,
what will he do to cheer himself up? If he
has touched the cup only at long intervals,
the probabilities are that the temptation will
be too strong for him and he will yield to its
fascinations. Now the one who has totally
abstained hardly does this when trouble
comes. He does not attempt to drown his
sorrow with the intoxicating draught. He
gathers into use all his noble energies to re-
gain his loss or to allay his msfOrtunes
But, you say, the man who attempts to for
get his perplexities by indulging in liquor is
weak man. | admit it, but what made
him weak; what took away his will power?
My young friend, you misunderstood the
power of alcohol if you think it was not that
which did it. Look for moment at its
record in ensaving the will. There was a
man who was startled with face peering
out at him from the wall. He went to it
Still it was there. He went up to it again
and whipped it out and stood back. 1t was
yet there. His very hair seemed to stand
with horror as he went up to it and with
terrible blow of his fist struck the wall and
left it marked with blood. He had beaten
and beaten till he had broken the bone of
his hand with beating out that which was
palpable to him, yet he was conscious and
the consciousness thrilled through his frame
with horror, that it was but phantom of
his imagination. He suffered this six days
and six nights. A physician sat by his side
and said Now sir, if you drink again, you
will suffer ii again." but doctor, will
never drink again. The thought is too hor-
rible." Once more healthy blood coursed
through his veins, but ere long he seeks it
yet again. Once more he is brought down.
He endures it all The physician again says
to HIM, "You remember that which l told
you. Now if you drink again, do not send
for me. You will die. Your constitution
will never endure another such struggle"
The man said 81 never will drink 1t again."
yet he rises from his couch of agony, seeks
! it again and again is brought down. His
poor shrinking spirit flies in disgust into
eternity from the lOathsome carcass that he
he has made of the body so ''fearfully and
wonderfully made' by his Creator. He
knew all the way along it must be so. Such
is the terrible slavery of intemperance.
| If one does escape, how often is it through
the severest struggle. A printer was work.
! ing near window opposite which was
saloon. He saw persons coming out wiping
their lips, having taken their beverages He
had formerly been accustomed to drink He
began to want it and grew nervous, the de-
sire increasing. Every fiber of his system
| m nru mt HrnnnpH
form of type. In his vexation at the acci-
dent he took off his apron, put on his coat,
with the intention of getting drunk. But he
thought of his wife and children, of former
ruin and disgrace, of present prosperity and
reputation. He rushed out and ran hateSS
through the street till he reached his home.
"Wife, shut me up, for mercy sake, shut
me up; ask no questions" She was wise
wife and locked him i'm the room. There he
remained for thirty hours before he dared
venture out to his work again. Such is the
slavery of intemperance.
A lawyer who had been Incorporate said,
81 have been obliged to forego all light
literature. | can hardly read newspaper
l have not tasted drink for two years but if
only reading of drinking | want it. | have
paced my Office with hands clinched and the
sweat standing in beads on my forehead as |
when have read of man drinking glass
of wine" Such is another instance of the
slavery of intemperance.
These instances might be multiplied by
the thousand. With such facts before u.s.
what can temperance be but total abstinence?
In the light of such tremendous truths is not
| the first glass an excess, a reprehensible act
of intemperance? Moderation is complete
| refusal.
Fourth, must totally abstain because of
my example on others. The moderate
drinker well knows that if children or youth
were to follow his example it would almost
invariably end in their ruin. They would
not stop at what is called moderate drinking
but would pass rapidly on to drunkard's
life. The example of the occasional drinker
is more harmful than that of the sot. No
, one of sane mind will deliberately set about
following the example of drunkard. One
rarely expects to become drunkard when
he takes his first glass or his first few glasses
Beware of that man who speaks as tenn
perance man and yet says that he likes
drink now and then. That man may even
vote for temperance but he is not temper
ance man. Any man that says he does not
object to glass of wine occasionally, exerts
the influence of his example on the side of
the liquor interest. The occasional drinkers
are feeders of the saloon. The saloon could
not long exist without them. They are their
future customers, upon which the saloonists
are depending. The saloon keeper pretends
to despise the man that drinks to excess but
he would make chums with the moderate
drinker. He hopes and expects, and rarely