The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-22

y
inspiration of intoxication, but of the
solid qualities of high toned and high
bred men and women. Harriman's
city government is not rum-run
machine supported by license fees
and fines for drunkenness, but sober
American institution, made and
managed by the intelligence and rec
titude of its voting population. In
theory, at least, our city is mountain
high in it's society, morals and politi-
cal life. AS people ride by us they
may we'll exclaim, Behold the city
set on the hill of righteous principle"
And is there to be found anywhere a
soldier, grander foundation on which
to base city than this hill OF princi-
pie on which Hartman is set?
We know very we'll that the slough
of despond and the valley of death in
which the most of the old cities have
been set, have wrought agony and
ruin inexpressible to our weak hui
mainly and made it seem impossible
to many that men shall ever be reared
to sober and high minded manhood.
The cities set in the valleys of sensu-
alism are terrible disheartenments to
people of weak faith and moderate
humanity. They are the centers of
corruption and inhumanity in our
world-the breeding places of crime
and brutality. 1t is great gain to
the world that one city is set on this
hill of principle. 1t begins new era
among men. 1t advertises a better
way than the old one of putting
drink and crime into the chartered
privileges of city life.
The Hartman idea is high and
grand one which contemplates the
deliverance of society from the saloons
and its drink of death. 1t is a man
ly idea, humane idea, righteous
idea, contemplating increasing ad-
vantages to individuals and commun-
tiles as it shall spread among men
and dominate their lives. What
other single idea has such breadth of
benefit to men as this which has
lifted Hartman so much above the
other cities of the State and country 2
By this idea Hartman began its life
in sobriety-was born to total abstin-
ence-was fore-ordained to prohibit
ton, and so belongs by constitution
and character to higher order of So
ciety than the drink guzzling and i'm
bruited cities which ruin families in
drunkenness to raise revenues to sup
port the government
This Hartman idea is the declara-
ton of independence to all who will
accept il, -independence of the drink
tyranny, which dominates modern So
ciety with slavery more wide spread,
demoralizing and cruel than that
which 50 long held this fair South
ern land in thrall. A terrible evil is
this drink curse, ruinous to the man,
the family and the State. 1t would
be utterly destructive to society and
all its important interests were it not
for the temperance men who every
where resist it with a strong saving
force. If all men were drinkers So
ciety would soon bein the gutter. 1t
is not the drunkards but the sober
men who keep society and the ship
of state afoat. Health health of
body, mind and soul-are in temper
ance. Disease of body, mind and
soul are in intemperance. Therefore
the Hartman idea of total abstinence
and prohibition is the true one. It
lifts the banner of great saving
principle high up before all the peo-
pie. 1t lays the axe at the root of
the tree of evil in modern society and
proposes to exterminate that ancient
nuisance. Root it out by law and
moral force, by education and gospel
uplift, from all the land, is the con-
templated plan.
But this plan will not execute it.
self. The Hartman idea must be-
come the idea of the people of this
city. Men of drinking ideas, of guz-
zling habits, of liquor traffic instincts,
will not promote, but defeat the Har-
riman idea if they can. The first es-
sential to the success of this city is
union in the distinguishing principle
on which the city is founded. Mas
sachusetts was successful in her rev.
dictionary a-party and the indie
pendence she struck out for, because
her people were, in the main, united.
They were as one man for the Massa-
chusetts principle. They staked
their all on the maintenance of that
principle, and for the time being,
broke up business, society and gov
ernment in an appeal to the sword
and muskets. Lexington, Bunker