Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-05-01
Rev. DIR. smithson's Address.

On Thursday night, April 20, Rev. DR..
Rumsey Smithson said in his address on
temperance to a very large audience at
the Court House
l have been identified with the Anti
Saloon League movement from its earli-
est history. 1t is intended to be, and is,
non-polluCal. Tue large audience as
| Sembled here tonight indicates the grow
ing moral sentiment against the saloon.
| The people of this county are sure to
Danish the saloon. Moral suasion for the
| drinker, and legal suasion for the saloon
ist, VIII save our people from the curse of
drunkenness. The gOring OK of Exodus,
2Ist chapter, was selected as illustrating
the high estimate we should put on human
life. This law relating to the goriug OK
sets forth n principle which Is applicable
to the liquor traffic. Is the liquor business
damaging? Do the people know it? and
who is responsible? The liquor business
Is not like any other business. the supply
creates greater demand. Drunkenness
IS sin and a disease. Itimpairs physical
health aud DESTROYS life. 100, 600 die an
nually from the effects of strong drink.
No one has right to give his vote to the
saloon unless he is willing to give HIM
self or his son to become a victim of its
deadly power. You can't run the saloon
without feeding it with our boys Ii is a
damage mentally. 1t excites the imapi-
nation. dethrones judgment, DESTROYS
sense of justice, impairs memory, and
weakens the power of will. 1t produces
insanity. Drunkenness is temporary in
sanity. 1t is a damage to the soul. 1t
olunts everymoral sensibility, 1t DESTROYS
sence OF honor; 1t kills out the fondest
affections: 1t degradeS a man beneath
the brute creation, =. -,
ing who will become intoxicated. 1t
damages the family, and scatters the chill
dren early in life. 1t is a damage to the
community from commercial point of
view, and also from n social point of
view. 1t produces idlers. 1t ENCOURAGES
coarseness and profanity. 1t is a DAMAGE
to the state, by making paupers, insane
people, criminals, &c. 1t is a damage to
the church. The liquor business stands
in the way more than anything else OF the
millennium. Every saloon is a school of
wee. Alcohol is a poison. 1t has affini-
| ty Tor the the nerves and goes to the brain
Saloon keepers deal out to people that
which is in every way harmful to man.
1t is against humanity's present and eter-
nal welfare. 1t is in the highest degree
damaging. Do the people know Ii +? Most
certainly. Preachers, physicians, Judges
LAWYERS, saloon keepers, keepers of our
Jails and almshouSeS know it. The cheer
less home sadly tells the story. Who is
reSponsible7 The manufacturer, whole
tsale and retail dealers. the man who
rents his house to the saloon keeper, the
legislature. the lawyer who assists the sa-
loon keeper. the man who votes in favor
OF the saloon, the preacher who does not
preach against it. the people who are in
different to the great evil. The govern
ment itself is responsible. No christian
ought to vote for any man who is in
favor of the saloon. How can christian
aid and encourage that which is detri-
ual welfare of our people. Oh NAV the
people of Charles Town who favor right
eousness combine their strength against
the saloons and speedily rid this com
munity of their damaging effects. Ifthey
would please God and do their duty they
must put down thesaloon, and we believe
they will.
REPoRTER FOR THE LEAGUE,