Year: 1863

NEVADA, Aug. 81, 1868.


DEAR JOURNAL Since you last heard from
this correspondent, he has been traversing the
counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo
and San Francisco, Placer and Nevada visiting
Divisions OF Sons of Temperance, lectuTing on
the cause Of Temperance and endeav oring 10
promote the best interests of the State as far as
humble ability will permit. meeting all that
variety of experience incident to this kind of
life and labor. In some places the people give
attention TO these important matters, and great
good is manifest as the result; in other places
Temperance Societies and laborers are regarded
with pathetic indifference, and no movements
are made to counteract the influences of perni
cious customs and vitiated morals. The excite
ment of the people in reference to the elections
about to come off, renders temperance lecturing
at present anything but profitable to those who
by this business maintain themselves.


There is no time calling for more fathfuluess
on the part of Temperance men, than election
day At such times men are unusually exctablc
and predisposed to indulge in alcoholic poisons



duty of good people to throw around men as
many guards as they possibly can 10 restrain
them from running into vice and folly. At such
times as these too we find men who are aware of
the weakness of their fellows, and who aim at
making step-bolders of them who make no
scruple of employing bar room and bottle in
Auence in order to gain votes, and encourage
shouers for their party or parties-and you will
find such men ut times in all parties-anG their
influence is most damaging to public morals and
most deadly to the public health, wealth and
peace of any community, and if there is one
time more than another calling for fathfulness
on the part Of Sons OF Temperance it is at times
like these. The only cure for bar.room and bot
lie influence ia political affairs is to cultivate the
public mind, and elevate the tastes and customs
of the people to n point far above these traps
aud tricks of the demagogae and the phrtizah.-
| have been siekened and disguSted more than
once listening to harrangGeS OF men who talked
Of patriots aud all that kind OF thing, whose
first move after leaving the platform was to the
bar, followed by an iuGumerable company OF the
bottle worshipping aud hummer tribe. who love
most fervcntly all patriots who treat literally to
whisky aud hate ardently all who are above the





moves to win the game Of politics. II society is
ever enabled to shake of etfcctualIy drunken
demarorues and their influence the work must
be done by the Sons of Temperance, and faith
full carrying on aud carrying out OF the great
and benevolent objects of that non scctarian,
non political association.


During the last month have been clambering
over the trails of Placer county, visiting the
various towns and camps where we have and
bnv nnt IpmupruuCp.
meeting everywhere some fresh proof of the eX
celent influence OF Temperance societies, and
the evil influence OF the opposite course. In one
small place visited there had recently been four
deaths by delirium tremens And each place
has its long list of crimes and fatal dongs, the
results of Intoxicating drinks. We would have
very few cases of shooting, stabbng ect, were
it not for the influence of alcohol in maddening
people la one town an old resident showed me
the grave yard in which most of the Z" narrow
houses " were tenanted by those who had died
from violence. All these things are lecturers
and preachers, and should teach people wisdom.
Associations of good people, such as the Sons
of Temperance, act as bulwarks or barriers to
ward off from the entire people n sea OF evils
that otherwise would food all the land. Aud
every additional member to these societies tends
TO strengthen their moral barriers and likewise
increase the influence of the Good Samaritan ef-
forts of those thus associated. Bad as is the



much worse state of affairs were it not for the
restraining influence of mOral and religious so
cieties and principles Let those scollers aud
despisers who fold their hands aud refuse to aid
in any good work, find out better way than has
vet been discovered in order to improve men,
and we will follow them. They swear at our re.
ligious efforts and at our moral movements aud
say "who can show us any good But not the
first finger will they raise TO help any good
Experience teaches us that Temperance societies
are blessings to every community where they
are formed Every business man knows this
1t Yankee Jims, worthy gentleman Of the
Jewish persuasion who is engaged in mercantile
pursuit always attends our meetings there, and
evidences great friendliness to the lectures. He
told friend Of mine that he was in favor OF
all these temperance sons fathers aud grand
fathers as he found that among his many Gus
toners he never lost cent by Sons OF Temper
ance but his books showed many dollar OF bad
debts, owing by men who always could hnd
money to spend in saloons but who at last cleared
off, without paying their honest debts Every
rejecting man of business will be compelled III
truth TO come to the same favorable conclusion,
in reference to The salutary inluence OF lemper
ance organizations. In all our churches, may
here and there be found happy aud useIui mem
bers who were led to take the hrst step III a re-
ligious direction in consequence OF hrst helng
made sober by the influence oi Sons ol temper
ance. They declare tina; they believe they spoplu
never have begun to think seriously anu ae'
wisely ia reference to the interests of their I'M
mortal souls, were it not for the influence oi
Temperance societies. Temperance is the pioneer
to prepare the way for the Gospel Of Jesus Christ
That Gospel that is the power Ut God 10 Tue
salvation Of all who believed 1t.


Yours truly, "A DAVIDSON.