Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1880 — MIXED “BITTERS” [ARTICLE]

MIXED “BITTERS”

‘‘Charles (Price) is an ambicious young man.” —Republican scalp-tak-er. From ano including the 4th inst - , to this date, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Snylcr, of this county, have lost 4 defldren by death. Diphtheria. |By request, Mr. Jos. D. Cowdin has furaishcd for publication his remarks at the Blue Ribbon meeting. They appear in another column. Persons in want of standard fruit and ornamental trees, shrubbery, etc. will do best by purchasing at the Rensselaer Nursery. — Mr. andJMrs. Wm. Olilt, of Remington, have issued invitations for the wedding of their daughter Eva and Mr. J. C. Morgan, of Rensselaer, to take placo at the Remington M. E. Church next Sunday. The appointment of Jos. D, Cowdin as elork at the Northern Prison is one of the best yet made. The directors have secured the services of a gentleman fullv competent for the position, and Jasper county loses one of hci be3t citizens and officials.

And they do say that Gen. Simon P. Thompson, Consul Horace E. James* and M. L. Spiller, do the heavy, edi torials in the Rep iblicnn; and furthermore that Gen. Simon is theauthot of the sketch of his life recently published in that paper. Evidently, the patrons of the Re publican are becoming very exacting of the proprietor of that journal, we infer from the rash and extravagant pledges he is forced to make this wbek. He promises: “Soon after the Republican congressional nominating convention we expect to have Bro. MeEwen’s Democratic scalp dangling in our wigw o m.” Mrs. Fannie Roturock has sold her Millinery Goods to Mrs. Lizzie H. H. Chilcote, who will continue the business at the same old place in Mr. Ralph Fendig’s Dry Goods Store.— Those desiring to invest in goods oT this kind will do well to call on Mrs. Chicoto before going elsewhere. Mrs. will rsmain in the store for a.short time during which goods will be sold very cheap.

“The first booml “Perhaps it wo’d of rebel cannon not be wise in us fired his patriotic! to urge the “war heart, and he rush- record ” Jof Jasper ed forward to takejeounty’s candidate his plaeeindefence (or Congress, * of the Union, but ***** his failing healthjho didagood job of drove him to the fighting and votrear, and he wasiing against Yalcompellud to givejlandigham Demoplace to Eotheialcrats.”—Republi’n, more inured to thejFeb. 13, 1880. hardships of war.” —Republican, Jan. 30, 1880. I

The Temperance meeting at tho Court House last Friday evening was, as usual, well attended, and the public interest in tho good cause continues undiminished. The good people of Rensselaer are evidently in earnest in this matter as is manifest from the large attendance at tho meetings every week. The marked attention given those whom tho President calls on—and he aims so slight no one.--Every one is expected to say something; a few words from each one will suffice; and no matter how crude or awkward, tho same aie well received and the speaker applauded.— The choir slug appropriate songs, accompanied by the organ, at intervals, which are frequently joined in by the audience. Good order and decorum ore maintained without any trouble. The little folks, boys and girls, of whom there is always a goodly num ber are well behaved, come regularly, and enjoy tho proceedings greatly.— The president, Charley Price, is evidently the right man in the right place, and perfectly at home. Besides putting in his well-timed remarks with sledge-hammer effect, as sisted by his right bower, Samps Erwin, he gives the speakers away oc casionally in an off hand way, enjoys a joke on himself or any of his family. Last evening he requested that Pikes Peak Price’s name should be Included in the list of those who joined, and that the minutes should be so corrected. The said young gentleman was born the evening when twenty-eight names were added to the Blue Ribbon Club—his would make 29.

Last Friday evening fourteen were called on and responded—five were declamations, or recitations, by Misses Ida Milliken, Maggie Haley, Amzy E. Beak, Birdie Spitler, and Master Elmer Dwlggins, which were appropriate, well received and appreeiated. Frank Babcock was the first called on aftei the opening services, and gave a very pretty simile, how a fallen brother should be cared for, in the action of a bird he called the Turn, a kind of sea-gull, which, when shot and wounded, and about to be captured by its enemy,, is picked up bodily from.out the water, by two of its mates, and carried off away from immediate harm, and they in turn are relieved by two fresh birds who take the fallen and wounded one and convey it out of danger. Mr. Joseph D Cowdin, or “Jerry,” as be is familiarly called, won’t attemp* to make an off-hand speech, but occasionally puts on paper what he may desire to say, read the following: Mr. President and Friends: It occurs to me that it is pi operand natural for each member of this club to be observant of the daily conduct of one another, and quite natural, if not proper, to make remarks in regard thereto,

particularly if the walk of one of its membersjs not altogether straight, or, perhaps, somewhat erratic and suspicious. Yet it appears tome, inasmuch as we are not all constituted alike, mentally and physically, and as circumstances and surroundings have a good deal to do in moulding our behavior, that we all should have charity, one for another, and use that Godiike virtue on all occasions. If we think that a brother is doing wrong, go to him privately and talk kindly and plainly to him on the subject. Do not in a Pharisaical and egotistical manner get up and publicly denounce him—perhaps not mentioning any names, but so pointedly that the public eye cau discern who is meant, and may be an innocent person accused. This course is ungentlemanly, unkind and harmful. On the other hand, let us all be careful not to persuade ourselves that we need too much medicine. Better suffer a little for awhile so as to be Tullv convinced what is needed before we conclude that it is indispensably necessary to use a stimulant, for fear the desire may be an unnatural weakness and lead us not only into temptation but into the commission of a sin, to-wit: tue violation of our pledge. This advice I take to myself, while offering it gratuitously to any friend who might be benefittod by following it. We are all more or loss prone to wander from the path of rectitude and are liable, if not very careful, to get into the old rut we used to follow, I will now give you a few statistical remarks for a change, which I have figured out on the subject for your consideration.

Knowledge is power, for it controls, governs and commands capital, for it produces wealth. When labor is di verted from its proper channel, from any cause, and no longer produces wealth, it is a calamity, ruinous to itself and t.o the country. It is estimated that $700,000,000 is annually expended iu the United States for strong drink—an amount almost fabulous. If a man would undertake to count it by the dollar, and would count $20,000 a day, overy day, Sunday included. it. would take 90 yeurs for him to get through counting. If each man would take in at the bar si4oo,|a year, it would require $500,000 men to deal out the liquid damnatiou. If half that number were men of families, and each family numbered 4 perse ns, the retail liquor traffic would have to maintain and keep 1,250,000 persons. Five hundred thousand of this uuin ber are adult males, whose labor is diveited from the proper channel, doing no good to the community, but incalculable harm, inasmuch as the indulgence of strong drink produces poverty, sickness and crime, and fills our alms houses, hospitals and prisons. It engulphs in ruin and desolation those who use the damned stuff, With the wives and innocent children of the inebriate.

A newspaper contributor makes a larger estimate than this, and says: “More than $50,000,000 worth of graiu is wasted annually in the United States in the manufacture of intoxicating drink—sufficient to support all the paupers in the country. There are in our country 250,000 places where liquors are sold, requiring the services of 550‘000 persons, all nonproducers, selling $740,000,000 worth of liquors. And Dr. Story, of Chica go, says, “The building of asylums, the furnishing medicines and comforts for 4000 insane people who die after three years of insanity, and for 8000 lunatics who do not die, but are cured after three years treatment iu the asylum, costs in that time $36,000,000, all caused by drunkenness.” In consequence of all these evils, all business interests are damaged generally and materially, and the safety of our beloved Republic endangered,— On the contrary, if these 550,000 men were engaged in wealth producing labor, what a marked change it would produce in the results. Happiness and prosperity would bless the land —poverty, sickness and crime would suddenly cease to be—abundance, accumulated by sonest toil, would reward tiie laborer, and roseato health pervade all. The change would be as marked as day is from night.—us good is from evil. The millenium would then have begun; and may God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, hasten the time when this and every sin shall be no more. Then ail His creatures will desire to worship and praise Him with thankful hearts for all His loving kindness. Appropriate remarks were made by Messrs. James Morgan, Joseph Willey, Sampson Erwin, Henry I. Adams, C. H. Price, Dan’l Duvall and Hon. R. S. Dwiggins. Mr. Dwiggins is heartily in earnest in this business, and made a sharp, spirited and effective speech. He expressed a concurrence in the remarks of Bro. Cowdin—that charity should be exemplified toward all those who were endeavoring to do right. If they fell from grace, forgive them 70 times 7 if hecessary, and help them along by encouragement and example. He referred to the remark of Bro. Dan Duvall at tti© previous meeting-“feeling as hot as a lime kiln in the cause of Temperance,”— and said it was time that all should feel as hot as a lime kiln on the subject when $50,000,000 worth of grain was being wasted annually in the United States in the manufacture of intoxicating drinks, at a time when so many were actually dying of starvation in other places. In Ireland, the wail of the homeless, and povertystricken, and down-trodden inhabitants is wafted across the ocean to this western hemisphere where plenty abounds. Oh, if this sum of $50,000,000 worse than thrown away and wasted, could be used iu relieving the horrible misery existing elsewhere what a glorious and happy result would be attained. May God avert the judgment that may be meted out to us for this sin. For in the cycle of time, when a dense population may inhabit our hemisphere, there may be periods when we may be visited by famine, our families crying for bread and dying of hungar. We cannot appreciate the blessings we now enjoy so as to sufficiently sympathize with those cursed by famine and want, nor realze the horrors of death by starvation.

There are several other able advocates of Temperanoe belonging to the club who are on hand every evening, and ready to respond when called on, among whom is Mr. Marion L. Spitler, who the evening previous made a most evening. On the last evening, before closing, and while singing “Hold the Fort,” the following new recruits joined: John Kohler, Henry Eiglesbaeh, Dr. J, S. Owen and Martin E Bayler. j