“It is about one of these evils that is threatening the stability, prosperity, and happiness of this whole country that I would talk to you to-night.  Let us approach near to each other and talk, if possible, soul to soul, and heart to heart, I would talk to you to-night of liberty, that liberty that frees us, body, soul, and spirit, from the slavery of the intoxicating bowl; a slavery more soul-wearing and life-destroying than any Egyptian bondage.  Why, it is but a few years ago that this whole continent rocked to its very center on the question as to whether human slavery should endure upon its soil!  That was but the slavery of the body, a slavery for this life; and that was bad enough, but the slavery about which I talk to you is a slavery not only of the body, but of the soul, and of the spirit; a slavery not only for this life, but a slavery that goes beyond the gates of the tomb, and reaches out into an infinite eternity.  The slavery of intoxication, unlike human slavery, is confined to no particular section, climate, or society; for it wars on all mankind.  It has for its home this whole world.  It has the flesh for its mother and the devil for its father.  It stands out a headless, heartless, eyeless, earless, soulless monster of gigantic and fabulous proportions.”

As a very few persons have said my labors in the cause of Temperance were not, and are not, productive of good, I will give just very short extracts from a number of letters which I have received from persons who ought to know: 

    Frankfort, Ind., October 18, 1875.

Luther Benson, Esq.—­My Dear Sir—­Yours of the 14th is before me for answer, and, although very busily engaged in court, I can not refrain from answering at some length.  First, I will say, “I have kept the faith.”  Though “the fight” is not yet over, my emancipation from the terrible thralldom is measurably complete.  Occasional twinges of appetite yet admonish me to maintain my vigilance.  It was while struggling with one of these that your letter came like a messenger from heaven to encourage and strengthen me.  Not a day passes but that I think of you, and to your wise counsel and affectionate admonition, under Providence, I owe my beginning and continuance in this well-doing. * * * May the Lord spare you to “open the lips of truth” to those who, like myself, will perish without a revelation of their danger.  With high esteem and sincere affection, I am, ever your friend, ——­

    Salem, mass., October 29, 1875.

Bro.  Benson—­I write you these few lines to cheer your heart, and assure you that your labor in Salem has not been in vain in the Lord’s cause (the Temperance Reform).  Our friend and brother, ——­, from Beverly, was over at our meeting on Wednesday evening last, and it would do your heart good to see the change in him.  He will never forget Luther Benson, for it was your first speech in Salem that saved him. ——­

I desire now to come down to the very near present, as some claim that my late afflictions and sore misfortunes have extinguished my capacity for good: