Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1816-09-17
MONITOR-No. VIII.
yoR THE PORTLAND GAIETrK.


by many, who have not the consoling aid, nor
under the salutary influences OF religion, ntem
perance is frequently rsserted to in adversely TO
| drown the remembrance Of better days, but it
proves q most wre.chsd equivalent. Thus misfor-
tunes whch were doubtless designed by PROV dsnce
| a blessing too frequently, by Our own folly,
prove curse, and thus We, in manner, frus-
| trato its intentions.
But, among the incorporate, those, above oil
others, are the most culpsbIe, who are endowed
with the most brilliant powers, and raised by the
It's Of their talents, above the generality of man
kind In this class, We may rank many who have
shoue as considerations in the literary world, but
lswho, unLappiy, have through ilnprudeuse and liz
eutiousocss fell vietims TO this worst and most
depIorable Of vices. Lndowed with the clsarest
understandings and tho most acute DETERMINATIONS,
yet become infatuated to y practise which even
the narrow judgment Of the greatest and most dss-
pissed smpleton would condemn a. dangerous aud
wrong.
This vice Of intemperance is too prevalent among
all classes of the Community. Ii 10 not confined IL
the poor or lower, but il is an accusation, IN which
the gher and richer ranks, are deeply involved.
So far from feeling shame and Iemorse, wagers are
often Iad--ahd rs frequently accepted, with res
peel to the quantity this or that person will empty
ia certain space, and a sort OF palm awarded tbs
| victorious bacehanalan. Many seem to possess an
opinion, that on days Of festivity and pub'ick re
ocings the only proof Of cordially uniting in the
general sentimen, Shy drinking without restraint,
and the practice Of too many affords sufficient
demonstration Of their implicit faith in, and adher-
snce to the theory.
Intenperauce is the parent of many crimes. BE-
ref, almost entirely Of reason in the hour OF intox.
ication into what excuses are they apt to plunge
In that moment many have been led to the commits
sion Of crimes Of the blacklist dye, and the most
| shosking and atrocious nature. The father has
murdered his Offspring, the child has imbrued his
hand in the blood Of bis parent, aud in On unguard-
| ed aad unrenecting moment, man has terminated
the existence OF brother and 4 friend. Thus,
crimes have been perpetrated. which have brought
| the perpetrator to wretohsd and untimsly end,
and stamped his name with infamy aud Disgrace
crimes at which humanity shudders, aud nature re-
coils .-cru,es the dipping and the result OF N
TEMPERANcE.
Without multiplying the catalogue Of evils, in
temperance il a naii0nat sin. It's prevalence Il
wide, its progress Alarming It's instances are ire
| quent, its practice is common. Every day fresh
instances are presented to our eyes. La almost ev-
cry street we behold its victims; tho degraded hu'
man carcuss, buried in its noxious sleep; sleep,
alas from which many have never awaksd, but
hurried unit and unprepared into the presence oil
that being. who has denounced the most dreadful
punishments against its practise, ana VINO WIZ new
er suffer his sacred laws to be trampied Oh WAN
impunity. Modern degeneracy from the habits oil
our vrtuous ancestors great indeed, aud had they
anticipated this unhappy change. they might wsl'
have hlushed and iamented the characters, their
poster,y would sustain. 10 the habits OF temper
ance and irugality by which they were distinguish
ed and for which they have been celebrated aud
admired their descendants are almost entire s.ran'
gers BY such practices we not only disgrace the''
memories, aud render ourselves unworthy ue'efa-
Jan,s of .cb orogenitors, but provoke the dspleas
nre and bring upon Us the Indignation OF heaven
Instead of copying the wretched example, viii
which our own observ alton has supplied US, shou'.
sery. as beacons to warn us against the rock which
has proved so fatal to thousands Of our species. In
temperance is vice into which we may DO "raw
unaware, aud initiated almost imperceP,'oiy. ~
one can plead his exemption from 'ne nan'', -;
nh; snsres all therefore should be equally on thei
guard, lest they in turn. should fall istoa prae''c