The Litchfield County post., 1826-11-28
fNTEMPERANcE.

-
s.at OF a too general Incorporate use Of
ardent spirits is perhaps the most formida-
bic and hardest TO conquer. : 1t is grow
me evil. and might be acted upon, il not
BIZ lis executive, at least, by the example
81 good citizens.
VIM similar views Dr.J. y. FiInt' reao
report before Benevolent society III
Boston. from which the following SOUND re-
marks are extracted. -.
The third cause of intemperance, winch
we have named--that of the prevailing
cnstoms of society respecting the means OF
Il. deserves the most particular attention,
as Il involves a topic of the first Importance
IN our inquiry, viz. the best methods OF
changing the state of public opinion and
practice inregard to the use of ardent spir-
its. Public opinion is in our community,
almost omnipotent, and any cause which
can call to its aid this important instrument,
need not despair of ultimate success
Laws may be enacted which are in them
selves both Just and excellent, but if they
he not founded on public opinion, and
their execution sanctioned by the same,
they will either remain as dead letters IN
the Statute Book, or be repealed at the
next return of legislation. Now, it is no-
torious how decidedly, and lamentably
public opinion has been favourable to the
habitual and as many think harmless use,
of these dangerous articles. They are Of
fered to the stranger and guest as the. first
token of hospitality they are urged on
your associate and friend, as a salutary
means of refreshment, and the pledge of
vour best wishes for his health and well
fare and they are handed down to your
defendants and interiors as an acknow-
ledgment of faithful services, or TO qualify
and soften a little their discomfort at the
distinctions which fortune or other acci-
dents have occasioned, by enabling them,
in this respect at least, to emulate their SUI.
periors. We can hardly assemble on any
occasion whether public or private, for
business or pleasure, whether it be to adj,
mire and celebrate the stern virtues and
temperate habits Of our ancestors, or to
rejoice on the intellectual and moral adj
vancement of the rising generation, with
out being surrounded with these seemingly
Indispensable means of refreshment, and
conviviality, which are equally reflection
on our own taste, an insult to our forefa-
theirs sobriety, and snare to our chill
dren's virtue. And even the scenes of
festiyity with which we are wont to con-
clude the solemn ceremonies, by which we.
consecrate places and persons to the SER
vice Of our holy religion, are sometimes pol
luted and disgraced by the introduction of
this foe to every thing which !. is pure and
honest, and lovely, and of good report"
Addressing men who know full well the
the power Of fashion on the lower classes
in society, among whom intemperance pre-
walls to the greatest extent, we may say,
without the danger Of being thought extra
VACANT, that while this state of things con-
tinues, we can indulge but little hope of aE
fecting much good in the cause under con-
sideration. While the fashionable and
reputable will indulge themselves in the
use Of ardent spirits, the vulgar and ignor-
ant will inevitably become the. victims of
its abuse. There is a remarkable propen-
sity in the poor and lower classes in society
to carry to excess any habits and customs
which they catch from high life. IF the
fashionable world adopt new and singu-
lar article or style of dress, you may mo-
ticeas it descends from rank to rank that
its peculiarities are peculiarly aggravated,
until at last they run into the extravagant
and ridiculous. And so with the habit Of
drinking; casting off one by one, as it de-
seconds, the various restraints which are
imposed upon it in the higher circles BY
more enlightened moral principle, by great
or strength of resistance, and by higher
estimation Of character and credit; from
being mere item, useless one, to be
sure, and often a hurtful one, among the
various Injuries of fashionable life, it be-
comes at last, a positive and gross vice.
But this is not all the mischief resulting
from such practices. The effort of benev-
olentan enlightened men, engaged in the
cause Of temperance and sobriety, thereby
lose much Of their effect, and their instruc-
ton much of their weight.-For those
whom they address cannot or will not dis
eliminate between the use and the abuse of
a favorite indulgence. How can you with
a good grace, or with reasonable prospect
Of success, expostulate with drunkard on
his dangerous habit of drinking, address to
him the arguments of temperance caution-
ing him in the language Of tho American
Philanthropist to touch not, taste not, han
die not, while you are yourself uncon-
scionsly giving countenance to the very
cause from which you are endeavouring to
dissuade hima VIII he not gainsay all |
your most elaborate reasoning. and most |