Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-01
MORAL.
For the Lancaster Gazette.

small corner of your valuable paper to be
devoted to the cause of temperance. There
is no cause more deserving support, nor any
which so imperiously demands the aid and
encouragement of all pious and good men.
Amidst the scenes of riot and dissipation,
profanity and intemperance, which so abound
and prevail at the present day, the man who
dare not raise his voice against these crying
Isins of the land, scarcely deserves the name
of Christian. And as through the medium
Iof a newspaper every individual can express
his views, feelings, and wishes, in regard to
the virtues and vices of his fellow-men, per-
Unit me to make few general remarks upon
the subject of intemperance.
The intemperance to which the attention
of my readers is solicited, consists in the ex-
cessive use of ardent spirits, and every other
intoxicating liquor. 1t is vice severely
denounced by the Holy Scriptures, incom-
patible with the characters of good men, and
directly contrary to every sound moral prin-
pie. 1t is a vice which prevails in our once
happy country to a degree truly dreadful
and alarming. And though its votaries
(who see through glass darkly) may dis
cover nothing in it very reprehensible, yet,
to every true patriot, christian, and moralist,
it presents the most fearful forebodings of
judgments to come, which shall envelope
our whole land in desolation and gloom.
And are these alarms, these apprehen-
sions, without foundation? Are there no
causes for these awful forebodings? Go
with me into the streets and highways
into the tayerns and -shops-and even
into private houses, and there you will see
evidence of the existence of this vice, in
such various hues and characters, as cannot
fail to strike conviction to the heart. 1t is
not my design, however, to adduce proofs of
its existence to this alarming extent for it
would be as futile as to attempt to prove the
most selfevident proposition. We all see
it, feel it, and know it, as clearly and plainly
as we see and knowsany thing. And what
are the terrible evils this vice brings upon
individuals, families, and communities Up
on individuals, it brings poverty, disease,
premature old age, and untimely DEATH It
covers them with shame, infamy, and dis
grace. 1t destroys their mental and bodily
powers, and sinks them below the brutes
that perish. 1t impels them to the commits
sion of all crimes, from blasphemy and high
treason, down to the most petty offence, and
conducts many to the penitentiary, the
State-prison, and some to the gallows. 1t
renders all unfit subjects for heavenly joys
and delights, and qualities them only for the
society of fierce fends and damned spir-
Its"
| Upon families, it brings discord, quarrels,
and domestic jars. 1t alienates the affections
of husbands and wives, parents and children,
masters and servants. 1t destroys friendly
and neighbourly intercourse, and puts far
asunder the yeriest friends. 1t fills every
house where it enters with tumults and
broils, sorrow, wo, and wretchedness. Social
10y is turned into mourning, and domestic
felicity is turned into the most deadly ha-
tired.
/ Upon communities it brings sure and swift
destructlon-more especially upon republi-
can institutions. These institutions, resting
upon pubic virtue, when that becomes cor
rupted, they inevitably fall to the ground.
All history confirms the truth of this remark.
The Republics of Greece and Rome lasted
no longer than virtue maintained her suprem-
| acy' As soon as general corruption of
manners and morals ensued, these mighty
kKepublics were swept away as by an over
whelming torrent and Tyranny and Despot-
ism reared their frightfnl thrones upon the
ruins. So will it one day be with our Re-
public, unless the morals of the people can
be preserved pure and unalloyed, as when
its foundations were laid. And as there is
nothing which more strongly tends to un-
dermine the great pillars upon which it
stands, than intemperance, it is the bounden
duty OF every patriot and freeman to dis
countenance and contemn it. "When the
righteous are in authority, the people re-
joice; but when the wicked bear rule, the
people mourn" SOBRIETY.