Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-07-15

The CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE. All who
have the welfare and happiness Of our coun-
try at heart cannot but regard with the
deepest interest the efforts which are max
ing, by individuals and societies, in every
part of the country, to arrest the progress of
one of the greatest moral evils which we
have to encounter, viz: intemperance. No
popular vice is so dangerous in its tendency,
so ruinous in its effects, so dreadful and ex-
tensiye in its final consequences, as that of
drunkenness. The suppression of it, there
fore, is worthy of the greatest exertions of
the benevolent, individually and in bodies.
As this vice has come to be regarded as
national moral evil, so, we are happy to per-
ceive, its suppression is considered an object
OF national concern. 1t is but recently that
public attention has been awakened to the
actual extent of this evil, and the measures
which have in consequence been-pUt in train
to check, and if possible destroy, its infu-
ence, may be said not yet to have come to
maturity. This we are disposed to regard
as an apology for the many indiscreet steps
which have been taken towards the accom-
plishment of a very desirable end. Danger
is always to be apprehended from zealots in
any cause: and in this, being on the whole
subject of very delicate nature, there is
much reason to fear that well-intended eff
forts have been iniudiciously applied, and
have retarded rather than advanced the de-
sired reformation. A year or two since, for
instance, a proposition was made in our
Legislature to consign the bodies of those
who died in consequence of intemperance
to the surgeons, for dissection. The propo-
sition excited just Indignation and horrour,
and was not for moment deemed worthy
the consideration of the Legislature. All
can remember the kind of feeling which was
created in the outset of the general excite
ment against intemperance. Societies form
ed for its suppression were stigmatised with
the opprobrious epithet of "cold water So
cieties," and the effect which they were
SAAeAeoN ~ PAouuSC was III great lled-
sure lost either by the injudicious and in
discreet manner in which the work of reform
was commenced, or by the failure of those
concerned to confirm and strengthen their
precepts by their own example. The rich
man with his cellar stocked with LIQUORS ad
monishes his poor and hard-labouring neigh
bour in vain of the danger of intemperance,
and the necessity of entirely obstaining from
the use of ardent spirits. Men are seldom
willing to be reminded of their faults and
vices; and in all cases the work of reform
ing the moral habits of friends and neigh
bours is an extremely delicate and unthank-
tul task. Those whose benevolence has
prompted them to apply their means and en-
ergies to the suppression of intemperance
will find this to be particularly the case with
regard TO the cause which they have taken
IN hand
We have extended our remarks much be-
yond our original intention. They have
been elected by an article in the last Ma
tlonal Philanthropist, on the subject of Dis
tilleries, in which those establishments are
characterised as nurseries of vice, vile
contaminators Of the publick morals--dis-
turbers of the publick peace-and miserable