Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-30

make it d.xracefui in al its degrees: you must
restrain what is tnisc allied the temperate use Of
ardent spirits; end iben, (th"uyh therr be little
hope hat the drank .rd, from habit, will urn
from his wickednrss and live.) it will be almost
certain. that no temperate man will turn from
his soberness and die.
"But, We are asked, is not public opinion al
ready arrayed against the sin OF in,emprrance
No: lbs lure drunkenness ;-beasty in:oxia
ton is, indred, universally reprohated. But is
there no intemper ,nce without intoxication p
Is there no deadly fever without delirium? The
in,e importance OF this nation has arisen and
grown under iLe express licence of that public
opinion, which NEEDLES moi with The Uiciin till
he is ho2rl, ssly losr-and then cries out al he
horror Of his end which sees with indifference
the temperate man enter the atmosphere Of
contagion which sees him receive the poison
into his blood, and counlenances the deed nay,
which smiles upon the social spirit and manly
freedom from which It Is supposed 10 originate.
In other words, to take the first step in the way
OF in'rmperance--to advance farther and far
Their owards its end-to be in the habiiual use
OF ;he very means, end 10 throw open The door
to the very temptation, by which every wretch
that has filled drunkard's grave was original
ly ruined-is sanctioned by the curren: though,
aud feeling Of the community.
ut is not until habl ual indulgence has pro.
ceeded 10 incompetence and irtemperancr TO
drunken ne.s-it is no, until he infcc ion long
burning III the veins has burst forth upon the
face till the b ay bloats, the speech filters,
and The brain rnUeS-it Is not until every ia My
| OF rrason-evrry ttace OF The Creators image
has bern obl,it ra,ed-and a b'u'al nd dtgia
d.d ins,inc, ich Graves Tor drink us b. 'rme
the onlt rule IF c'n'.u,i lie "' motive To
&C lion; ha, pubic opinion expresses Its dis
gust. If IL would operate with advantage il
must take its stand whrre in,emperance begi"s,
ifi would speak win effect. II must address
It's denunciations 10 those who have vet ears to
hear, hearts to feel, minds to comprehend, and
| freedom to obey. I, must cree, its barriers IN
front of the pa h way that leads to rum; il must
c,y aloud a. the c"terIng OF the gate, and warn
| the passenger TO beware Of the danger.
"In th, view Of he subje CERTAIN receni
associations Tor the promotion OF temperance
which are rapidly ex ending, and will probably
soon be es abl ~, d in every section oil he coun-
'ry-are observed with great interest, by states
men, phianthropiss and Judges. BY no other
agency can public opinion be properly arrayed
or its force be brought succ. sstully into &C
| tion-because none other is proDor'ioned 10 the
objrc, desired. The power Of truth, persua-
sion, example and rsprooe, which :hesr socie-
ties WELD, is the only ONE suicd 10 the nature
OF our institutions, or which free people can
be rxpee led 10 tolerate. Experience 'hus far
; speaks much for their rfficdoy-so much ina
} when we look al the vast magnitude of the uu-
deraking, and the comparatively small means
wi h which i! was begun-when we examine
the les monies which the wise aud he emi"ent
are every day bearing IS well to me success as
10 III, benevolence of the cause. when We es''
mate the in eres already kind d-and the &C
knowledgrd resul, already it,ained-"e are
! JUS fled in recomm- ndrng hrse institutions
as the mos, poem, of all ap,idotes for the pre-
vention of crime, and therefore as tho most
,aIua able Of all auxiharies 10 he power OF law
We are authorized TO hope-'ha their inf"' NJ {
m the order Of Pro, idence may become so un-
iversal % tn relieve his nation from its prcu-
liar curse hat their princi les md their pr g.
lice may be visinly ,in'rrposrd, like The high
priest with his Censor, hetwe." the living and
The dead" ami hat plague will be destroyed "