The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-07-03

TEMPERANCE, NO. 10

Aun"sS sOoos " So"iS'hS' AuiC ouu
intemperate men, seldom know how to
kill time, without recourse to games Of
shame. The influence Of these, to de-
prave the heart, destroy the morals, and
waste the substance Of. their votaries, it
10 needless to describe Multtudes have
been such pro6cients in this school ofvice
~ soon to become knaves, blockheads, or
beggars. Intemperance leads to lying,
when estate and character are ruined
No regard to truth is to be expected in
such, whose promises are made and brok-
en- without ceremony The tongue be-
comes the organ Of imposisition in busi-
ness !; every principle Of integrity or hon
or is laid out ofthe question, when there
is opportunity to take advantage Of the
ignorant, the credulity, or the necessity
ola fellow creature. This is not all -
from simple falsehood, the transition is ca
sy to commit thecrime Of perjury. Go in
to our courts of justice, and see at how
cheap rate, men of this character are
hired or Hattered to bear false witness.
How easily they sport with the most tre-
mendous obligations, how gravely they
can tell lie under oath, and that without
awry face. lam serious on this point.
The time has come when any man who
is willing to make ardent spirits, the in
strument Of iniquity, may find Witnesses,
on any cause, ready to testify any thing
that he shall dictate. Hence, in multi
tude ofcases, the name Of the everything
God, is invoked. But in carless and i'm
pious mockery, and the alarming sin Of
triAing with appeals to Heaven, becomes
30 familiar, as scarcely to be &c counted
crime. Intempcrance also leads to pro-
fame swearing the folly and impiety of
this practice, admits Of no apology--no
motive ofappetite or interest-no consti-
tutional propensity could be pleaded as
an excitement to this vice. It is indeed
such an outrage on the first principles of
religion, reason, and decency, Us ought
not to be expected from any one in the
sober exercise ofhis mental faculties.
Intemperance also leads to tale bear
ing and slander. To the vile and vulgar
tongues Of fdrunkards, these are favorite
employments. When the little stock of
understanding which nature gave is drown
ed in intoxication, they have still one
precious attribute of human nature left, to
distinguish them from irrational animals.
Dogs can bark, and mules can bray, but
men only can laugh in these noisy circles.
However, there is often more Of maligni-
ty than levity here the characters of the
absent are held up to rcproach---here re-
ligion is denounced as priestcraA, and its
professors and ministers stigmatized as
weak bigots or designing knaves. One
who has lost the use ofhis limbs and SEN
sss, may have wisdom enough leA to say
all this, and yet say nothing new. The
same things were probably said Of old, by
some Of Lots geighbors, and twenty y-eight
centuries ago. The great and good king
David was the drunkards song. Intem-
perance also leads to contention. Three
iourths Of all the vulgar quarreis which
nappen, proceed from ardent spirits. We
nave In holy writ, that wine is mo cker,
strong drink 10 raging who hath woe
VINO hath sorrow-who hath contentious
who hath bablings--who hath rcdness
Of eyes S-they- that tarry long at the
WINE. How often do men meet in good
humour, then drink to excess, talk non
sense, fancy themselves insulted, take
nre within, BE- loose at the mouth, rave,
threaten, come 10 blows, and then the ,