Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-21

gotten.-lhis period, covering more than "a.
years, is buried in almost total darkness
and there illuminated by some legend. the ,ns,t
of which must be admitted because no an,bo ~u@
records are extant to disprove them. AIlPnrauaI
was then enveloped in the net of the FeudaI S1
TEN; consequently the genius of the Peona ~
warike. Each kingdom acknowledged r. .o y"
regn-although that sovereign had little ,u,S "'t
ty. The soil was divided into so many wv;
principali,ies, each of which was governed hr
Lord, who possessed, like his RovaI mastsr ~
vassals. retainers and domains. Intemner,nnn NY
was then unknown as general vice, altbmab;
existed within the precincts of the several c,s,a'
And we find that wine was sold as cordial -
apothecaries. as late as the conclusion of the ,s
century. Then came on the days of ch,,l.ru
when female charms presided over the bot,ls, :,
a tournament, and theimpassioned Trob,J,n~'
spent his valuable life in singing to the lady ofS
love.
The martial genius of the people, and ,l.;-
non-intercourse with each other. (excep, in ,;ma'
of invasion) may have been the reasons vbv =
temperance did not disgrace those times a, nncS
as it does our own.
Spain the iberia Of the Ancients. has seen 10.
day of prosperity likewise: her natives arepoIo,
ger respected as those brave men, who were o.
verned by the mighty arm of Charles the 5rh-
Luxury and lntemperance were the cause, o,
this result-they were the causes which generated
that terrible reaction in France, refer to ,hs
DAYS of the Theo-P NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ms.
diately preceding that mighty revolution which
shook Europe toher centre-whicb drew into The
field the the Glory of tho age, which exhau,,sJ
her resources, which interrupted her agriculture
destroyed her commerce. and tore up the con,,j
tutional forms of her government---by stranr.
not only tolerated but encouraged: Their career
was but short. a man of powerful genius appeared
Just fitted for the times in which he lived, and
no doubt intended by Providence as the scOur..
of the nations. He seized the oppor,unl,
and reduced the people to Despotism. Frame
has since recovered from her delirium which Wa
near proving falkland her repentance must be
deep, for her sins were grievOus. In this cOun.
try we have every inducement to remain virtuous
and no people can be vrtuous who are not ten.
perate. This will be the last experiment Of Lib.
eerty. The Eagle of freedom has been unable to
gain arestingplace in the old ,corld:& fshe should
ever be driven from the new, like Noah's dove,
she will return no more! A Temperate people
alone can appreciate these blessings, defend ties
privileges; retain this Liberty so dearly purcha:
ed, and preserve the perpetuity Of our Free In.
situations. Temperance is blazing light,wh
will dispel the gloom Of Anarchy and Tyranny
so long as we preserve it. weare safe. But once
extinguish it,
"IknoW not Where is that PrOmeihean heat
That can that light rslume. "-SHAKs.
Having occupied your time, longer than had
anticipated-I will succinctly state in conclu.
sion, some of the many evils arising from this
vice: One of its effects is the distraction ofmind
we see this every day in persons of considerable
natural acumen-in the end it is sure and effect.
ual. All our ideas proceed from either Sensation
or Reflection: Memory we know is oblterad
by habitud htempernlce. With regard to this
wonderful faculty, Mr.. Lock remarks " that in
an intellectual creature, it is necessary in the
next degree to perception, and of such moment,
that where it's wanting, the rest of our faculties arc
in great measure useless. p. lO7 Ifll.
temperance destroys the memory, sensation and
reflection can be of little service For if ideas
suggest themselves to US through the organ, Of
sense, they cannot be treasured up if the great
store-house of the mind, be wanting. These ideas
are then ephemeral, they are received into lh,
mind and vanish, as shadows over fields of com
without leaving trace or foOtstep behind
Intemperance is often attended with expense
which can i'll be spared: it is social vice, very
few persons arriving at that perfect state Of II,
which will allow them to indulge in it alone
Then, in the circle of conviviaIiy. if some be able
to defray their portion of the expense, butrea
sonable to suppose there are Others who canno.
But this propensity must be gratified at all 'al'
ards, for this purpose, their families at home
must suffer for the comforts of life, whilst the MI
cradle husband or brother, will eypend the Ia''
farthng in gratifying an appetite, which will Oh
ly increase by indulgence, and end in madness
and ruin.-For this purposethe clerk will rob as
drawer of his employer, the infatuated "Ie'In
will plumber on the highway, and justice WILL Dr.
tcct and bring him in at last. If there SUI r.,
main some particles of that conscience winch .
only destroyed, by long careers in vice, the COM
Functions ofwhich are ever goading- II man,
and modification should take possession o. ua'
breast, which was once the throne OF uIM asu
honor Suicide is determined on as la''fs,I.
Intemperance sears the conscience u' an
down the barriers between virtue ard 'I'e' a"'
oversteps the dividing line of right and "!Ons
from this cause alone 8-l0ths of your c'D"na,i
are arraigne, at the bars of your coufts-'O"'.