Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-05-04

ly, especially if those oaths are the only
restraints and proventiyes. 1t will
do no good, unless the heart in this
respect is changed, and the dis
position becomes virtuously Inclined
for this is SO far from convincing the
drunkard OF his error, it hardcn5 his
heart, and renders him, and those who
take the oaths, worse and worse, in pro-
portion as the value they ailix to them
dcprcciatcs. Besides, those oaths are
of too common occurrence, and their
familiarity imparts to them character,
calculated to counteract their primitive
force and viltue, and change what once
acted as prcveniivcs, into multiplied
temptations, which are magniiicd even
to incentives to the evil. That " hIch
they once turned from with disgust, they
now listen to with pleasure, their feel
ings have become excited, they are III
duccd to taste and by its qualities, to
ascertain if it is rs bowitchinS AN evil as
has been asserted; but here the barrier
in measure rcstrains then-thcy now
advance-new inducements to taste
have acquired new strength, which Is
increased with the return OF every temp
tation, till the barrier is proportiona'cly
diminished, and can afford now scarcely
any prevenive-hc tLen makes one
more attempt,--his fears return feeble
ch6rt,-he star,s,-tle temp'er finally
succccds,-hc tastcs,-the barrier Is
past, the object is goae, and the subject
is irrecoyerably lost.
Another method Used by those socic-
tics, is to awe the di>sipated by mcna-
ccS, il they persist and allure them with
klndncsscs, if thay reform. Now this,
as well as many others things good IN
thcmsclvcs) is carried too far; 1t irc-
qucnty enters the dwellings Of poverty
and wrctchcdncss, and heavily ladies',
the dsconsolate aud detected wife and
children, already oppressed with sorrow
and mortified at the conduct OF their
friend; and whilst it closes to them
every avenue Of escape from their I'M
pending ignominy, it opens vide the
door which leads to misery and vice
And one Of the thrcatcnlnss cgregiously
enforced to effect submission, is, to cut
of all resources from himself and iami
", and withdraw from him all their aid,
and patronage. Here his family,
though ardent supporters Of temperance,
are compelled to endure all the penalties
of his disgracelul conduct, with the ad-
ditonal torturcs incurred by the cravings
of hunger, and the shame and disgrace
of nakedness and want; then they
ask the question, why does not this re-
claim the man, The reason is obvious
to every one--hc considers himself the
other side Of the Iinc-his heart shrlnks,
and sickens at the thought, of attempting
to crosS,-the distance is great, the
barrier is insurmountablc,-he considers
himself held in contcmpt,--his character
and his property, have taken to them
selves wings, and flown away, and to at
tenn to live IA life of virtue now appears
10 him all in vain. Despair pcrvadcs
his whole frame; he is discouragcd;-
and at last sinks down contentedly, in
the most loathsomc and bcastly intcm-
perance. One pleasant look Of compass
sion, a hand to gently conduct him, and
language to allure him, might have
prevented all this. 1t will, at any rate,
do more to brina about the reformation of
the drunkaid than all that has been done.
Now the only way, to put down this
great moral evil is, to solicit the aid OF
popular ccnsure. Let every person
consider dissipation crime; a crime
henlous and degrading IN the extreme
let them abstain themselves; let their
own conscicnces bind them to exert their
energies to prevent ii; let societies
unite their excrtions to dccry it; let
parents, brothers, and sisters, with an
united language condemn it; let every
minister also, exert his influence in the
Pulpit, and in his family visits, and on
every occasion against it; let teachers
of public, private, and Sabbath schools,
cndcavor to convince their children it is
wrong wrong to use it themselves, or