Litchfield enquirer., 1833-09-19
FOR THE LITcHFIELD ENQUIRER. TEMPERANCE, No, XIV,

TEMPERANCE, No. XIV.
 The siMpIe principle on which the temperance formation proceeds is the pledge, written and signed, to abstain wholly from ardent spirit, and do every thing practicable and proper to dscounienance the of it in the community. Some except the medi- cinal use hut others make exception. Some ex- tend the principle to all iermen,ed quors and all li- quors actually containing alcohol. Any one of these contains basis which an eifeciual stand can be taken against ntemperance.
 To one the other of these pledges it would seem that no reasonable objection can be made. Without doing as much these pledges imply, is plain that the evils af iniemperapce never even be checked; but will go on increasing. And ifany person is will ing to do as much, reason appears why he should no, be willing to pledge himself.o do it.
 Let it be considered that, ifpedges had no, been en- tered into by the friends oi temperance, it would have been impossible make any stand against that CcIuge of drunkenness, which pouring unresisied over the land. It is small gain to have been delivered from the bondage of paying tribute to Bacchus, in which we were before this reformation commen enced and to be fully berry decline profered cup. Now, not obliged drink of common civil iiy; and that we are not, we may thank temperance pledges. And f in any part of the country il is sidered more civil no, to offer the glass stranger those pledges mast have the sole credit of it. The evils of in,emperance had long been felt and every ahing else had been tried them; but with worse than success. Aud SO, is perfectly clear, i. would have continued t.. be, if the specific pledge had not been put in practice. So will now continue to be- in proportion to the numbers and weight of character of those who unwilling to pledge themselves to abstain.
 Some decline being pledged, on the ground that their being would be very offensive intem- pcrate men, over whom they wish retain an inAu- ence; and, if possible to reclaim them. But the n- fuence which results from this course will rather con- firm than reclaim the iniemperate. Nothing more clearly shows the hearing of temperance pledges than the light in which they regarded by persons who are know" to drink too freely. The existing state of things in reaiioRio this subject has, in their view, d yded the whole community into two great classes 1; one of which is in their favor; the other agans. them The dividing line between the they consider to be the temperance pledge. All who sign consider ed as being opposed to them; aD who do not sign it as being the whole in their favor. They take courngement continue their courre exactly in pro- portion the number and responsibility of those who do not sign the pledge; or who, as they express it,
 
 he thinks best and in proportion to the number and responsibility 0f those who they know pledged abstain from quor and ifpracticable to reclaim ihem do they find themselves obs ucted in their course 10 hopeless sonishness Nothing could more exnctly press their feelings than the objection to the pledge which is sometimes heard from respectable men-ihat some who sign it do not regard it more than them selves. and perhaps even regard it less. The true course, ifths the fact. woud be, sign it and pay strict pegavd to it. These considerations will, it s hoped, not be thought trivial by candid and well disposed persons.
 A reason which has sometimes been given for decIi. ming to enter into inc common temperance pledge, which simply proscribes ardent spirits, is tni does not go far enough-hai il ought also io prescribe wine and all fermented liquors which, it is alleged, are nearly quite as bad as spirits.
 There are doubtless good reasons for abstaning from all aaorG that can. in any circumstances iDtox- icae as have in the course of these papers endea- vored 10 show. Al the same time the evils of some ofihe others are not manifest thoso of distilled spirits; and it is certainly more practicable for all bat decidedly incorporate persons to use them with mod eraiion. Moreover, fhe light in which wine has gen erally been regarded; the fac that qaor called by that in in the Scripture times; its being mentioned in the Bible without being in all cases ex pressy dsapproved; and the idea that the liquors, other than distilled, which have, the same with the wine of the Bible, eqnaiy harmless -ihese and other have, in many paris of the country, confined the temperance pledge io distilled spirits alone. II, however, if Is by any thought dcsi rable go farther, it is understood how pledge 10 drink distilled spirit shOald oblige or induce them 10 drink iaoxcatng liquor, which s Hotdsiilled Should any person wish to enter into pledge noi to drink wine, it is probable that he might easily ind many 0 his acquaintance ready unite with him in it. Nor wholly impossible that this objection, wherev- CT is made, may eEsiong be entirely removed, the value of ascerained, hy the offer of pledge extensive coudbe desired. Tn the meaniime, ii would seem be ,hs part of wisdom and true phiaa- thropy do what be done. though should not. once, be possible do all that Is desirable 1T no good is done till anOpporuniy offers of doing ailcon- ceivable good, tt is plain tha. will ever be ef- fected. ME PARoiNoE.
 (Te 6e coatipasd.J
 sas' BosroE, Sept. 1S.
 Latsr from Esgiand.-By the packet ship Liver pool which arrived al this port yesterday from Liver. pool, whence che sailed os the l2h Of August, Lon