The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-12-07
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FOR THE STAR.

~; FOR THE STAR.
TnE AMERICAN TEMPExARcE REroRMx-
rioN. Among the many projects abroad in the
world for aAe renovation Of man, none seems to
aim at the destruction ofall moral evil with more
precision, than the American temperance reforma-
4ion. This appears evid ent from the consideration
that the giant vice, for which the temperance re-
form 10 an efficient remedy, is the Legitimate pa
rent of nearly all the crime and its attendant mice
", which has been recorded in the annals Of our
republic. The form Of our government emunating
as il did from the patriotic genius Of that band Of
benefactors Of the world, who have not left their
equals on earth, if not as pure in its darkest fea-
tures as imagination in her most frantic political
reyeries might paint is, (when collectively consd-
ered) as free from error as any governmental code
whose formation Is within the scope Of finite be-
.inss. But our matchess constitution, pure and
wholesome Is il is, is depending on the people for
Ito very existence; and if they become corrupted
throughout those vast chasms where consistent with
ths nature oftrue liberty, no governmental restraint
can reach them, the government itself must ere
long partake ofthe nature ofits supporters, and a
way be opened for some aspiring Cataline to u
ssrp all our rights and lead Us to an inevitable ca
tastrophs. The vices Of our country should be
considered as our internal enemies, and there arc
thousands Of those occupying the plains Of our
times on which the guns Of the fortress Of law
not bs brough. to bear But it is the prefoga-
tive of the temperance reform to occupy these
spheres Of action, and as no free government can
sustain itself solely by its own coersive powers,
xthat without the aid and cooperation Of the gov
erned in the cause Of public virtue) it is the grand
object Of this reform by taking the lead in the sub
jusation Of all vice and immortality, to bring into
light that grand secret Of sustaining law and liber-
~, which political science in vain has sought to
sxplore, by bringing public sentiment to bear di.
rectly upon prominent topics Of public morals in
such manner as to preven, disorder and crime to
tho Igrsatest possible extent and to sustain and
mould, not supercede, the regular administration OF
Law. Nor 10 the sustaining Of good government q
lose. the object ofthe temperance reform. 1t has
for it, object the advancement Of man in oil the
paths Of rational happiness-it drives from the do
,nestic circle that serpentine evil, which stngs and
posins oil its holy endearments. 1t creates and
fosters sense Of neral obligation, without which
the fair fabric of civil society would crunble to Pa
gan chaos--s tendency is to turn indigence into
sfiueuce, by encouraging prudence, and industry
it contributes TO the advancement in knowledge,
by converting the hours devoted to unhalowed
reyery into seasons for perusing the ibrsry-it ar
,h. t;da of that ,noral mn lsfrOom- on which
milIions float to premature gr ave--i checks the
waste of peace, health, life, aud property, which
ara annually inundated wherever the altar OF in-
temperance has rearered its snakey crest. 1t is
not the subjugation Of drunkenness alone, but all
the vast multtdue Of its concomitan mt evils that the
temperance reform is destined to oblterate. These,
and such as these are its objects and il will pros
per. Il is true there is much TO be done before
that happy state of society will be wrought out to
which philanthropists are looking, but this great
moral reform so favorably commenced, is destined
20 renovate the world and be apoweriul agent in
preparing the way for the introduction Of the mil
lenial day. Already has its benign influnece been
telt, in several Of the kingdoms Of Europe What
means the recent enquiry Of the Prussan govern
ment through its asenri in the United States, respect
ins the best method of commencing and conduct
ing these nsttutions, and thereby maniiesting q
disposton to adopt them as noodles II is more
than an indication Of the powerful influence they
are exerting upon the world. The time is not iar
distant and we would hail with joyful emotion its
approach, when the reign Of temperance with all
lis concomitan, blessings, shall extend from the
eastern boundary Of this republic, to the Pacific O.
csan; and by It's onward march shall pervadc the
kingdoms OF the old world, as Iit now pervades
thousands Of the villages in the new. If such ARE
tho Objects the nature, and destnies, ofthe Amer
lean Temperance Reformation, it should be esteem
cd the high privilege Of every citizen ofthis highly
favored land, instead Of the ten thousand hollow
hearted excuses which the love Of rum, or the vo-
t.ries n, the shrine Of bacchus are over ready 70
dictate, TO unite their influence and their exam
pie in bearing some humble part in wsrk which
is destined to cleanse and purify the moral atmos-
phere, which must be inhaled by the present, and
sllsu :cesding generations. know that imper.
Cscti,n Is tbs Characteristic Of every human effort
BAT ifa any ofthe works Of man destined to perma.
nent duration, orto exist till their objects are full,
accomplished, they are those Institutions which