The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-04-25

place TO commence the work Of reform, but they
labored, rather, to convince the people that
such worship was an abomination in the sight
Of God and il by their unwearied exertions, they
could but convince the people Of this fact, why
this pnrt of the business of the silver Smiths mist
Of course be abandoned for tlrc want Of patronage
Precisely 80 in The present case, il we can but
convince the good people Of the Nervousness oi
the sin OF in,emperance, and induce them to make
firm resolve " to touch not, taste not and handle
not," then the business Of selling run must die oil
itself all the harm ofselng ardent spirits, result
from that of drinking them now if we can stop
the drinking, there will be no harm in allowing
them to he vended, FOR their will be none sold.
Another reason why this method Of proceeding
must ail Of effect is, because it s attempting to
produce an effect by means which are contrary 10
tho established laws Of nature.
The temperance cause does, and SO long as hu-
man nature remains as It is. must ever depend for
its nd ancement upon arguments founded upon
moral principle and reason, and never upon the
exertion Of force.
We may Persundea man to Withhold the cup Of
poison from his lips and thereby. prevent all the
pernicious consequences that might otherwise fol-
low !; but ii would he ridiculous TO attempt to pro
ddce a complete reformation, by forcing the
draush from his mouth equally absurd Is It 10
attempt to produce universal temperance re-
form, in community, by forcbly preventing
nun from selling run, if he chooses so 10 do.
To illustrate the effect of this attempt, will
suppose case. suppose there be n community,
consisting Of 1000 pc sons. aud in this community
there i. temperance Society Of 90 members, and
there are also ten grog shops ; now while there Is
no other excitement, than what naturally arises
from the free discussion Of the temperance quest
ion, those lC0 members can exert all their pow
ers Of mind, eloquence, influence and example, in
favor Of their cause I'VE will call this power 40;
now this power of 40 has nothing to contend n
ssinst, but the prejudices and passions of men in
faxor of drinking intoxicating liquors.
In such state Of feeling, all are ready to listen
to their arguments, and give them some consider
tion at least. Consequently their efforts have the
greatest possible weight with the other portion Of
the community.
Suppose now, these friends Of temperance ure
not satisfied with doing well, but have an anxlons
desire to do better and by compulsory process
take from the rum Dealers their licenses against
their wishes, and utterly prohibit them from denl-
ing in the article. what mpst be the inevitable
consequence Of such an act
These 10, Immediately become excited they
complain bitterly and loudly of their grievous per-
secutions that their rights have been unjustly
wresied from them and what is the effect Of this
upon the 900! Clearly, to arouse their sympa-
ih:es for their prosecuted bre,hrcn-to e"gage in
their cause-to close their ears against the argu-
ments Of the society. How is it with the 10 them
ssaRNs such is their passionate state Of feeling,
that all arguments addressed to them are worse
and influence, in oppo1ing the efforts of the men,
bers Of the society with virulence commensura-
bic only with this tumultuous workings Of the
passions thus are they indirectly opposing the
cause Of temperance.
Estimating tho power OF the society at 40, that
Of the grocers would be 4. Formerly the whole
40 could be directed to one point, viz to persuade
men to be temperate 1T is evident that now
there must be different disposition Of their pow
er. Four must be taken TO combat the grocers at
least o to confront those, who before were indif-
ferent, bu, who have been led on by sympathy
and party spirit to take part against the society
there then remains 26 to operate upon the 900,
who, it should be remembered, are by no means
in so favorable state Of mind to be convinced Of
the goodness ofthe cause Of temperance, and to be
induced to embrace it, as they were before, since
they have more prejudices to be overcome, than
formerly, and we have less power to accomplish
h,i Q. 26 instead Of 40 The effect Of this expsr-
irnent, must be then to make the task greater and
the power to perform less an effect unfavorable
IN twoiold degree. ITO be continued
REPRESENTATIVES, ELECTED.
Providence Joseph L. Tillinghas,,
Benjamin Hoppin, Thomas w. Dorr,
James M. Warner, (Wbig.)
North Providence - Stephen Randall,
Jr, Nathan A. Brown, lWhig),-the for
mer by "a minority, and the latter without
opposition. This election, throughout
very sharply contested.
| Crans.on.-lsaac N. Sprague, George
Field, (Tory.)