Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-02-01
From Mr.. Norton's Temperance Address in
Charlestown.
CAUSES OF INTEMPERANCE.


One great cause of intemperuncs will be
found in the ignorance which prevails 10 the
community. This is q reason, undoubtedly
why the lower classes Of society are more
addicted to intemperance than the more in
teligent members of the community. Not
that cultivated minds are impervious to it's in
fluencc, for the history of literary men affords
cases to the contrary. As general thing,
however, the man whose mind has been i'm.
proved by contemplation Of ennobling sub
jects Of thought, his communings will be with
the beautiful and sublime in nature and art
and whatever is excellent in human charac.
ter. He will regard intemperance as an
enemy to intellectual progress.
The ignorant man has nothing to inspire
him with elevated sentiments, and grand
ideas; every thing must have a sensual bear
ing. The mind being vulgar its entertain
ment will be sought in vulgar ideas. When
the mind feels no pleasure in the pursuit of
knowledge, and has little or no acquaintance
with nature, in any of her beautiful forms,
and when nothing is regarded in the universe
of God, unless it affords sensual qualification,
we may predict Of such an individual, that
intemperance will most certainly overtake
him. Wha. other alternative is there? If
The ignorant man knows not from whence
comes higher pleasures. He is satisfied with
his low qualification; the world rcplete with
beauty, is as if it was not the design whc h
pervades the universe is as chaos matter
instinct with life and beauty, is dead and
without charms. TO him who has made the
works Of creation his study, every step re-
veals some new truth and awakens emotions
and delights. How inexhaustble the pleas
ures Of an intelligent man; every thing in
nature to him breathes forth divine efiluvia;
while to the epicure, the sentiment of the
poet will ever apply
"a languid, leaden iteration, reigns,
And ever must, Ger those joys are joys OF
Sight, smell, TASTE
whose wants are supplied when their animal
appetites arc satisfied who look for moth
ing higher than the pleasures of sense, and
whose minds feel not those extatic emotions
which are the effects Of the wisdom, power,
and benevolence Of God. This is the great
evil ofintemperance. 1t destroys mind. By
it the creations Of God and man are made one
dark waste the eye is scaled to the beauty,
and the mind steeled to the emotions which
it is the legitimate tendency of those crea-
tons TO produce. Is it poetry to say that man
is entrusted with dominion over the world ::
and that for his pleasure and benefit it was
made? Or was the cooring Of the rose
given for the beasts of felc to behold: and
the heavens, are they stretched out for those
whose law is to look upon earth? No. It,
was for man flowers are painted in the fields,
and stars deck the sky. II was that man
might be elevated by tho ideas of God, to
strengthen in him the principles of virtue; to
form in him a correct aud mental taste for
by so doing he is lead to regard the Just and
the good. This is the highest mission Of ma
ture; |; for God is the beginning and ending Of
NIL things; the education Of man is imperfect,
which is not bosed upon this iden. Ifthis is
The basis Of education, IL will raise man and
society from the pleasures Of sense to those
pf the mind. Who can suppose, if nature, in
,er own simple language, was sympathized