Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-03-16

MacNISh In the "anatony OF crunkenoess r.
ia,es the following circumstance Of immediate a
,achmeni to strong drink: "a gentleman Of We
ry amiabe disposition, Of standing, and worth
contracted habits Of in,emperanre, his friend al
gued, inplored, demonstrated, but in vain; at las
lie put an end 10 all further Importantly 10 ihl
manner TO friend who expostulatin
with him upon the loss Of his business, his influ
ence md his health. He replied, ''My goo
friend your remarks are just, they are indeed, to
true; bu, can no longer withstand temptation
if bottle of brandy stood at one hand, and tn
pill of hell yawned at the other, and If wer
convinced would DO pushed in, so sure as tool
one glass, could not refrain. You are very kind
I ough, TO be grateful, for so many kind goo
friends, but you may spare yourselves tho trou
bic of trying reform ne, the thing IS impossible
/ | say therefore, that nothing but pure strength
of purpose drinking man from ruin
and does this always2 Look around you-wht
are the victims of the bottle? Are they the weak
minded, and the inferior Of society? No; it /.
a melancholy fact, not less strange than true
that great number Of them, are Of the brilliant
in intellect, the ingenious, and the worthy 10
heart. Where then is there safety! The answer
plain; in total abstinence. In total abstinence
do you say; what, not touch it, nor taste III No,
touch it not, taste i. not neither handle IT, and 1t
your thirst inclinss you to it, fulfill the scripture
the very letter, and look not, no, not even ook,
upon the wine when it is red"
Human nature is frai!, weak and irresolute i;
and however we may resolve, we are prone to
error-aye, even ''as the sparks fly upwards"
- I,p tn m
per, especially if inclination prompts towards it.
Fer if when clear of the habit, men can scarcely
forbear, how can they expect to preserve them
selves, when under the dominion of this tyranny
tho very worst Of all tyrannies, that OF the
bottle. 1t is in consideration of this evil, and
with a view to its remedy, that we arc now as
sembled together, and our plan IS the Temper
ance Society. Mankind universally agree, that
in "union there is strength" and in this Society
the firm and determined friends of good cause
have united to become strong, and to present
broad and bold front, in opposition to the traffic
md use of ardent spirits. Such a combination
rM give strength, and when the cause is good
IS this certainly is, il is assisted, by all wise
md all directing hand.
II is wonderful, how much men are governed
" example. The child patterns after the parent,
nd in society, one patterns after another
t was remarked by wise man, that one genera
ion, copies after another exactly; instead OF a.
oiding the faults Of our predecessors, we fall IT.
esistibly into them, such is human Dature. In
ociety, each mans example and the influence 1t
aries, is in proportion to his standing. 1t IN
emperate, and his conduct generally Is bad, 1t
Gods little penetration to discover the banetul
fleet it produces; but the other hand, If he
uence is most happy
"a fault doth with remorss, i
Our minds deeply move;
As another's guiltless life,
Our doth reprove"
Tho temperance society presents Its claims up
n the consideration of the community because
q think the example of its members a good one.
len who pledge themselves, in a solemn manner,
abstain from certain usages, and put themselves
ito bonds, do i, that some good may come of it;
r in passing through this world, we should en-
.avor--nay, if we would look for consolation up
dying bed, it is our stern and 'mPer'ous duty :,
!, do some good to our fellow travellers. 1t is
cry desirable, that this good example should be
universal as possible, and if the people Of this
,uniy, generally, would unite in the temperance
.use, there would be no need Of anti-grocery pc
tons, or legislative enactments. The evil would,
thoroughly discountenanced, die of itself; for 1t
qures no small courage, in any man, to outrage
g opinions and practices of a whole neighbor-
,od. We would therefore, urgently place this +,
after before you. BY Withholding from the ;,
importance society, you (unwingly no doub')
row the weight of your influence in the oppo-
10 scale Our weak brother, to whom the red
luor Of a bottle is always tempting, and who r
mot resist putting "devil in his mouth, to
sal away his brains," is ever ready and eager,
look up to those, who, though temperate, are
t found upon the temperance list and he quotes :,
EN-, as being upon hi, side Of the question:
III, saws he, "therc is Mr. such a one, he is the
IN for me; he is a real temperate man, drunk =
Is always respect the temperate, thinking it a
nderful piece Of virtue to abstain; he IS none r
our ultra fellows, always in extremes, he is lib
Il, and is willing to allow a man his rights" %
w, what can bc clearer than this! Is not this -
n, to whom the tppler REFERS indirectly an ad- "
;ate for intemperance. Does not the frail dew -
e of the bottle, make use Of him as an example ~
~. o,-, bahelf ood fhirk abundant rea- y"