Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-02-09
MS Ell ny.
CT From the Northern Light.
TEMPERANCE REFORMATION.
BY eERRIT SMITH.


broad and beautiful land, shall be eniight.
ened republicans and enlightened CHRIS.
tians, or subjects Of political despotism and
spiritual blindness, is a question OF deep
interest TO the heart Of the American phil
anIhropist.
"a Whatever else it requires to become the
most enlightened republican and the most
enlightened christian, exemption from the
necessity OF toilng with the hands from
mofning till night. is Indispensable. y
needs no mental culture TO learn 10 wear
the yoke OF absolute monarchy, and nc ac-
ouaintance with letters, to be worship
per Of an idol god. But to discharge the
high and sovereign-like functions Of a re.
publican ci.izen.and to worship with prop
er enlargement and elevation of mind,
Him, who should be worshipped in
TRUTH as well as !" in spirit" requires an
amount Of reading and study for which he
has not the leisure, who deyotes all or most
Of the hours Of the day to manual labor.
lit were not both republican and christian
institutions. that our fathers transmitted 70
us;-if, instead of being free institutions
and the religion OF the Bible, our legacy
were but bundle of, Pagan rites and sub
mission to despoi, we should need little
learning aud little thought to perform our
political and religious services. But ours
are higher blessings and corresponding re-
sponsib:lities and if we shrink from the re-
sponsibiIities, let.us frankly acknowledge
ourselves unworthy of the blessings. II
we compain OF, and hesitate at, the cost of
being republican and christian people,
let Us promptly lay our necks beneath the
loot Of a despol, and exchange our religion
Of truth for one Of superstition and false.
hood. We have the best form of civil
government: but an intelligent people
only can sustain it. Our religion is from
Heaven:-but it requires a cultivated
mind to realize the fullncss of its blessings,
and put forth the wisest and most success.
fol efforts for its preservation. Whilst
the writer contends that christian is
happy and useful in proportion to his
sanc;i6ed thought and knowledge, and
that christianity cannot have perman-
ent abode amongst an ignorant people BIZ
utterly disclaims the idea, that a person of
little thought and little knowledge cannot
be christian.
The great question then-whether the
scores OF millions, who shall spread them
selves out over the whole length and
breadth Of this goodly land, shall be en-.
hghtened republicans and enlightened
.christians-tnrns. in great degree, on
the solution of the question, whether thew
obtain he leisure, and, with the leisure, the
disposition TO become such.
single glance at man is sufficient 10
convince us.that God made him a spirit
ual belng-that He designed him for spir-
itual enjoyment and improvement - that
MS body - TO be his servant, and not his
supreme care; in word, that his BODY
was made for him, and not he for his bodv.
But men reverse the proper order oftheir
animal and spiritual natures, and make
tnelr highest concern, What shall we
eat lor what shall we drink2 or where
withal shall we be clothed p Now. one
legitimate consequence of this error ofmal,-
ing the .body the first care and the engross.
ing subject Of thought lie, that of gong be.
yond the range of its natural wants and
reasonable supplies to invent qualifications
for It. H..
Let i not be supposed. that | would
limit the natural wants Of the BODY to q
nut, blanket. and the game Of the forest.
repeat my remark, that the body is the
servant OF the man . and add, that to be
good servant and to- have lis natural
wants supplied, it must be well fed. well
clothed, and we'll housed l would have
the rich and the poor live on .ihe fat o.
the land" The common Maker has given
it to them; and il is their own fault if they
6onot enjoy it. -
Amongst the qualifications Of mans I'm,
natural wants-the qualifications of his
perverted rature-is the drinking of alec.
'hoIic liquors. The abandonment OF this
practice BY the American people, together
with the consequent abandonment of other
practices, would be saving adequate 10
command all the leisure from manual
labor. which they need 10 qualify them.
selves Tor sustaining the political and rrli.
gious Institutions, that they have chosen
and tor enjoying and perpeiuatine the
blessings Of christian freemen.
lhave intimated that the reIinquishmeut
OF alcohol as drink would prepare the
way Tor the relinquishment of other prac.
tees, which are was,eful Of time or pro-
perry, OF both. When principle has led a
man 70 seal his lips against strong drink. be
- tnen ready 10 listen to the inquiry, what
better right opium or tobacco has 10 enter
snen; ne Is then ready 10 examine the
QUESTION, whether the people of this nation
ne innocen' 70 spending many millions
annually 10 tea and coffee-bava.sas.as'
when y not injurious 70 health, Dosphy.
sician. no chemist. will assert are nr..
sentative Of il. In Short. when a man Ia.
on principle. abandoned the DRINKING II
alcohol. he has already begun 10 Be- DIV.