The northern star and freemen's advocate., 1842-03-03

Ireland, and the unprecedented success of the re-
formed drunkard in our land, has excited the won
der and astonisment of the world. These peculiar
and striking characteristics of the temperance re-
form are very eloquenty and happily alluded to
by professor Ware, of Harvard university: " For
a quarter of century (said he) various and per-
severng measures had been pursued, until the
community was penetrated throughout with in
formation and excitement on the subject. And
now, at last, as if the harvest of that long seed
time and laborous husbandly, there has arisen
one of the most astonishing movements, of which
history gives account remarkable in its origin,
so rapid in extension, so triumphant in its success,
that say again, we cannot refuse to acknowledge
in it the special intervention of Providence Think
of the revolution which has taken place in Ire
land, which promises to convert that lost people
into temperate nation. What could have been
deemed more improbable than that And yet be-
hold a greater wonder is here !. An unprecedent-
ed effort at self-reform has burst forth from the
very bosoms of the wretched victims of this evil
the abandoned the despaired of-the forsaken
for whom men had no hope, and tancied that
God had no mercy those lost wretches them
selves, from the depths Of their own desperate
debasement, have called up their manliness, and
stood forth emancipated, disenthraed, the preach
ers of that temperance which they had so long
despsed. 1t was like resurrection from the
grave; it if the tomb had spoken no
wonder that the voice of hope echoed over the
land, and thrill of admiration and gratitude pass
ed from city to city, and from border to border
And now, in less than twelve short months-not
few only--not few hundreds-but thousands
and thousands of helpless creatures have been re-
deemed; from outcasts have become blessings,
from burdens are helpers, from the shame have
come to be the JOY Of heart broken friends This
is the Lords doing, and it is marvellous in
eyes! it is going on; and say what we may, what
need not be dened-of some doubtful procedures
of some unwise speeches-of some njudicious
measures-of some men apparently rescued, who
have sunk back-stilI there is ample room to be-
lieve the reform So far complete, that the next
generation will know almost nothing of the curse
that burthened the past.
Our present vantage ground has been obtained
by the circulation of the simple pledge and while
it is true, that many of our ardent friends have
been anxious to enlist legislative interference, by
| the enactment of prohibitory laws, and by other
extraneous means to carry forward this reforma-
ton all experience has taught US, that we need
no other influence than that which is thus exerted.
If, in this respect, any are still increduous, we
point them to the wonderful success of Father
Mathew in Ireland, and the reformers in our
own country, through the instrumentaty of this
agency. Behold nation dlsenthralled by the in
culcation of our practice and principles in the spi
rt of kindness and persuasion.
| Our plan is simple. We believe man is safe
who habitually uses Intoxicating beverages in the
mildest form and greatest moderation and the sad
experience Of many noble, talented, strong mind
ed man, fully sustains this truth and being thus
impressed, we voluntarily sign the pledge for our
own security against the drinking fashions and ha-
bits of society, and we call upon eur fellow men
to unite with us, in view of the varied relations
which they sustain, and by regard, not only to
their pecuniary, but their eternal interests, and