Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-02-18

ing life aud light, by aid OF shadows cast TO
the different glowing colors Of these clay built
ruins, shedding glory over the solitude of
this wild and pictured country, which no one
can realize unless he travels here and looks
upon it.
From the New Hampshire Patriot.
THE GREAT TEMPERANCE CAUSE.
Protesting an adherence for the course of
the drunkard at all times, we have, in the ag-
ita,ion that has taken place, hitherto attended
no temperance meetings and very few tempe
rance lectures. Approving all laudable hon
est efforts TO suppress the great vice, we have
been opposed TO the political account which
some OF the most ardent have attempted to
turn il. While the question stands as sub
ject for Legislation by the constituted authori-
ties, il must forever connect itself with the po-
litical parties of the day; and while it has la
ken that position we have been of the opinion
that but little good could result from any effort
that might be made. mere political man
would do much more by his personal example
of temperance, than by lending his efforts to
pass laws coercing the reform of the drunkard,
or limiting and restricting theseale Of rum
10 attempt reformation Of morals in the face
Of the practice of any community by the enact
ment Of laws, is hopeless task. 1t were vain
to lessen intemperance under system Of Ii
cences which authorizes one TO do what is pro-
hibiied TO another. In any great moral refor-
nation the law of public opinion must be the
moving power. A correct moral sense in the
community will succeed where Legislation on
morals has done worse than fail-where legis-
lative coercion has been means Of reaction
that has made the evil worse.
Hundreds of promising young men have
been ruined and carried to premature grave
by intemperance, where the severe reproof Of
friends aud even the coercion of parental man.
dates have been Intellectual 10 Snatch the VIC
tim from his fatal propensity. We have heard
of the youth who had devoted himself TO the
glass for years amidst the constant inierces
sions Of brothers and sister, and in the face of
pecuniary rewards offered for amendment, and
threatened punishment under parental anxiety
for reformation, who could not be moved TO
amend his habits by persuasion or argument,
by appeals to his honor, his shame, or his in
teresl-who afterwards voluntarily abandoned
his course of life and became new man with
no other present inducement than his own rea-
son and the instructions and warnings of Gen.
science.
Voluntary amendment. having for its motive
that selfrespect which teaches reliance upon
Jul OWu LioIdi PONEto, HiiII!i ICduS 10 W az
count to ourselves as master less reconciabe
to wrong than the humanity and partially OF
external friends, is that reformation which
must be most efleciual; and the self-reformed
inebrate is much more likely to stand his
ground than one operated upon by others. He
settles the account with himself; and consci-
ence as his monitor has the stronger hold up
on him.
External coercion under severe penal laws,
is not the best system to preserve the morals of
any people. Much of the labor in the cause
OF temperance has been thrown away in the
attempts to legslate, "by force and arms"
the incorporate into reformation. Prohibition
provokes resistance and defeats itself while
partial system Of licences legalizes crime by
throwing the responsibility from persons to
the government. licensed retailer of arden.
spirits acknowledges no responsibility if he
shall daily deal out what may make hundreds
miserable, quarrelsome and WORTHLESS: he pays
tor his license with quad pro quo, and those
who grant it are exclusively answerable for
the consequences.
We have been pleased to see the rapid pro-
gress made in the new temperance reformation
10 Gnd the active and the useful temperance
preachers and reformers among those who have
felt the sad effects Of drunkenness in their own
persons; and we are glad to see the sober and
discreet among the reformed petitioning the
legislatures for repeal Of all laws Oh the SUBJ
ject Of temperance.
When the reformed inebriate shall derive not
only the satisfaction Of restoring happiness to
himself and those he has made miserable from
his changed course Of life, but shall find en-
enlargement from the general disposition TO
forgive the errors of the past in present kind
ness and restoration Of confidence--suc! re-
ward affords the greatest inducements TO per-
manent reform.
An old acquaintance, native of this town,
and former resident of this county, who long
sustained respectable standing in society, was
gradually: introduced into habits Contemporaries
by the fashion Of the times, until he became,
at periodical returns, miserable in himself and
the source Of grief to his family. Within the
last few months he has pledged himself to to-
tai abstinence from the use ofevery kind Of in-
toxicating drinks, and is now faithfully execu-
ting that pledge. He has lectured in various
places on the nliseries Of the use of the inebri-
aiing cup, and presents his own case as stri-
king proof of the wretchedness and degrada-
zion Of the intemperate, and the happiness re-
sulting from a return to the soberness of total
abstinence. From the last lecture Of this gen.
tleman delivered in our hearing, we have been
permitted to make extracts of those passages
which struck US as being opposite and just.-