The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-11-16
Nov, 16, 1S43.

order to accomplish so desirable an under
taking, all should be ready and willin:
TO unite their efforts, and make every pos
sible ~exertion for the relief Of suffering
humanity. No man or woman Should
be found unemployed, until the worlc
shall be freed from the whitening effects
of drunkenness and dissipation. Let ev
cry individual exert a fit and proper inlu-
cnte, and the victory is ours. Let none
hesitate, but cheerfully perform. The
cause is deserving; The object commenda-
BE, and The end 10 be attained, the good
Of man.
The errors and imperlections Of man
kind are serious distractions to the march
and triumph of truth. The Temperance
reformation has been retarded more by its
pretended friends and supporters, than by
the combined powers o. its numerous en-
emies. That remissncss in duty, that
hes,tancy to act, aud above all, that false
impression relative to the remedial effi:a-
cy Of rum, have blighled more prospects,
and filled more graves, than We. at first,
may feel wiling to allow. These errors
on the part of Temperance men, these
faults and imperftctions have weighed,
and sill hang, like a mighty incubus upon
human progress; suppressing the ener'
gies Of the Temperance effort, and coun-
terac!ing thenGmerous Influences in its be-
half. Nothing can be more fatal in its
tendency, or productive Of more deie,eri,
Gus eitcis, than the unwarranlabIe reser-
WALTON Of rum for its healing virtues. So
long as this deadly poison is kept for med.
icinaI purposes, AMI used by individuals
Of responsibility and ia Auence, whose eX-
ample will be copied, aud whose practice
VIII be initiated. 50 long will inebriatioA
prey upon the peace and the bappiueas Of
man in every sphere and department Of
if: so long will crime, misery and
wrelchedncss (f,quent the walks Of our
carh'y p,Iginage,and cheqler he scenes
o. pqsslug lie.
Ii alcoholic drinks are employed as a
medicine, by the friends Of Temperance,
and used uuder pre!eace OF their supposed
Utility, the influence becomes destructive
wfJAe very eu1s we labor to obtain. The
ln(empernte man will seize upon This use
oithe %urticl-, as IA shield to his indulgence.
He will procure the accused stimulant
for some pretended disease, and drink
from such pretension, 10 complete drunk
enncss. a burning appetite for rum is
the disease, perchance, and the only d.
maad for SO fatal a remeJy. Way does
he not purchase the olIicIc without dis,
gnisc? Why does he not announce lie
real object for which he buys il? Nay,
because it is unpopular 10 buy rum for
any other purpose Than u m,djcine. 1t
is Questionable; un~gentIemaniy; a mark
ofdi,respec! for an Individual to patroaisc
the oar Of 4 9rog-shop, without assuming
from indispoSi.ion a necessity so lo,do. a
little medical assistance is the excuse; aud
it ever will BE- the excuse, so long as in.
toXtcating drinks are used and venerated
Tor their medical virtues. Aud that indi-
viduaI who does thus use and esteem them,
is exerting, in my estimation, a mos; fear
lOl iad1eace upon the world; an Influence
which is calculated in itself, 10 pcrpctuatc
wee and drunkenness, and to prepare the
way to the very Lowest stages of humQn
degradation.
There Is no way 10 accomplish a GOA
pjeta overthrow Of Intemperancc, under
such influences and examples as are now
common aud familiar among men. The
IDEA Of keeping rum in The hands Of the
Pay ~sician,.o be dealt out 10 this one and 10
that, in this quantity, and in thatquan,ity,
as cases may demand, or occasions re.
quire, is not only unreasonable, but incon-
sistent aud absurd. The habits Of men
have become such, that it is absolutely
impossible 10 deal in the article ia any
way without abusing 1t. And shall such
a curse upon the human family as this.
be kept and treasured up for use, when its
very existence threatens US with danger!
viii the friends of truth and Justice; will