Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-09-13
NUMBER IS.
From tho National ntsllis.ncsr.
Reasons for Temperance.

From tho National In,siligsncef.
Reasons for Temperance.
a Letter 10 the Preiest g the Freeneas Jg,iant Total
.i5;;iaeaee Society.
Mr.. PRESIDENT never heard temperance
lecture my life. | never read one but
short time ago took the temperance pledge for
tho following reasons. Ii YOU think it will do
any good. You at Ebcrty 10 publish them ut
the next meeting of the society. Many of nv
young friends will recognise the writer, and bear
witness to .his sincerity ana truth
REASONS FOR TAKING THE PLEDGE.
Because the habit of drinking intox icatinp IL
quor is an iEsidious and insinuatins disease. that
steals upon a man slowly, surely, and fatally.
Because the appetite for strong drink ..crow.
with what |; feeds on. and therefore cannot DO
satisfe|.
Because one glass dsposes me to drink sec
ond, and tha, still more for third, and so on in
more than geomctrical progression.
Because whom under the influence of spiritu-
Gus liquor feel badly, look badly and behave
badly; sometimes foolshly, sometimes outra.
geously.
Because after frolic | am nervous and. sick.
mortified, ashamed and Disguised.
Because 1t is less injurious to my
health, in proportion TO tho quantity drink-un-
dcrmining and sapping my constitution, and de-
stroylng my physical powers imperceptibiy at
first but plainly and lrrcparabv when too late to
arrest it.
Because 1t IS subjectng mo TO useless and
enormous expense for it is not merely the Ii
quor pay for, but when under its influence
feel rich, and spend money foolishy i'll various
ways
Because when asked and urged to drink,
can settle the matter at once, and escape all i'm
portunltv by merel Y say ing. | teetotaller.
Because by becoming member of the temper
ancc society, lose all interests in taverns, cof
tee-houses., grog-shops, and doggeries; ! feel
more selfrospoct, and conscious of being
more respected by others.
Because man who drinks ardent spirits at
all is that he will not die a drunkard. 1t is
idle TO talk OF ''firnness, ..selt-contro' or Of
the power to resist this habit, while still indugng
III 1t. yield TO none in point of frmness, but
common sense and the history of every drunkard
teach mo that each successive glass renders US
less and less capable of controlling this PERM
cious vice. The greatest man that ever lived
the conqueror Of the world-he who wept that he
had no more worlds 10 conquer, died at drunken
revel, and died tho drunkard's death And who
among us shall say. have moro tirmness moro
self control than Alexander Rn hi. was not
stars that have risen in tho intellectual firma.
mont, and shone fort!, while in unclouded spen-
dor, have at lengh set again and been quenched
yes quenched in tho lurid fumes Of alchohol
but not one--no. not one, over roso above tho no.
rizon by its aid
Finally took tho temperance pledge because
IN every part of the world, and in every State in
this Union, have been, all my life a fashionable.
and, wltFia. "a pretty good drnker,'' and never
yet heard or could discover the first souad reason
for tue practice; and defy the vorriest drunkord
IN or out Of Christendom to produce it.
Dung men! | am of you; it is but
short time since | joined this Society, and did it
from tho dictates of common sense, from nv
own reflections, detailed above, and the con-
vicon that it was for my good. am per-
suaded, too, that if, IN justice to yourselves you
will coolly, calmly, and dispassionately think O.
yer this matter, you will arrive at the same con
cusion that have Reflect upon the subject
fairly, and as ono IN which your welfare,
purse, health, character, and happiness of othors
around you. But while rejecting Danish all
false pride and sef-sufficiency for many q
young mani know this to be true-many a
young man, in the vanity of superior wisdom and
self-control. scouts the temperance pledge and RI
dicules the Society, without having fairly
examined into their merits, clearly understood
their real worth. JAMES.