Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-22
IN1EMPERANCE.

friend stopped us few days since. in the street,
and pointed TO two men, who were making most
melancholy exhibition Of he weakness of their heads
in regard To strong drink the strength of their APP
pllcaton TO the intoxicating emp. They were drunk,
very drunk; and our friend remarked that he had
seen more of drunkenness in the streets within the
las' six months, than he had noticed for long time
before. He inquired the cause and nj the same time,
expressed an opinion that It the natural conse-
qcnce of the attempt 10 suppress drunkenness.
II is difficult to understand how an attempt t. pre-
vent drum ,enness Can result in increased lntemper
nncc; yet what in the street. may have
suited from reac'iAn among the drinkers. When
one attempts to accoun. for any extraordinary event.
then first duty is to inqaire whether any such even
has occurred because, If it has not arguments, OF
course. wasted The deductions from false preni-
usually fall TO the ground. Is drunkenness more
prevalent than II was some years since? We say ii
is n1', though we fear that we must admit that II hns
been rather on an increase for twelve months pnst;
and the absence Of evil Tor q long time previous make
the instance more obs rvahe, more remarkable.
We incline to believe that this state Of ,hinssis
partly owing to relaxation in the efforts of the active
friends OF temperance some of whom have, perhaps
erred IN seeking to make the or
sion Of sndanes io effect other purposes Than temper
ance. or total abstinence frem strong drinks This
error led the converts into and new excite
nlcnis, and induced n relapse.
Some Of those who exhibit weakness. and larry
long, o. nj least, Iuiuuu>y at the bottle, have come
into manhood since The dminu'ion efforts 10 reclaim
the erroneous. The question will be not so much
wha, have been committed by the active ilend
Of temperance, as what means are to he adopted to
check the evil and preserve citizens, CIV in
deed from The shameful exhibition Of drunkalds in the
street, and orr flnes from the distressing exposure
Of iresde drunkenness. Example is much ia HON is
nnrh but an enlarged sense Of duty, proper degree
Of sell respecr, early inculcaed will he an excellent
means of preventing the growth of this evil and pre-
venting indeed The prevalence OF most of those faults
that dahasP the character of those who commit them,
and disturb The harmony of the domestic and social
circle
The errors Of the leaders in the temperance cause,
while they confessed and especially The use of that
cause, political engine. mn>t not he used as an
argument 10 deprive them Of Gre lii for much good
accomplished. ncacu!ahe benri's conferred on fam
niles md individuals; nor indeed. must these errors
lie pleaded against the renewal OF Efforts TO check the
evil. 1--WE pardon much to the spirit Of liberty,
saws great writer. We must pardon much to those
who, withnu, extensive knowledge of human ma
;nre. exhibit enlarged love Of human kind, by seek
ing 10 re ie"m their fellow men from the dehasng
practice of INVESTIGATION, and to to society minds
aud bodies calcula'cd TO bring 10 great honor
We hone that temperate measures will he adopted
bv the friends of order and sound morals check the
prevalence If lntemperance in the use Of intoxicating
IL unrs and we hope that the virtue Of sohriciy will
come. ere long. 10 he prncrced from high motives o
regard 10 duties towards each other and our high
er duties n Col; that il will not consist in n conin
ned petty warfare between drpraved appetite and
fear Of indulgence. We hope that n some 'lme,
son 1nd rclIg0n) will be allowed 10 sway, and thai
the abstinence from nordinne Indulgence will be
throughout our community, the common result o.
well governed anpr''ics, and wei, poised minds.
Mcnninc tho evil 10 which we refer is, we fear, or
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