Litchfield enquirer., 1844-02-08

have read it with attention more than once, hoping that reperusal would efEace impression Teceiv- ed by the first reading, that it might possibly be nicely cooked bit of irony; but no, examination clearly shows it to be the "farmers actual views and it originated doubtless from the fact that this same farmer has felt that the right onward march of total abst hence principles, would sweep entire ly from his reach portion of the creature," taken for the "stom ach's sake" and for eften inrmities"
 I may err widely, MT. Editor, but the article sa- vors strongly of the doctrines inculcated in tain notable pamphlet which appeared some years ago in this county, entitled " Bible Temperance" or something of that sort-I am not certain of the name, and it matters not. A Acopy can probably be obtained upon application to some of the class of notorious rum and wine drinkers, as the book was in great vogue with that sort of community, and der the warrant of holy writ, within whose sacred pages may be found here and there record that wine was occasionally used, they could or scOlN guzzle down quarts and gallons of burning liquid as different from the wine used in those days the life and teachings of our Savior differ from that of
  therein set forth that the Bible sanctions, nay thorzes the use of that which brings blight, ruin, and desolation around the paths of its partakers, are long since exploded, and no man " clothed in his right mind, will in the glare of light shed up- on that subject at the present day, advocate them
 "It is poor cause that will not bear the test of scrutiny, says the ''farmer." Aye, that it is and will the cause or business of rum-selling sbear the test of scrutiny:" Will the dealers in intoxicating drinks, the upholders of the cause" of intemper- ance, open all the sporches of hell" to the'' scru tinzing glance of the world around. and will they "bear the test of scrutiny ' And will not the cause of PREFERENCES ''bear the test of scrutiny'" Do not its advocates court earnest attention to their words and doctrines Do they not go into the bye ways and entreat men to come up and ssscrutinize" attentively their and its bearings all the relations of social life!
 "A large portion of the community are fully of the opinion that the in wi ich the cause of temperance is carried on by those who claim to be its advocates sets both reason and revelation at manifest defance," says the farmer. Now where in the county of Litch6eld, and land of steady hab its,. does this farmer live! Certainly not in any town laid down on the latest maps, for do not be- lieve that there is ''a large portion" of the com munity in any town in this county, who entertain the above " opinion with regard to the movers in the temperance rs:crm. There may be doubts as to the salutary effect of legislative interference in the suppression of intemperance; indeed any such in- reference has resulted disasrously to the cause
 the simple reason that it has been merged into pol itics immediately, and the old cry of "taking away our liberties" has been raised with such clamor from every rum-hole in the land, that repeal of the obnoxious law by the next legislature has fol- lowed. o consistency! to hear men talk of having their liberties taken away, who are even then st.us5ii-s i' ts grasp or giant strong and re- lentless almost death, with not the liberty of exercising freely the functions God has given them, nor even the simplest liberty man can exer- else, viz. locomotion
 Farmer" says again, '" an attempt to dictate to men under free government like ours what they shall eat and drink, or wherewithal they shall be gious liberty" Ask the thousands who have with- in few years been brought from the lowest depths of poverty, moral degradation and sin to a stand gain among men, free men, by the earnest and un- tiring efforts of temperance men, ask them what they think of those who " dictated" to them cold ,caser az drink and they will say that by purcu- ing that course, by following the "dictation of req son ,and drinking, instead "vlainous compounds, pure cold water, suficiency to eat, and " where withal to be clothed" followed without further l" dictation.''
 I will quote once more the "farmer's" indignant sentiments against the clergy. He says ''how ma ny of our clergy are engaged in this wholesale islander and abuse, (preaching temperance ,! who ought in all conscience to be better smployed.~- Preachers of the gospel of Christ, find another theme than sin for your eloquence, raise not your voices against vice in any form, lest peradventure ye islander some wicked sinner. Cut from your Bibles the text "no drunkard shall inherit the guarded moment utter islander against some poor besotted mortal created to be in the image of God. and endowed with an immoral soul, but in the indulgence of the "largest liberty the immor- tai part has become almost extinct, slGrde,- not such by telling them of their sin and urging repen- tance a .n of'-H io ahs3
 A word with regard to the miracle performed by our Savior at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, re- ferred to by s'Farmer.' That there was wine used at that wedding, and that too under the very eye Christ, no believer in the gospel will deny. But MT. New England Farmer take yoHr testament and read for yourself if that self same wine was not |