Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-04
Fer he EnqaUe,
THE TEMPER caJ,cC


Course Of tic "yppcr classes" in Hs.tnia-of M4
nuddl,ng and 'loper" classcs- Professors ri Re-
Asi0n-Doctors and Laraers-the Gouetn0r
Messrs. Editors The TEMseRANce ResoRM,-
TON exhibits among Us some odd specraces It
is rejected where plain man would think i. sure
of acceptance; and welcomed where he would
suppose il stood The least Of all chances for favor
The classes who are deemed especially by them
selves The upper classes ale needless OF all the
vices and disorders which strong drink produces.
and which Ia plain man would think) must So
shock the delicate sense Of such personaees: and
they decline all participation in the only efiecluai
remedy. Almost every where il is the mddlin..
and humber sorts of people who set on foot and
carry forward this great healing measure. In
our towns, most remarkably, i. is the mechanics
and others comparatively obscure, who fling the
banner OF Total Abstinence abroad, and rally be-
meath il with the staunches ZEAL
OF our religious pastors, those who have least
Of the snowy and imposing kinds OF learning, arr
The most sure champions of Temperance, accord
ing 10 lis true Northumberland from things
huTfful, and The moderate r@ Of Minss bentfei0l
Divines of the highest tiular dignity, and who
are reputcd deepest in tie ponderous tones al
lnonkish theology, have NJ ear Tor The voice OF
lowly, ragged aud dirty wrelcheGncss That sound
mu!iitndinoGs vices Of drunkenness, re 50 ntulf-
rably Disgusting 10 sleek anI orthodox divine,
that, like line Levitc and priest in The parable,
he passes by on the other side. So il is among
their tccs>. The hard working and plainly-sen-
sibc yoomanry, who read their bibles and SYM
pahzc With The broken hearts and The varied ri.
in which they all around them, liz 70 the re-.
cue Of their ncighbors and OF their country
while The stately bi5ber Of good drinks, who
would think the Sabbath utterly proianed ~ =
temperance address after sermon
Being much too pions, a. every one knows.
To do amrht of SUNDAY e,r hut do2e-
is not aware Of any text enjoiping him 10 abstain
from an indulgence which may cause brother
10 stumble.
In town and in country The younger phys-
clans, and the lawyers mol most prominent, are
those who, with The leadiest generosity, have
done ballle against the usages that ford both
Physic and Law the richest part OF their harvess.
And our politicians, as ihey climb more and NOR.
lose sight OF the miseIe> which once exercised
their kindly energies. In short, towards this great
work OF humanity, high life amo:s US is glitter
ing and cold, like the summit OF Mont Blanc.
Our upper classes religious and proiaEe, in
heir deafness 10 all The appeals ot Temperance,
resemble The dees oil Epicurus; who were sup
posed by that philosopher to dwell in the highest
heavens, absorbed in the contemplate ion oi their
own PROJECTIONS and The enjoyment Of their oTn
felicity; insensble 10 human sacrifices, or suffer-
ings, or prayers. Now ard then IL is true, fear
| iul catastrophe occurs among them yoOn. one
"a sodins-sains after his temperate drinking
father in an ouler circle @. the maelsToom Of In
| temperance, is impeIoerilhly drawn into llc gid
| fy whirl, and enculphed; or the father himself.
perhaps bright enc in that host. falls victim 10
| his ncau,ioE. But these are deemed mere ca.
sua';ics; drawing forth mumenlary sigh, with
out long disturbing The serenity or all changing
he usages Of their gcdshrs uho 60 On gu; thrg
! their nectar unleachable hy a1v warning, and
like the Bourbons "earnins nothing, forgetting
nothing"
| Just below The upper classes and SIR ming
| hard for admission among them, are numerous
other persons, who arc kept from helping 10 dry
up the fountains Of incompetence. " their tear
OF losing case-hy their awe of The classes above
them. To peril their hopes OF being enrolled in
hose serene and best ranks, is no triGe. Such
persons know Of the nyriads who annually Pc
| ri>h by strong drink-oi The millions and lers Of
millions il annually wastes-of the countless
hearts it is perPctualy breaking. But what IS
all this compared 10 the noftilc; ton Of not taking
| a glass OF wine with Judge Sucha orc, or
class Of iodiy with Senator SO ard.so7
To this general hearllcssne<s, however, il is
| cheering 10 mole some glorious exceptions Ali
The Professors OF the Stale University, an rroha-
My oil our Colleges, al least ore Judge, several
! members Of Congress- end several Distinguished
members Of the Legislature are or lately were.
| pledged against A lcoholic drinks But pass ny
| .hem and even b. one the foremost in every
walk Of benehccnce-ihe most ready 10 give ard
10 do, TO hear and TO forbear for humaniiys sake
/ in order that may render brief tribute 10 an
other, whose irmness has been The most severely
tried, and 10 whom sigma gratitude is duo.
The Governor OF Virginia, amid innumerahle
irowns and lh"arinss ct the great and the
fashionable has had the moral courage 10 enter
tain guests, however high or manv, with no
stronger drink than cold water. His name is
signed TO the pledge OF abstinence from all that
can inloYcaie: and bis eloquence, unIiva!led now
in Virginia, has repeatedly been heard in the
cause Of Temperance. True worth, true great
ness, consists in dtusjre ami eminent ns'tahuess.
Tried bv this test, how small in comparison with
him, appear those OF whatever talents or parry,
whose examples or sneefS are daily tending 10
perpetuale the bane OF their country. They may
rest assured that the real commnnity-ibai Pm
Lie, whose opinion is of most wealth-already
afiYes to his conduct in This matter judgment
they may well envy. II is he, and no. they, whom
wise parents will point ont as model 10 their
sons. And the honors which shall deck his brow
and grace his monument, will prove that STILL as
of old. that enviable title. THE FATHER OF
Cries" belongs only 10 him who makes no COM
promise with The parent OF disorder, begeary,
crime and DEATH
O. qusQuis violet imnias
Codes, ct ra,,em tolicre civicam;
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