The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-20

considered il worthy of notice-it would
have been innocuous--but when it is copied
into papers which (if their statements are
to be belieyed) circulate more copies than
any others under the sun, and (in one IN
stance) claim to be the only one published
in the city which requires the aid OF "a
powerful steam engine !" to keep pace with
their increasing circulation, it may (owing,
of course, TO their unlimited circulation) ex-
ercise an influence which it could not other
wise exert. A little reflection would have
shown the editors of these journals, that
while the publication could be Of no pos
sble benefit, it certainly tended to weaken
the already diminished influence of this
powerful champion Of Temperance, and,
through him, to injure the cause itself If
you cannot aid our cause, gentlemen, don't
throw {" dirty" water upon it-be ye neutral
THE TEMPERANCE REFORMATION. /
In speech Of the Honorable Mr.. Bow
LIN, Of Missouri, (reported in the National
Intelligencer,) in the House Of Representa-
tives, on Thursday last, upon the subject Of
Naturalization n-.Native Americans," that
honorable gentleman makes use Of the fol-
lowing language -
! aHe (Mr. Bowlin) was no friend to these
modern reformers; we had had quite enough
| Of them within some years, and he was
heartily sick of them We had had an Alb
clifton reform, and Native reform, and
Temperance reform; he held them all as
bad in their tendency; they all famed the
| flame of discord and animosity, and had
their origin in sources which were against
good morals. He was opposed to the whole
system, and its propagation should never re-
ceive any facilities by his vote"
First.-"The Temperance Reform is bad
in its tendency" We think it will puzzle
the gentleman to make this appear. He
boldly asserts that it is SO. We call upon
him to show wherein its tendency is evil,
and defy him to point out single in
stance wherein that tendency has ,a,ot been
promotive Of the happiness, comfort, and
Of all the best and dearest interests of
man. If it be evil to restore to a life of
usefulness the unfortunate inebriate-to en-
able him to attain and maintain an honor
able position in society-to redeem him from
the influence of strong drink, and fit him to
perform his duties as husband, father, broth
er and son-if these things be evil, then
we admit for this IS the tendency of the
Temperance Reformation) its tendency to
be evil. The tendency Of temperance
evil! He who asserts this is most unfor-
tunate in his choice of subject for decla-
nation.
Second.-"H fans the fame Of discord
and animosity" This is great mistake
One Of the leading features of Temperance,
and one of the many happy results of its
operation, is the powerful influence it ever
exerts in extinguishing, for ever, the flames
of discord and animosity, and supplying
their place with the more genial and Chris
tian flames of brotherly kindness, Of purity,
simplicity and truth. The gentleman is
here equally unfortunate
Ihird-"H has lis origin in source
,caich is against good n,orals."-It has its
origin in the revealed will of Heaven to
man-the Bible-the word of God. No
man conversant with this Book could have
given utterance to this sentiment. Temper
ance is the hand-maid of Religion; and
beautifully does she prepare the way for the
reception of Divine truth Who ever heard
of moral drunkard3 Look at the reform
ed drunkard---we have seen and heard them,
as have hundreds of others in this commu-
nifty; and amid the thousands assembled to
listen to their exhortations, and the recital
of their previous degradation and subsequent
physical and moral renovation, there never
has been found one who had the hardihood
to say that his or their reformation was
against good morals.
" He acas opposed to the whole system, and
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