The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-30
"NOT QUITE so MUCH ON THE SUBJECT
s..-@s.,-s.-...-s OF -TEMPERANCE.,h ess

swer, il is the right use Of right things, in
their proper place and at the suitable time,
Well, then, is the total abstinence from all
intoxicating liquor as beverage good
thing? This has been affirmed by many,
and denied by some. Those who have
affirmed it bring arguments from reason,
illustrated by fact, to justify their affirm
alton. They leave them before the public;
they invite investigation and refutation, If
there arc any who can and will undertake
the task Those who are on the negative
of this question bring nothing to support
the part they take but their example; and IN
many, very many cases, this is bad N ITS
appearance, as well as its tendency. Some
there are, however, the appearance OF whose
example does not so obviously present it
self as bad; but still this class Of innocents,
(as they may ffatter themselves to be- are,
nevertheless, setting an example dangerous
to the best interests Of mankind, and one
which cannot plead for its excuse the low
est degree Of virtue, viz, negative goodness,
or no harm, It may not, however, present
itself in this aspect to their own minds.
They have never been impressed with the.
danger because Of this fact; for long
time they have taken a little as a beverage,
and have not, it may be to the present,
formed the appetite, or they think they have
not; they have never been brought under
its influence so as to act foolishly. II may
be well enough for even such persons as
these to try the total abstinence plan. In
order to test the truth of these assertions,
let them do without it, and if the appetite
does not desire il, then they may say with
truth the appetite has not been formed; but
if they discover desire which refuses to
be satisfied until the usual glass is taken,
then let them own their mistake. But sup
pose there may be such cases, where the
appetite is not formed, which we doubt, and
will at present only make the suppositon;
they are very rare, as all experience and OBJ
servation will prove. Thousands of men
have had their education in the school Of
drunkenness, and received the diploma in
scribcd with the most horrible pictures, to
torture human nature from this very same
alphabet, and occupied at one time just
such relation to the subject as you now
do. Where, o! where are they? Some of
them are gone, gone, from every thing dear
on earth--gone to eternity gone before the
Judge Of all the earth-gone to give their
account at His bar-gone to hear His SEN
tence, who has declared that no drunkard
shall inherit the kingdom of God. Some
are still living who seem to be dead, even
while they live; certainly they are dead as
to all comfort for themselves or others.
They may live in a small hope Of being re-
claimed, but their present course is down
ward; and, unless arrested, must carry
them too into drunkard's grave, and to a
drunkard,s retributon. Some there are who
have been reclaimed. Thank Heaven for
this-thank the temperance men---total abb
stinence men--ihank the temperance reform
for it. We see-they look renewed. they
feel renewed, they speak Of their renewal.
In doing this, they frequently tell Of the pit
into which they had fallen; they tell you
that they learned from the same element in
which you now are; they tell you that
now their only safety is found in adhering
to the total abstinence pledge; that SO long
as they prove true to this, they must be
safe. And who dare say, if they had never
taken liquor between their lips, as bever-
age, that they would not have been better
in every respect. No one can, no one dare
saw this. Then see how dangerous, how
ruinous it is to give any sort of license to
the use Of thing that can be dispensed
with, and which, when used, has led TO SC
much evil. Then total abstinence is good
thing. What is the right use Of it' 'Tht
right use Of it is to save the young from
contracting the habit Of drinking intoxl
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