The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-13
q For the Columbian Fountain
TEMPERANCE.


"A crisis is before us. The clouds and
mist which have SO long enveloped US are
passing away. That which has lain hid for
ages is being revealed; and, apparently, a
new created being is disclosing itself to our
vision. 1t Stands wrapt in the garment of
purity and Of love. Hark it speaks, and the
voice spreads with magic swiilness and me-
lodious softness=-that being is Temperance.
Its errand is one of love--the rescue Of our
race. What mighty undertaking! Yet its
power is ample. a,... ,,.- .,l
1t is not the province of Temperance
now to- deal with barbarons and uncivil-
lied nation, but with one upon which the
light of the Gospel has shown with uncom-
mon refulgence, whose attainments in the
arts and sciences are unsurpassed by any
other nation, and whose intelligence is un-
equalled by any other race, but among
whom the evil of intemperance has. found
its way, and every part Of this beloved land
is marked on every hand by its progress Of
death and its sad ravages. In ages past,
although it showed itself in hideous forms,
yet they amongst whom it lived rather
cherished it, and looked upon it as their ia
vorite God than as hideous monster. They
pressed the serpent to their breast only that
it might thrust its poisonous fangs the deep
er. Thus allowed to come around the fam
lily circle and to their freside, il sowed the
seeds of discord, it wasted their fortunes;
and when all was gone, it wrnng from the
heart the last drop of blood, and plunged
their souls into the pit which is bottomlsss.
Nor did it rest satisfied here. 1t stole in
to the national institutions--their legisla-
tures-the bench, where justice was accus-
toned to be administered-legislation was
palsied, and justice fled from its presence.
It has come down to this age in all its hid
eousness; Temperance has come forth,
whose object is to check the pernicious in
fluence Of this monster; and, as incentives
to become its followers, it holds up before
a nations gaze rescue from that degrade
ton into which they have fallen--happi-
ness, with its thousand charms--health,
with its invaluable blessings.
In this age Of improvement and inven-
tons, unequalled by any previous age for
such, productions since the world began, it
may be justly said that Temperance is do
ing its part-that, whilst men are bringing
forth such mighty and important productions
in the arts and sciences by aid Of their in
tellectnal powers, Temperance is exerting
magic influence upon their moral powers.
II is inducing them to leave the paths of
vice and the road to death; and gently, yet
with almost irresistible influence, drawing
them towards the paths Of virtue; thereby
preparing their minds to receive the Gospel,
and to become heirs of eternal life. And,
in this respect, it is like that ancient voice
which once cried in the wilderness And,
like that voice which once was heard from
some low retreat, but afterward became the
wonder Of the age, so Temperance, at first
but feeble, now thunders forth, and has
been waited upon the wings Of propitious
winds (secmed sent from heaven) almost to
the bounds of our beloved land. Itechoes
from the hilltop through the valley; from