The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-18
We invite attention to the following arti-
Gle. It will richly repay perusal -
MIND THY MONITOR.

Sometimes we need monitors more than
instructors. Who takes up an appeal from
the perfectly overwhelming reasonings Of
the "Total Abstinence" advocates Tenn
perance logic is mighty in power. Who
reasons against that power? Where are the
anti-temperance logic men? Aye, where
are they? Has the Fountain 2 refused to
publish for them2 That would not be treat
ing them we'll We invite them to bring
forth their strong reasons. We are not fond
of sour or bitter controversies, but we love
truth and Total Abstinence We would
be willing to hire some one who loves the
temperance cause to break lance with a
maker, or yender, or drinker Of the poison
we love to hate.
Why are the anti-temperance men SO
quiets They have al the reasoning among
themselves. How is thiss Are the reason
ings in favor Of sTotal Abstinence so
perfectly contemplate and insignificant that
the noble gentlemen on the other side will
not come down from their intellectual ele-
vation to blow the cob-webs away By the
burning breath Of their mouths? But a
truce to this. Why is it that there are so
many Of our citizens who Withhold their in
fuence from SO excellent cause, one that
must commend itself to every man who
will be thoughtful and candid?
Let every one remember, too, that there
is no medium ground. He that is not for
us is against us, reason as we may. Can
patriot be opposed to Total Abstinence
Patriot" a real lover Of his country" Who
will say that intemperance is not great ma
tional evila Will any sensible man be so
bold? Well, then, how can man be a
"real lover Of his country" and not use his
influence to prevent that which he admits is
a withering and blasting curse in his own
nationi Can man love his family, and,
at the same time, see with Indifference and
apathy, a growing and deadly evil in that
beloved little community He loves his
family, and yet he nurses and protects in its
bosom nest Of vipers whose bite will be
death. He loves his brother, but he draws
not the dagger from that brothers heart,
although he says he sees that it is drinking
1up the life-blood Of this object Of his affec-
ton. Let reason, unprejudiced, unbiased,
conclude from the premises. How strangely
men may become infatuated! They call
light darkness, and darkness light. They
call hatred love, and love hatred! What
but a partial hallucination of mind could
ever induce man to conclude that he
is " real lover Of his country while he
declines using his influence to.put an end
to the sickening and wide-spreading evils of
istemperance man may be sincere in
error; but that is not noble, it is not manly,
because the truth may be known, and ought
to be sought for with all diligence.
What is the fruitful parent of crime in
our country? INrEMPERANcE. Of pau
perismi INTEMPERANcE. Of insanity r
INrEMPERANcE. Is not intemperance also
the cause Of an immense annual expendi-
ture Of money? Who has to pay this
enormous amount to support drunkards,
paupers and criminals The honest, sober
and industrious lovers Of their common
country. But these evils are only frac-
ton Of the thousand ills that spring from
this fountain Of ever-fowing iniquity.
But to the patriot again. Come, let us
reason together. You will have it under
stood that you are real lover of your
country Now, to think that you are a
mistaken man, deceived, in error; that while
you oppose the temperance enterprise you
cannot be true patriot. Is this saying too
muchs LovE-whcrever love is, it will, it
must do good to the object of its regard.
Well, the patriot loves his country; but
there is that in his country which is doing
incalculable mischief, and he remains mac
tive and careless; or, if active, only so to
increase the evil Can such man love his