The Columbian fountain., 1846-09-23

private correspondent, in letter to the Assis-
tant Editor, 'of broaching the whiskey rather
than the whiskey men. God grant you great
success"
This has been our course from the first; we
are not waging war with men, bur with
wrong principles. True. it is hard TO draw
the distinction, but il is not impossible. We
may, to use the language Of a celebrated hymn
writer, .aHali sa ad ."
Hate the sin with all our heart,
And yet the sinner love-" m
1t is our sincere belief that many Of those who
drink and even some Of those who sell ardent
spirits, are men whom, when once convinced
Of the folly and sinfulness Of their doings will
honorably abandon them. Why they are not
already convinced, seems strange to US, in con-
sideration Of the effulgent light that has been
for SO many years shining all around them;
bur we must not forget that we ourselves were
once in error, and may be now, if not on this,
perhaps on other important subjects; and we
know that ii is exceedingly difficult 10 move
men from course Of evil 1t is not proper
nor is il prudent for us to turn out and abuse
all who will not do right. We will patiently
continue in well-doing, and if we gain but one
convert in life time to the truth, we shall
not have labored entirely in vain. The work
of reform has always been slow work, but
triumph at last is certain. We can plainly see
that God is in the temperance movement, and
He will accomplish great things through it,.
Much has been done. Far more remains to
be done. There is tremendous contest going
on between the powers of light and darkness.
We have no time nor inclination TO dispute
with the agents Of evil; much less can we ia
to dispel darkness is to bring light. A candid
exhibition of the truth will drive away error.
We oppose good principles to bad ones. On
this field let the battle be fought. five are
wrong lei us perish; if right we cannot; or ra-
ther our principles cannot Men soon pass
away; but the truth win remain inviolably
sure, forever. If we fight our fellow-men we
gain but little even if we conquer them. 9th
ers will rise in their stead, and the war will be
eternal; but if we gain the victory for truth
over error, we gain lasting triumph.
Men who oppose our principles, either by
word or deed, will, to be sure, be affected,
perhaps, in some cases, offended by what we
write: il is not however our aim to affront
them If the truth offend, we cannot help it
let il be so. Were we to indulge intended and
insulting personalities, and thus give offence,
we should be blamable; but if in an honest and
affeclionate appeal to mems consciences we
cause them to feel hurt, they should remember
that they are 10 look to their principles. not TO
US. If they were living as they should live,
all the truth that could be uttered by us would
only please and encourage them. It is because
they err that they do not like our doctrines.
We say the traffic in ardent spirits, and their
use as a beverage is wrong and ought to be
discountenanced; and this we prove. by argu-
ments and illustrations. The rum seller and
the rum drinker take offence. and say we at
tack them. We say, not SO. The moment
they abandon their errors, that moment our
words no longer oppose them, which shows
plainly that our warfare was not against them
but against their wrong practices. Whether
they desist, or continue TO do wrong either
case we are their true friends, and not their
enemies, as they contend An unfortunate
man who died by his own hand once wept
over one Of our editorials and said,
81 know these men are my friends. and if
would, according to their advice, abandon my
cups, I should be saved from ruin.n
But he continued to do evil, and fell victim
10 his crime Others are in the same road TO
destruction. Our warning to them is the same.
We love them, but we do not love to see them
running themselves. Hence our appeals TO
them. Hence our earnesiness in this cause.
Hence our jealous advocacy OF the salutary
principles Of total abstinence from alcoholic
drinks. We labor and pray that their eyes
may be opened to behold their danger and the
remedy. For the same reason we urge upon
the makers and vendors Of intoxicating drinks
to stop their work Of death; not because we
have any delight 10 injuring them, but because
we believe their business TO be sinful and ruin
Gus 10 the interests Of our race. When they