The Columbian fountain., 1846-01-31
Eor the Columbian Fountain.
CONSISTENCY.

led with communication from my pen, but
| feel as ,housh would say word through
your very useful paper,
No one, who is not from elfnterest. or
some other cause. blinded to the fact, can but
admit that the Temperance cause has accom-
plshed vast amount Of good throughout our
happy country. Let him entet those towns
and villages, where, but 4 few yeafs ago, the
Holy Sabbath was dssecrated, and where
scenes OF human wretchedness and degrade
lion met his eye horrid enough to pain, the
heart of any lover Of humanity, and how
great is the change Which has taken place.
Those very persons who then spent their Sab
baths at haunts of dissipation and crime, and
| who there worse than wasted the little means
for which they had labofed and toiled the week
preceding, and for the want Of which their
families were destitute and suffering, may now
be found on that holy day in the house Of God,
clothed and in their right mind, y listening to
the words of etefhal truth, and with their
families, walking in the paths Of virtue and
| piety. These examples are not rare. Nay,
here and there, and yonder-a all around US,
such instances of true reformation may be
seen. No wonder, then, that there are those
among the wise, and great, and good, who
esteem this cause worthy of their support and
influence.
But, MIR. Editor, while there are many who
help to swell the ranks of Temperance men,
among these there are not few who manifest
a strange inconsistency, and an inactivity,
which can BE looked upon in no otket light
than as highly culpable. The name to the
pledge is not all that is necessary. We may
pledge ourselves not to touch the accursed
thing, and, SO far, it is well. But, let me ask,
is this doing all that God and humanity re-
quire Of us2 Can we look around us and see
the many, the very many, who are yet held
in chains by the tyrant alcohol, and not ex
tend to them the helping hand Can we
know, as know we must, if we have not Grim
inally shut our eyes against the light, that
many of the youths of our day are in danger
of being drawn into the vortex of ruin, and
not interpose in their behalf2 AS lovers of
our race-of the cause of bleeding human
ity-as lovers of our country, it is our duty to
make haste to their rescue. Nor have we done
onr duty until every means within our reach
have been employed for their salvation. /
would call upon Temperance men to arouse
to action. This is no time to slumber at our
posts. Every man has part to perform in
this great work Indifference and inactivity is
guilt !" To him that kaoweth to do good, and
doeth it not, to him it is SIM" So says an au-
lhority which will not be questioned.
But there are those among us who may be
regarded, as in fact they are, our opponents
the enemies of our cause, and the enemies of
our country. These are not inactive; but with
an earnestness and determination worthy a
better cause, they are urging on their work Of
ruin and death. And yet, Temperance men,
so called, (or many Of them, for there are no
BILE exceptons,) stand of, and are but idle
spectators of the great contest-indiferent as
to how it shall be decided.
But there is another matter to which nv at
tention has for some time past been called
which furnishes but one other instance, Of the
many more that might be given, Of inconsisten-
cy and want Of principle In conversation
which had with merchant of this city day
or two since; who has discontinued the sale Of
all intoxicating liquors, and for some time has
kept strictly Temperance grocery, he inform
ed me, that in looking over his books, he found
that since he made this change, his sales have
fallen off $500 month, this is the average
Now, he has no disposition or intention of re-
suming the traffic, whatever may be the conse-
quences, even should he have to close his
doors--with him, it is matter of principle
But why does such state of things exist ?
boldly and fearlessly assert it, it is owing to
want of principle among as, 10 the incensis-
tency Of those who call themselves temperance
men. These continue 10 deal with those who
are engaged in the traffic, who fer a few dol
lars, for the sake Of filling their own Golfers,
send out an agent which they kno,o will destroy
the peace Of families aud communities, wreck
the fondest hopes Of parents, and which, if not
arrested, is destined to undermine the institu-
tons Of this great and happy republic for
what will not men do when under the influence