The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-06
For the Columbian Fountain.
AN APPEAL TO INFLUENTIAL MEN.


Mr.. EDIToR Actuated by the best mo-
tives, may not be permitted, through your
columns, TO elicit attention to single subject,
namely, the course which literary men take
sometimes relative TO the Temperance cause.
wish, sir, to be understood as referring par
tcularly 10 those men who are looked upon
as the exponents of the wisdom, integrity and
virtue OF this nation. Occupying, as they do,
a high and responsible station, around which
IS thrown, &C oficio, weight Of influence
raised thereto by the voice of the people, are
they not called upon, as men of reputation
and standing before the community, to lend
their aid in the promulgaton and establish
ment of Temperance? We glory in having
inscribed upon our banner the names of many
who hold justly enviable positions before SO
ciety--many OF them in our National Legisla-
ture. Not unirequently is il the case, that
while others are revelling in the sweets, and
enjoying the rich eff'usions of some mighty
mind, which has gathered its stores from the
entire range of nature and of art, that, at that
very moment, he is doomed, by an improper
course, 10 drink the bitter cup of wormwood
and of gall. Amid all the appalling scenes
that may be presented by the most vivid i'm
aglnatlon, there is not one more horrifying to
the senses than the sad spectacle Of wrecked
mind and disordered constitution, through de-
bauchery and dissipation. Are men not re-
sponsIble for the talents they may have, and
the examples they may set? And, if they
are highly gifted, their influence grows 10
magnitude that has no Misunderstanding
not only to nations living, but to nations yet
unborn-they set in motion a ball Of deslruc-
ton, to the extent of whose desolating ravages
there can be assigned no limits. Long after
they have mouldered to dust, thousands Of
generations may have reason TO rise up and
curse their memory, if they have led profit
gate lives. The question is, how may this
evil be remedied? Can there be no counter
acting influence set in motion?
We appeal to influential men, to every pull
pit, public rostrum and press in the land, to
give lis aid in the overthrow and extinction OF
this vice, and in deafening the cries of despair
ing ones, ever ascending to the pure and
bright heavens from the purifying masses Of
moral corruption which stain our earth. If
all the horrors which the world contains were
unfolded to our view, and all its woes and
wrongs spread out before our eyes, then
might we form some idea of what man has
done in marring the designs of Providence for
his peace and happiness.
Have you not, while in some populous city,
wandered forth like David TO sconsider the
heavens" and to inhale the pure and refresh
ing ali, while Natures sweet restoreru has
wrapt in deep forgeduness the wearied limbs
and faculties Of men--while the moon has
been walking in her brightness, amid golden
retnue Of stars, and the silvery clouds were
gliding on through the sly-while the mighty
heart Of the city, which, few moments ago,
was beating with the pulses Of life, has been
still and calm as deah--just at that moment
how have you been startled from your con.
temptations by some noisy band OF jewellers
issuing forth from the haunts of dissipation
How mournful the scene to a rejecting mind
Solomon says, that he who fsruleih his spirit
is better than he who taketh city" Then,
the dethroning of despots, the bringing into