The Columbian fountain., 1846-05-11
To THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON.


Danforrh, Minister Cat that time) ofthe Fourth
PRESBYTERIAN Churh, now under the charge OF
Rev. J. c. Smith.
We think it well 10 give a few extracts from
this sermon, which was published soon after
its delivery, by Way and Gideon; and we may
at the same time, express our deep regret thai
il is still necessary TO sound this alarm IN our
ears.
"The sparkling beauty of the inebHauhS
cup is like that of the serpent IL attracts anu
fascinates TO destroy. The victims OF 10 @
duction NAV be seen in all classes OF society,"
and In every stage of their wretched eA's'ehoe'
from the ;ovous youth who sips his inciplent
glass. 10 the haggard and tolteflns afuhharu'
who s about 10 reel into that premature grave,
which has been dug by his own hands Amid
all the fair prospects of our rising city, we have
- lament this disgusting blot, the bane OF her
prosperity. the misery of a large portion of her
nonpIatiop. the source OF taxation SO enoro-
nous as would never be borne in any other
form than that Of present qualification We,
should be as anxious that the lesson and the
example of purity and temperance should go
out from us to influence the nation, as the au-
thority Of laws orthe mandates OF political pow
ers. What Difference will the people pay to
the enactments of law here, if our habits, if
the habits of the legislators, who mingle among
us are such as TO open an easy way for break
Ing through their restraint Let US take care.
"Dr Sewa Of this city informs me that, in
his opinion, one third of the cases which have
come under his knowledge have been the re-
suit Of this vice. And it is ascertained that
two thirds of the paupers in our Asylum have
been brought there by Intemperance. 1t de-
stroys the tone of the stomach--takes away the
appetite-injures the eyeslght-iniames and
corrupts the blood, as the drunkard's face in
dignatly shows-creates difficulty of breathing,
hoarseness and huskiness of voice, and as
consequence, consumption of the lungs, with
a most fetid breath. 1t disorders the bowels
and LAYS the foundation OF liver complaints
dffuses the yellow jaundice through the sys-
tem-racks the joints with the gout-strains
the head and limbs with the rheumatism
swels with the dropsy-knocks down with the
apoplexy-kindles up fire in the brain, and
finally. drives the unfortunate victim TO despa-
ration and madness. The horrid mania a pot,,
as instanced above is the final end of temperate
drinking. All drank once temperately, perhaps
medically. 1t might have been the morning
bitters, the noon day social, or the evening
dram, only a little at a time, but these rills of
the liquid have at length formed a vast river
of death, overfiowing all its banks, breaking
down the landmarks of decency and sobriety,
and filling the land with desolaton. Why not
steal little, sWear a little, indulge in the slave
trade little, and then justify each act because
il Is little? No. Touch NOT, TASTE NOT, HAN
DIE NOT, should be inscribed on euery article that
contains the poison
"Youth of Washington BY all your hopes
of peace, prosperity and happiness here and
hereafter, avoid the bottle as you would the
plague; avoid the road TO the tavern, the grog-
shop, and the confectionery, as you would the
road 10 the pit. Drink water, like Dr. Frank
lin, when he was printers apprentice, and
like him you will be industrious, thrifty, and
may yet /" stand before kings" Is she mo-
ther or daughter, who has fallen into the ha-
BIT from having innocently slipped the elegant
cordial, or the sweetened toddy, or the medical.
ed mxture2 Gentleness and delcacy have
tied forever The woman that was the orna-
ment and grace of the domestic circle has been
picked up in the streets and conveyed home to
her agonized husband and children. Can this
be possible, the virtuous female asks2 Yes
could tell tale Of facts that would crimson tbe
young cheek with shame, and fill the youthfu
heart with apprehension. Thi, city has its fe
male victims, as well as others. And she. wb,
has let this anchorage go, will soon be see,
drifting upon the rocks where many femal
reputation has been wrecked and ruined foreve,
Females have been the sufferers, and female
should engage in relieving their sex from tn
clutches Of the rapacious destroyer The nun
Der of intemperate females in this city, particu
larly in the lower walks of life would, if di,
closed, astonish the citizens"
We shall make some further use of this E,
cellent sermon, hoping that the extracts wi
bauo , tondoncv m hon eft re onJ IL -. 49,