The Columbian fountain., 1846-09-09
THOUGHTS WORTH NOTICE.


seem 10 be unconscious OF the evil they are
likely 10 bring upon themselves, their families,
and the community by their commission or
omission in reference TO the cause Of Temper
ance. Such men we sincerely ply. For many
of them we entertain great respect, because of
the redeemiag traits in their characters. We
believe they are deceived with regard to the
consequences likely TO result TO themselves and
Others. This deception may arise from the
want Of consideration, or from the bewitching
power thai a love ofgain creates 10 the human
heart. This moi only leads them 70 violation OF
positive or implied divias law, but il leads them
10 the omission Of duties enjoined by the same
law, or implied in our social relations. @17g.
How true is it that light is in the world, but
men love darkness rather than light; because
their deeds are evil-or not according to the.
truth, which the light supplies. i.'''
We know that reason as well as religion,
teaches us that we, as social beings, are not to
confne our labors, in their results, to our
selves No society can be peaceful or happy
unless the members composing it have mu-
tual regard for each others welfare. Hence
the necessity Of pursuing a course Of conduct
that is most likely to result in the greatest good
to the whole, and TO every part Of the social
body. As society is made up Of individuals,
Of course each one must aid in forming and
keeping il the nearest he can to perfect state,
or in state in which the greatest amount Of
GOOD will accrue 10 each and every one COM
posing it. These are principles laid down and
well established by theory and experience.
What then should we expect from men Of
influence in the community, influence arising
either from their superiority of intellect, their
general moral department, or The influence that
wealth gives2 Why, most certainly we should
expect Them 10 do every thing they can, both
by precept and example. to-form csrrect no.
tions in reference to the manner in which soci
e,y is 10 be SO formed, as to bring the greatest
and most lasting good Now, LEI US apply
these principles TO the cause Of temperance
or Total abstinence from all intoxicating i'll
quors, and we are perfectly sure there are none
but will acknowledge that the total abstinence
from all intoxicating drink unless used medi-
cinally, if adopted by the whole community,
would lessen human misery and promote hap
piness And yet is it not exceeding strange
that some (not alp of the most influential in
our city are dealing in this article--men who
themselves are Temperate men, who say they
despise intemperance in others. These men are
acquiring wealth. Bnt do they consider the
expense they are to the community in which
they live do they consider the results grow
ing out Of their traffic Certainly many drunk
ards, many widows, many broken hearts
many orphan children-many defrauded cred
i,ors, many groans, many despairing death
beds, increased taxes, SIC. &c. fui 81 bai2aaa
Perhaps drunken children, or children con
tnecled with drunken companions, and may be
the very fortune that has been acquired by
this (as we belisve) unjusi6able traffic, is was
ted by dssipated son, tr son-in-law, and the
daughter who was the pride Of her parents
frequently left an object of distress and misery
10 be pitied by those who would now, , il en-
couraged by these Influential men, bring soci-
ETY. into state Of sobriety, and Danish the ac-
cursed stuff from every shelf but that Of the
Apothecary.
balOhl ye, our respected fellow citizens en-
gagged in this traffic, think of these things and
let them have their proper influence upon you
--they are no 6ctions--they are things that
have taken place, and what has been may be
again; they may come near you and cause you
to mourn when i is too late to escape. ps''
There are others in our community who
are highly inaueatial. who neither use il them
/ selves, or give il to oihers-those even who
belong to temperance, societies, and even here
omissions are found in reference to this all i'm
portant matter; il is all well enough for them to
be sober--it is all well that they should join
(some Of them) the temperance socie,y but
where IS their consistency are they found
helping the cause by assisting in business the
men who, from principle, have abandoned the
.trafficq Are they found assisting those men
who, from devotion TO the cause, Chis cause
SO intimately connected with human happi-
ness) who in different parts Of our country