The Columbian fountain., 1846-07-02

see, thdt ~ dVery great extent ING ihdnneiS
and habits Of the commonality of the people
are formed, or rather receive their tone and
character from observation and intercourse with
the more refined and polished in society---hence
arises the prodigous amount Of influence ex-
erclsed by men OF superior intellect and well
cultivated minds. am persuaded there is no
man living infthe community, but has some in
duence, either for good or for bad, however
much he may be despised or neglected. This
fact should always be borne in mind, es-
pecially by temperance men. Now it is an
indisputable fact, that among great portion OF
the refined and fastidious, and those, too, high
in Office, a system Of genteel drinking is kept
up-and this genteel drinking furnishes sort
of text book to those who feel disposed to
drink, and wish to make fashionable excuse
for doing so. What shame that our nation
al escutcheoh should be stained by this degrad
ing practice, and that, too, by men who are
sent here to legislate for the welfare OF the
country. The force Of example-why il has
no stopping place. Men commit acts here.
which carry an influence long after they have
mouldered in the dust. An in6del may with
book, as did Gibbons, Hume, Voltaire and
Others, whose polluted streams will continue to
flow, while time lasts, carrying in their train,
ruin and destruction. There have been in
stances, where men have reformed and dis
carded entirely their bad practices, and corrupt
theories, and it has been source Of deep re-
gret to them, that it was not in their power to
recall the influence which they had sent
abroad into the world. "A weighty thought,
this, that our evil acts will continue to in
fuence others, when our voices are hushed in
death. That gentleman, who drinks glass
Of liquor in public Hotel, il matters not how
gracefully he may take It, may give an influence
to some one present, the result of which, may
only be known when the great book of e,erni-
ty shall be opened TO our view, and ruin and
lost be found written upon the soul Of the indi-
vldual. When will the writings of departed
infdels cease to corrupt the Woild2 They are
gone, but what they have done when living,
continues to flood the world with infdelity.-
The grass has grown over their graves, and
the very winds sigh requium over their
sleeping dust, while the blood and tears Of
Calvary, are mourning over the desolations
which their writings have produced.
Where are the veterans Of Bacchus, who
have departed this life-did their influence die
with them-would to go God.it had-but not
SO. The example set is left behind them--it
continues to carry its influence. 1t is not con-
fined to the low and degraded; the mantel has
fallen upon the rich, the educated, the intel
lectual, the polished, and refined, and those in
high stations but, say these distinguished in
dividuals, we drink temporarily how do you
know that2 and even admitting that you do,
will that destroy the force Of example, Will
not your acts influence all who have inter-
course with you, more or less2 A great many
drink because others do, and especially, if they
it, ye who are great and claim refinement
Your example in genteel, and what you call
temperate drinking. may WELD an influence
which will prove the ruin of thousands, when
you are sleeping in your graves. Think Of it,
you are doing mischief in this way, which
you have not the power to retrieve, even should
you feel disposed. You can reform yourself,
but it is hard matter to counteract the bad in
fuences you may have sent out into the COM
munity.
A man may reform and be virtuous, but he
has not the. power to repair the, injuries done
to the community and to,individuals. Rum
sellers think Of this--can you repair the injury
you have done in community No, never!
and why; because your business affects the
eternal destinies of men. Your traffic is the
highway to ruin, and you will find out, soon
er or later, that God has nothing to do with
your commercial rules, upon which you pre-
dicate your unholy traffic. Wake up influ-
ential men-give the temperance cause your
aid and influence, which may be seen and felt,
long after you have departed.
A SUBSCRIBER.
WASHINGTON, June 90, 1876.
ALEXANDRIA, June 30, 1916.
MEssRs. EDIroRs.--I have the pleasure to
learn that Harmony Division, No. 2, Sons Of