The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-02


TEX T Who hah wee who hath sorrow wbO hath
isgiioas Who hath babbng Who hath wounds without cause
Who hath redness Of yes They that wne-cup
They that 90 Chap. XIII go 90.
This Temperance reformation has been carried
on with most praiseworthy zeal, energy and disin-
terestedness; but in proportion to the excellence
Of its objects have its excelleneies been assailed
So me have looked upon il wild species of lana-
iacism which would create sensation for time,
and then, like the rush-lght blaze, be lost in the
insignifcanee Of its origin; others have launched
out against it in the strongest strain of venom
tongued invective, and pronounced it a worthless
innovation on the sanctity of custom-an unhoY
effort TO break down the conservatism Of social pri
yiege and an unwonted attempt to interfere with
the enioyments ofthe laboring poor.
Letus unmask Alcohol to the gaze Of Truth, and,
rid of all its varieties of disguise, find it essen
TALLY and entirely poison To our animal eco
nomy it contributes particle of good; it gives
neither vigOr TO the arm, vitality to the blood
il neither lends beauty TO the countenance, nor
sweetness TO the breath. Though its devoiees de-
clare il 20 be a contributor TO the reinements and
sociabites of life yet, where, in The range of ex-
perience, can we find the boosted triumphs of its
charms Where is that elasticity of enjoyment
which it bestOws Where are the productions of
the genius which it ehershes
Instead Of blessing, it has been curse TO our
race. The deadly weeds which grow around the
prson-house, the asylum and the unh0nored grave,
in its crown but the chaplet Of glory the myr
tie and the laurel, are not there!
AT an expense Of fifteen hundred millions of dol
lars, Intemperance commits its rayages on England
and America; and delormity and vice, hunger,
robbery and blood and the frightful train of hyo-
cOndriachal affections the purchase Of that sum.
We before stated that Alcohol was poison, but
on this we do not wish you TO rely individual
Judgement Chemistry, the exponent ofGod in ma
ture, is our evidence Of this fact Beautiful indeed
is that science which, lifting a veil of wonder from
the dimness Of unaided vision, enables us to pene-
trate into the of Nature, and store minds
with astonishing conceptions Of the workings of
Deity This beautiful and wonderful science,
stepping Iout from its laboratory of mysticism, pro-
nounces alcohol unqualifedlya poison. But may
be asserted, that If poison, Its action must be slow,
its visible effect would be still more marked than
il is, To meet this assertion we would remark,
that the piabty of the human constitution is such
as enables il 10 accommodate itself to the deleteri
Gus inroads of thousand poisonous substances.
Benefcent indeed is the Divine cpntrivance of this
accommodating popularity for in this we find man
fitted for the many changes which he of necessity
must undergo. But though this quality in mans
physical structure allow him. with seeming impuni-
tY to make use of larger quantities of poison than
would Immediately destroy life in persons unac-
customed to the eensurable indulgence, yet is the
exemption from the consequences of such acts more
apparent than real. Nature, accustomed TO the
change, for time ressts the approaches Of diseases
Holu SUCH d cause Out, at lSilBlIl, W6dIlou WIFI
the unequal struggle, it must yield, and the fune-
real plume will wave in sable triumph over the
wreck of manhood, while the spoiler of Humanity
is allowed, in triumph, TO proceed.
Sir Humphrey Davy, atShe head Of an analytic
science, which cannot mistake, prOnounces the
production of the l-house the brewery and the
wine-press, at once poisonous and adulterated
The charge of adulteratiOn rests more with the
producer than the retailer. In proof, we instance
one fact; fact pregnant with meaning, and re-
corded among the statistics Of commerce. 1t is
this: From the productions of the vine harvest in
Madeira in one year, 10000 casks of Wine were
imported into the United States, while the actual
vintage OF that year was only 10000 casks and
the probability remains, that even of that quantity,
the greater portion found its way into other markets.
OF the productions of the brew-house, our opinion
$1,000 higher, TILL, when recently IN London, we
were informed that the boosted ale and beer of
England are mixed mp in their formation with in
gradients of the most deeterious character
Among the numerous opponents of Temperance
Institutions, The Church has stood conspicuouslv
forth, and the Bible has been brought as shield
into the unholy combat We would not be under
stood as asserting that want of reverence for the
Book of Books is popularity of the ministers oil
religion but, in the sincerity Of their belief, they
have imagined, in too many instances, that the
Bible sanctions the use of intoxicating beverages
that wlne as it is now used is the gift of God and
like the aehemistic catholicon of other days. is a
cure for all the ills TO which flesh is heir
We, however, have the authority of the highest
name in history, for asserting that the wines, which
in Scripture were denominated good" were
UHtRtoTiCating, (of these Narrow and Pliny may be
named) such was the wine miraculously created by
our Saviour, at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
Unfortunately, the clergy have been disinciined
to the admission of these facts; but not alone has
their combat been directed against Temperance So
cletles; all newly announced truths are met by
their hostility! Even the telescope though il gave
an increase of power to the human eve and ena.
bled man TO read, in the vast volume Of Infinity
myriads of wonders, which before were far beyonG
the reach of his unaided KEN vet the introduction
of The telescope met with the most determined Cd
position from the Church
But Temperance men, in the advocacy Of thei
favOrite truths, have gone too far. Their language
has often been Of too denunciatory character
But though this is TO be amented, yet the fact
which they so strongly insist upon, must not b
overlooked, that respectable moderate indul
geuce insures, at least, one drunkard out of ever
thirteen drinkers!
With this assurance staring us in the face, is
indeed, too much to give up the dangerous lndul
gence Think! We who conclude IT IS think 9
the poor drunkard as he staggers TO what ought I
be his home, with his thoughts obliteraed, and hl
prospects blaekened with curse, and ask yonI
selves if his fate may not be reenacted 10 you, or
your child, if lntemperance goes on unchecked !
wither and destroy
We understood when in Glasgow, a city j
which many Of the noblest minds Of humanity an
congregated, that Intemperance had increased du
ring the last fifteen years, 500 per cent, and tina
the population increased only 66 per cent. IN tina
period. There have been in this time, SOC per cen
increase in death, 400 in crime, and 1900 in levers
while the chances Of life have diminished IA pc
cent These statistics show Intemperanee TO be
progressive evil. Tn Glasgow there is one spir
shop to every ten dwelling houses, and New %
leans Is, unhappily, fast verging to similar stat'
Let HE political economist and the moraiIst relied
on these things, and endeavOr to avert so ruinous
tax on our property, our morals and our lives
To hinder this source Of misery, poverty an
death, from advancing in its march Of desOlatio
and woe, the Sons OF Temperance have sprung mi
existence. Armed with panoply Of sympathy
and carrying in their hand the olive branch {
peace, their combination is the most perfect embc