Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-06-06
From lie Temperance Adrocate.

If ,heieyS be.on earth one nation more
than ahSther, whose institutions must
draw the fyitaiiry from the virtue OF It's
citizens, hat ,na,ion is our own. Rulers
by divine sfs<.aud mobiles by hereditary
successioi5 may perhaps tolerate with 'm-
punityf ihbse debasing inlulgences which
render antkeep The great mass OF llielr
people aEjgei; but in our favored land,
where alnpst every man, however humble.
bears to ,hesomnipntent ballnt-boS, his full
portion olthe .soyereiSnry-where. at reg,
nIar Rperj}ds The ministers of authority
who wenl50f,h 10 rule. return 10 be ruled,
and resignslieirdisnites at the. feet OF The
monarch 1ialiilude-where; in short, pub
lie senlimeAt is be absolute lever that
moves the pdilical world, the purity of the
people is lheyery rock of political safety.
We may b6a,l Of our exalted privileges as
a nation. if.Js please, and fondIy imagine
that lbese mIy be eternal; but when thnse
vices shall abound which inevitably tend
to debasemea,, degrading the already poor
and isnora:iEs,ililuwsr in poverty and is-
norance. LSrsbX. destroying thar whole
some mental keqaaity which can alone
sustain seltruled people, il will be found
by woful experience, that our happy s,ys'
TEN of government. .thoug h the hest ever
devised lorsihs intelligent and good, is. in
reality, the yety worst TO be entrusted 10
The ignorant and the Vicious.-But strict
Temperance; will correct all these evils
Temperance exalleth nation, but lu'em-
perance is sa4curse 10 any people. We
should be temperate from q consideration
of its happy influence on NE health aud
vieor Of bnlb5bndy and mind. The most
emineal psychologists bear uniform lesli-
muny 10 the :salutury effects of total absI.
nence. aud the spirit of inspiration has
recorded. '.he that strirelh for the mastery,
is temperalesin all things"
Many srriking examples might be adj
duced. The mother or Sampson, that
prodigy Of human strength, was instructed
by an angelpflhe Almighty, to preserve
him from The slightest taste Of wine or
strong drink; aud The Immortal Luther,
who burst, the chains of half Europe, was
as remarkable for temperance, as for great
physical ai,s; Intellectual viSor. The
sNsgIon, 100, slghile composing
oind ssh-a wofk equiiug The.
srcafest =cIs assssss .personal intsIlsct.:
n5sIain0d enIFery, not only from spirits,
but from all }Imulating food. Tho inn
mortal Edwards, too, our own illustrious
counlrymau, repeatedly records his own
experience Of the happy effect Of strict
temperance, not only on the mind, but
body. aud the many rcfnrmations, within
the knowledge nf every one, exhibit nu.
mcrous examples of renovated health aud
spirits, bringing peace and plenty into
many families that were once destitute Of
both. The man who comes to tho reso'
luliun of entire abstinence. and persuades
others tn do so. gives the highest evidence
that he has The power of self dcnial-uf
sof control; gives evidence Of a moral
sense and an iutellect. which triumph
alike over appetite, seifshness, and the
laugh Of vikings and fools. Snch is the
man whom an intelligent and viruous
people should delight 10 honor.