The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-21

not only poisons the body, but the very heart of
man? No! Temperate drinking consists in the
use of those beverages that are healthfl and USE
full, and total abstinence from those which may
and do tend to destroy. But see what moderate
drinking leads to-drunkenness. ask you, read
err if you differ with me, to look at the past history
of your system of temperance and its results
Drunkenness has followed as a consequence.
Drunkards, from the occasional and fashionable
debauchee to the not more degraded wretch of the
gutter, made so by the tastes which moderate
drinking loaned them, have disgraced themselves,
ruined their families, and have become pecuniary
grievances, as well as pests to society; while on
the other hand, total abstinence makes and keeps
men sober and happy. Ifthat be temperance and
this fanaticism, save me from temperance, and
give me fanaticism as the rule by which am to
live have not exaggerated. Moderate drink
ing leads to all have attributed to it. True, some
persons may resist the appetite it creates; (and
perhaps you are one of this small class, reader
but all cannot. Then why-if you you are "a
good man and true"-wi you contribute to con-
tinue as custom that which is ruining-so utter
ly, so everlastingy ruining-thousands of your
fellow men? But further: if the moderate use of
Intoxicating drinks leads to drunkenness, what rs
itself, Will you ask us to receive the cause as
rule of action, but condemn the eGect' Can the
parent of such a progeny be better than its off,
spring! No. Moderate drinking is the parent of
drunkenness, and is itself ntemperance. Is not
The use of Intoxicating drinks an erH!
But is he eril Of such magnitude that the interests
of society require that lis members should renounce
the natural right they hare 10 drink mhaterer bere-
rage they please! Intenperance is all evil more
widely difused than any other. 1t reaches and
destroys all classes and conditions of mankind.
There is not a pursuit, trade, calling, or profess
sion, where its direful effects may not be traced.
If we go into the palaces of the rich, We find it
has been there, and we mark the modification and
grief it has left. If we 60 into the humble dwell
ings of the poor, it has been there, and grief pow
erty, misery, and squald wretchedness mark its
footsteps. Go we into the business walks Of life!
We find it there. And to it We can trace nine
tenths of the bankruptcies, cheatings, fraud, per-
iuries, and other crimes that almost daily disgust
US with tie world. There is not Church in our
land that can boast that all Of her ministers have
maintained the sacred lawn pure from the stains
of a,cmperance. There is not State in the
Union that can boast that no one ofher judges has
ever sull;ed her ermine in the Intoxicating bowl.
There is not all election held in the length and
breadth Of our land where intempcrancc may not
be found busiiy at work, corrupting the ircemcn
of America. There is not legislative assembly
in which may not be found many memier who
unworthy of a seat there, has purchased one with
alcohol These are not all the evils of nclupe-
rance. They are sadly true, however; and are
sufficient 10 convince any unbiased judgment
that the world is groaning under the curse, md
that the welfare of society requires that the cause
should be removed. Moderate drinking is the
cause. Reader, will you, for your own sake, for
your neighbors' and friends sake, for your @Gods
and truths sake" yield the natural right you have
10 do as YOU please in this particular and fall into
the ranks of the cold waller host!
am, as friend Garniany dubbed me,
THE RECRUIT.