Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-11-22
Cbuirt IitRruturf.


.aDDRESStO the Young Men ofthe Uni
ted States, on temperance,
BY RT. REV. c. p. M'ILvAINE, D. D.,
Bishop cfthe Protestant Episcopal Church.
CcoSTINUED PROM OUR LAST
Thus have we arrived at the last ref
uge of this cause. ABSTAIN ENTIRELY,
is the grand principle Of life, to be writ
ten upon the sacred standard of all tenn
perance movements, and under which
the conlending hosts may be. as sure of
victory as II, ike Constantine, they saw
inscribed with a sunbeam upon the I
cloud, In hoe sigao viaces* But such
being the eminent Importance of total
abstinence, it deserves to be presented
in detail. We begin, therefore, with
the position, that
Entire abstinence from ardent spirits is
essential to personal security. Such is
the insidious operation 'of strong drink
upon all the barriers we may set up a.
gainst success; SO secretly does it steal
upon the taste, excite the appetite, dis.
organize the system, and undermine the
deepest resolutions Of him who imagines
himselfin perfect security; so numer-
Gus and awful have been its victories
over every barrier, and every species of
mental and bodily constitution. that we
may Law il down as an assertion, which
none who know the annals of intemper-
ance will dispute, that no individual
who permits himself to use ardent spir-
its moderately, has any valid security
that he will not become victim to its
power.
We know the remarks which Instant
ly mount to the lips of many at the sight
of such an assertion t. Surely the little
we take can never hurt US. Look a
round and see how many have done the
same, and continued the habit TO the
end Of life, without having ever been be-
trayed into drunkenness" We do look
around and aIe constrained 10 remark,
how many have seemed to live temper
ately to the end, who, if the reality
were known, would be quoted as warn
ings against the insidiousness of the poi
son. instead Of examples ofsthe security
with which it may be used in modera-
iion. They were never delirious; bal
were they never feveredl Fever is Of
ten fatal, without delirium.s All, did
every disease with which human being
are feVered, and swollen, and slain. re-
ceive candid name were every grave
stone inscribed with true memorial, a
well Of the life, as the death Of him a
whose head II stands; could every con
sumption and dropsy, and liver-cem
plant, disclose its secret history, dil
every shaking nerve, and palsied stom
ach, and aching temple, and burnin
brain, and ruptured blood-vessel, relat
how Il beganS and grew, and triumphed
we should hear, indeed, of many VIII
died in consumption, or dropsy, and 9th
erdiseases, without any impulse toward
the grave from the use Of strong drink
but Of how many, never regarded as il
temperate, should we learn that the re;
though slow and silent cause of the
death was drink. They fingered lon,
and their malady was called a disea.
Of the lungs; or they fell suddenly, an
il was case Of appoplexy; or the
we're greatly swollen, and it was consi
cred dropsy they lost their powers
digestion and were said to be trouble
with dyspepsia: every vital function 1
fused it's natural action, and the po
victim was treated for liver-complair
Bot why what produced the diseas'
Alcohol They were poisoned. Th,
died Of The Incorporate use of arde
spirits. however moderately they nj
have had the credit Of indulging
them.
But again, we look at the world, o
while we cannot acknowledge that th
have habitually INDUCED in even me
crate use Of ardent spirits without
ceiying some injury--for alcohol mi
hurt healthy man in some way or o
eF--we do acknowledge that many ha
thus INDUCED with no very percepti
injury, They have continued sober
But so It must be acknowledged, 4
many have breathed the air and m
gled with the victims of pestilen
without being infected or stood ami
the carnage Of battle, without receiv
q wound But were they in no dang
Because they came off unhurt, shall
be willing to rush into the streets Of
injected city, Or join the'conflct Of ct
ging battalionss
But again, We look at the world,
see bow many have been slain, wi
many have lived; how many who
exalted station, eminent talents, q
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