The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-12-26

power of human language to portray,
or of the Imagination TO trace; nor
would the picture, even could II De
drawn 10 the life, be pleasing to con,
template. The distorted and discolored
visage, the blear.eyed gaze, the body
bloated and almost In state OF decom-
position. the limbs trembling under pre-
mature decrepitude, and the whole phy-
sical man, while yet the breath OF life
is in his nostrils. falling into ruin! and,
more terrible still, the soul debased 10
the lowest depths, reason dethroned, the
Imagination diseased, and Gods image
wholly defaced from the spiritual man
the present intolerable-the future for
bidding-life torment, and death the
seal Of total ruin this might indeed
present the outlines of the rayages OF
intemperance, but it would be a picture
painful TO draw and sickening 10 gaze
upon .-and to attempt to depict the
social and domestic ruin that flows from
.'the cup of enchantment,a how hope
less the undertakine-how ungrateful
the laborl Friends alienated and de-
spairing, the world disgusted and trown-
inc. and even those who have done the
inebriate reverence till they have re-
lieyed him OF his last dime Tor his glass
of grog-even they turning him cold
shoulder when he can no longer pay
them tribute-the wretched sufferer
himself. lost to shame as he Is lost TO
self-respect. seeking relief III scenes
that would disgust the brute, and finally
ending his miserable existence IN all
the untold horrors OF the manid-a-potu!
This would present the sequel OF the
deyotee of Bacchus bad enough to con-
template, Heaven knowsi But when
you approach the domestic hearth,
where conjugal love and filial plety
should sweeten every JOY and solace
every sorrow-when you come 10 the
domestic hearth. and mark the destitu-
ton that intemperance has there pro-
duced, you might as well attempt to
"paint dying groan' as 10 picture
that! No language can tell the pangs
of a broken heart-no phrase set forth
the anguish of crushed afiection--no
words describe the desolation Of blasted
hopes, Terribie-oh terrible is the
fate of a drunkard's wife! The bright
hopes Of the hymenial altar have been
to her like the beautiful fruit on the
banks of the Nile-fair to look upon.
but placed to the lips they have turned
TO ashes! And then the drunkard's chill
dren-how hapless their fortune, how
dark their prospects, Oh, there is that
in helpless infancy, and innocent child
hood. and Joyous youth, that swelIs the
parental heart with the tenderest and
most honorable emotions. Joy, pride,
hope-these are the feelings that thrill
the bosom OF every parent worthy OF
the name. as he contemplates the little
ones that God has given him to bless
his manhood and comfort his old age.
But intemperance extinguishes these
holy emotions. and sends forth the hap
lIess offering, cursed by bad parental
precepts and still worse example, to
seek his fortunes as best he may, in a
world full of stubborn difficulties and
alluring temptations! 1.-The fall not the
victim of early neglect or early cor.
rup,ion. it is because discreet mother
has carefully instllled into his young
mind noble principles that not only
serve as an aniidote against the vlclou:
example of an unworthy father, bul
that inspires him with the manly re-
solve TO carve out for himself a worthy
fortune. God waters the seeds OF q
pious mothers planting, and gives then
generous growth. ass
But il will readily be granted on al
hands. that the fruits of intemperanct
are evil. and only evil. Let US there
; fore turn from this subject to conside
our dutu as citizens of republican 60
! rcrnment. touching the temperance cause
, This will be the theme Of my remarks
r take the duties of the citizen to b
, somewhat different and in great de
} gree higher, and more responsible IN
der a republican than under any othe
, form of government The sphere Q
, his action is immeasurably wider; tn
influence of his individuality upon tn
4 destiny Of the whole people is more dl
$ rectly and deeply felt. Under a mon
. archy the citizen is merely snbjec
= destined 10 obey but not TO CONTROL
t Passive obedience to the will OF his Sc
9 vereign is the measure of his duty I
+ the state; the example Of his loyalt
t the sum of his influence among hi
o fellow subjects. His greatest Werit
S in his patient indurance OF govern
s ment exactions! his highest happine:
i in his ignorance of his rights; h
Ir greatest misfortune is TO know and fet
d his wrongs, for to know them were
II attempt to redress them. His exls
;, ance is no otherwise important to tn
y state than as he bears the burdens an
n obeys the mandates of the crown. An
= if by the caprice Of his royal maste
n or by his fawning servility to despo
1t ism. or by some fortuitous event he
10 raised to place and power, be is nevee
e theless but a passive agent, doing as
, is bid and thinking as he is permitte
r He cannot, he dare not devote himse
p to the developeIhent Of the highest 9
le ereies of his own soul, nor to the II
n provement of his fellow subjects, /
b, that would beget disloyal aspiration
y and inspire reasonable resolves. II
le subject Of monarchy fulfills his de
"a -.b,rs his futv hv IA m O