Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-03-07
GbuirR riteraturf.
TOTAL ABSTINENCE;
rs CLAIMS 10 the .9ccsptance and Fidelity
Of Ererg Human Being.

lOlA Al a DS ttNENOE
Hs Claims 70 the .9ccsptance and Fidelity
Of Eresy Human Being.
BY HON. u B. o'NEALL.
1. 15lnf .aBsiinence in general. To
tal abstinence, the foundation Of ihe great
Tempefance Reform, must be fully un-
dessiood BY each and all. 10 give the
full benefit Of Il: both 10 the laborers in
the cause. and also 10 those who are 10
Sc It. objects. Total abstinence is the
exclusion from ure Of every thing which
can inloxicste 1t proceeds upon the
insl notion, man of himself is incapable
of protecting himself against his vices
That i requires help from within and
without There is in the undertaking
TO totally abstain. some change in heart
there is beginning TO look after better
things--so some slight turning away from
the things which are evil. if upon this
happy beginning. we could have the full
blaze of Christian light aud grace, so as
70 awaken the sinner TO repentance. then
indeed. we might feel. that the work
was done sure and steadfasi. But gem
orally. the feeble beginning TO which we
have alluded has no such helps. Il be-
comeS necessary TO provide for the poor
erring way-faref, Iill he can be better
provisioned for his difficult journey
This T.aal Abstinence undertakes to do
BY lhe pledge: tits the undertaking ol
weakness. 10 the presence Of witnesses
here aud hereafter; and this gives it val
ue and power.
2 OBJECTION. Total abstinence Is not
Temperance. The undertaking not t6
make. 81 n. give. offer or Use intoxicating
drink-is By many supposed MOTTO be tenn.
persnce. They undertake to say the
moderate use Of food or drink is TEN.
peFsnce." This may be admitted 10 b,
true Of any thing which Is good Bress
isthe staff Of lie. Il might be eat in suci
enorinous quantities as TO endange
health and even life; she moderate us'
is proper; there can be no such thing
10 general a. total abstinence from it,
The moderate use of meat is perhap
essential 20 health--excess in it, lead
70 disease and finally death. Hence
should be used iemperatefy- So OF va.
riouB fruits. All these however are the
gifts of God 10 man 10 strengthen ant
sustain him, and 10 enable him TO eniol
life. But Intoxicating drink is no gift 0
God 10 mani. has neither lot, nor par
in giving him health, strength and lengtl
Of days II Is ihe destroyer Of all there
In tract No. I, AID ohol-the essentia
quality Of Intoxicating drink, is shnwI
to.be poison. Is il right and proper /
drink poison as beverage moderately
Would our friends counsel US to have
polaiion Compounded Of arsenic, AM
some coldials prepared. and TO drink
moderatelys No, no. would be the an
swef resounding from The millions
nnol the same thing in reference /
inioxicasing drinksi The only diffe
ence - IN degree.
3. Total .46stinence Is return 10 n
fare. sh5,rn by TIE aDorks Of God. &c
gave man no Intoxicating drink ioI b
use. When De made the hills and va
leys, be did not make any fountains
Intoxicating drinks, whereat man, al
beast might slake their thirst. One loo
ing al a lame alone. might fancy in Il
w0nderI1 bnntry Of the Rocky Mou
tains such a thing might be found
There is spring there called the Be
Spring, but il Is mere Soda fountai
without The slightest tendency to into
icaie. il, like all other medical sprin
with which the old and the new wor
abound, Is composed Of many elemen
and properties, bui alcohol in no sha
is found. Turning therefore from the
foxicaiing drinks 10 the gushing fou
sains which are scattered every whe
through our happy laid is conforming
nature. God made the water, man
loxicstine drinks. Who is the wis'
workmans whose work ought TO be pl
fsrredl
4, Refusal of birds and brutes to P
fRke second fine .-ifi il was Accord
% na,ufe. that We should drink intoxi'
ting drink The birds Of the air and
brasls o. The field would pariake W
g. A crow loves corn. and dog 10y
meat they viii eat Of these again a
again. But they love not intoxicst
drink. and i b. fraud. or force they r
take oi Il once, they refuse il when
Tered The secnhd time.
Crows v the Spring Of the year
ene pests q Southern carn-6eld !:
soon As the grain sprouts aud begins
peep through The ground, the miSchi
ious lascals are seen taking field /
by row and pulling Il up. A farm
who had beeh sadly harrsssed. was ,
tosoak com in rum, and scatter It Q
bis helds as a preventive. He ac,