, 1853-12-03
mtempe-ancc-Ils Origin and Prevention.


A temperate man is one whose arprtit,S
At, under the control of his reason that
reason being rn'i.htcncd by sound views
and correct principles. The Object Of all
Temperance efforts is TO produce such n
character, in individual eases and the great
question involved in tn, reform is to in
quirc how it is to be done. Those who
have enlisted themselves in advocacy Of
stringent p nal laws, restraining the manu-
iayturs anl saleol ardent spirits, seem TO
carry, in all their ceOrs, the idea that the
passage aud enforcement Of such a law
admitting that 1t can be rigidly carried into
III, l,Ct-will ensure, at some time or anJth-
rr, all that * to be desired. Yet il you
should inquire, can man be made vihuOus
by ihe-Up ration of law few would be
found 10 reply in the affirmative, without
large qualification. Tho law drtcrs some
from crime by il, threats Of punishment !;
but i, is not conclusive that they are thereby
reformed lpunl,hrs others, but the cases
Of decided reformation resulting from the
infection Of legal penalties, are exceptional
rather than common. II would seem from
This that the law. has its province, within
which it is available for the good Of man
kind, and that outside Of that province it
has It'll, efficiency. To invoke it illegi.
mately is to tax It's powers to an extent to
which il cannot respond, and it is not inn
possible that injury rather than gool will
be the effect.
Il we 90 back 10 our definition of tenn
p rate man, we shall find that correct pin
cipleS and habits of self control are the ele-
ments Of which he is constructed. lf he
becomes incorporate, it is through the de-
parlure from th,so principles, and the loss
of these habiis. Reason would indicate
that reform is the simple process Of Return
to right yi2ws and practices, and Tint the
truest of all reformalory measures are those
best calculated TO promote such a return. -
What those measures are, is worthy Of con-
sidcraiion, in the light Of mans nature as
an intellectual and moral, as well as physi-
cal being.
The question presented is n very broad
one, and involves an inquiry into the causes
which, during the last twenty five years,
have given 80 terrific an impulse TO the
consumption of intoxicating drinks, produ-
cling so large an amount Of individual crime
and misery, and 81 p,rcrptible and unfur-
tunHe depreciation in the public character.
The philosopher will not be prone to be-
lieve that so rapid and alarming a descent
into vice has occurred without an adequate
caus,, nor will he readily subscribe to the
doctrine that the downward progress can
be checked while lhJ cause continues in
operation.
There is not n single ingredient which
goes TO make up the collective character Of
tho American people, or that enters into
their civilization, that is not worthy Of ex-
animation, il by that means we may discov-
er from whence springs an impulse so un-
fortunate, or what combination Of bad in
auences hang their malignant energies over
our heads, whose effects arc, iu the present.
50 indescribably sad, and whose omcns are of
such terrific pOrtcnt for the future. A de-
ficiency Of moral force is that which opens
the way 10 acts Of indulgence. Take away
the disposition 70 resist and the enemy en-
tiers, and habit is planted which dpprivrs
the victim Of fhr power of resistance. This
accomplished, the particular form in which
comparative consequence.
Il is the destiny Of man to exist by the
side oftempialions, which assail him through
every one Of his senses, and seek to obtain
control Of him by means Of each of his ap
pptiles. These appetiles and senses are 10
remain the property Of the race, so long as
it exists, and under the Constant pressure Of
their influences, the course OF humanity is
10 be complicd. To divest him of these
attributes might ensure a rigid observance
Of the lrtter'Of the laws Of the second tabl,,
and give great temperance as well as uni
fOrmity to his habits and practices but it
would, at the same time, deprive him Of his
free agency, and lrayr no Op.ning for the
exercise Of his moral being.
In the struggle going on between mans
moral nature, on the one hand, and his
physical app;iitss on the other, that which
is strongest Will prevail. In our day, in loo
many instances, the passions are triumphant,
and conscience, which speaks the language
Of the moral law, goes to the wind. A gen
eral giving way Of the conscience, at the
solicitation Of app lite, indicates the opera
tion of general cause, acting upon ALL
Man has, by nature, no stronger an appe-
tito for Intoxicating drinks than he had a
century ago yet the ratio Of indulgence is
much larger now than then. The cause Of
this change is not the repeal of then exist
ing sumPtuary laws, for none had been en-
, acted and the question is, whether the en-
acimrnt Of such sumptudry laws will pro.
ducP a return 10 practices Of morality