The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-12-02

upon others. What were Inc upues y
ISe : Were we to live, eat and drink,
and seek exclusively thegrati6cationoi
our own passions. No, we had duties
10 perform aside from ourselves. No
man had a right to wrap himself up,
and saw, | have right to drink; il is
no ones business but my own, and
have right to do as | am mind to.
There was not place in the whole
universe of God, where a man had
RIGHT to do as be had u mind to.
Everywhere he was restrained in his
actions, BY the influence he would
have upon others. Some might have
a mind to murder or steal, but their
right to do so could not be Guaranteed
A man had no right 10 do anything
that would clash with the rights OF
others. Every man had duties to per-
form toward society, and every man
had an extensive influence upon that
society. No matter how obscure an
Individual might be, his influence was
great, for good or for evil. 1t was a
law Of nature, that each particle Of
matter should have an influence upon
every other particle. Every leaf of
the forest, quivering in the breeze.
0uitered in harmony with the whole
creation. 1t was one Of the most
solemn facts that man could think of,
that every act of his life, had moral
influence f; and that the extent of this
influence could not be measured.
Every day that man lived he sent
forth q moral influence, the effect of
which extended far and wide through
out the entire mass of society, and
would be felt in after ages SO long as
man existed. A little pebble dropped
into the ocean of society made rip
pie, and by and by it swelled into a
majestic wave, and still went on in"
creasing in power until it became a
raging biIlow.
But a man must ask what was the
influence that he had upon society by
using Intoxicating drinks. Some
would say that they were moderate
drinkers, and that they stood well in
the community. This is why their
influence was bad just in proportion
as they were respectable and stood
well in the community, was their in
1uence deletereous to the best inter-
ests of society, because it was to such
men that the unfortunate drunkard
pointed as an example of the respect
ability of those who drank. As long
as men Of influence INDUCED in this
practice of moderate drinking, the
drunkard would attempt to follow his
example. If all men Of respectabilty
and influence would use that influence
in favor Ct total abstinence, and make
drinking disreputable, thousands of
,drunkards might be saved from degre-
datlOn and premature grave. II we
could say to every man, just as sure
as you drink, your reputation will be
LOST, and when that is is lost you will
be struck to the earth, not one man
in thousand could be found who
would touch even single glass;
But now, when the young man com.
,menced drinking, and was told Of the
danger to which he exposed himself,
he would say, oh am going to be a
moderate drinker; here is Mr. A. and
Mr.. g., who occasionally drink, and
they are not drunkards, and | shall
do as they do. Here was the difficult
ty--men of standing in society fur
nished him with the example, and a
dreadful responsibility rested upon
them. If there was not moderate
,drinker in the world, there would be
no drunk rds, for no man would dare
to step out from the pale of society,
and indulge in a vice that was entire.
ly disreputable.
And who supported the splendid