Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-04-18
Brownsville, March II, 1854.


We publish to-day the proceedings of the
Temperance Convention, which met here last
Saturday, and invite to them,the readers atten-
ton. This initiatory step will be hailed by the
friends of the cause, as manifestation OF an
interest in the subject, which will neither de-
generate into indifference, nor be dismayed by
opposition. 1t is the cause of humanity, and
upon its success depends more of political, and
physical progression than has yet been conceiv-
ed of by those who have merely skinned the
surface of the inquiry into its importance.
Education-the diffusion Of knowledge-has
been dwet upon as the great lever by which
man is to be lifted from his degradation into the
sunlight of happiness and prosperity; but we
here raise the question, whether the cultivation
of the intellect be blessing, unless the cultiva-
ton of the heart keeps pace with it? The rap
id developement Of physical science which
marks the present as remarkable era; the wide
dissemination of practical knowledge, through
the agency of the press; the infinite multiplied
ton Of schools and the imitation Of millions IN
to the first rudiments Of learning-all have ten
ded, only, to the extension of commerce, the
perfection of machinery and the training Of
men for the business transactions of life, whilst
the happiness, and comfort which should follow
in the wake of intellectual progress, is almost a
stranger III the human family. So conspicu-
GUS is this truth, that it may well be doubted,
whether intelligence, without virtue, does not
partake moro of the character of curse than
a blessing.
Among the causes which divorce these two
great elements of human happiness intemper-
ance ranks in the first class. 1t destroys the
intellect of the gifted, entails poverty upon the
afiluent, keeps the poor from rising and debases
the morals or its victims. The purest is not
proof against It's corrupting influence, and its
effects are seen in the broken hearted wives
and ragged and neglected children who throng
the highway of life, pleading through their suf-
fering, for aid at the hand of reform. The
drunken rantlings in the halls of legislation,
and the pot house ribaldry and shameful false
hoods of the press, stamp their character upon
the popular mind, until virtue has scarcely an
abiding place on earth. And yet argument,
persuasion and organization-all combined can
make but slow and painful progress towards the
eradication of an evil which curses man IN ev-
cry department of life. There IS scarcely a
family within the limits of this confederacy,
that has not felt the curses it inficts, and every
intelIipent observer has marked its effect upon
the social circle, as well as upon the admins
tration of the governement.
Rut still. they who declare war of extermi-
nation against this foe of human happiness are
stiomatized as fanatics and the invaders of the
RIGHTS of the citizens and the demagogue who
nrefers his individual advancement to the i'm
nrovement of his race, gathers around him the
yotaries of the stillworm, and arrays them
AGAINST those who would redeem them from
their degradation and into the form of man,
Undue some of his higher attributes.-[ [Clarks-
Vile Chronicle, Of the 7th.