The true Democrat., 1854-07-26

moral cOmpulSlOn only IS exercised over them there is but little fear of their becoming generally addicted to opium. Prohibit hse use of ts,ment- d liquors by las0, and sOe msoy hope to increase largely the consumers cf thss drag"
 Truer or more timely words than these were never spoken. We have personal evidence of the fact that in numerous instances where men have been denied the use of intoxicating drinks, they have secretly indulged in opium to an alarming extent. The first temperance editor we were acquainted with, was addicted to it to such excess that he told us that he could not live without it. His most eloquent denuncia- tions of drunkenness were composed under it's influence. The most distinguished temperance lecturer we ever knew, could not speak except from its inspiration. But the characteristic fact of most men who have entirely renounced the use of intoxicating drinks is, that they at once increase their consumption of tobacco the ex- travagant use of which, as we know from our own experience, is deleterious beyond descrip- tion.
 These facts ought to be known; and thought to be known also that there are many other dangerous narcotics not familiar to the people at large, which are nevertheless extensively used. Among these may be mentioned hemp, which, "from the remotest times has been cele- brated among Eastern nations for it's narcotic virtues" The dangerous character of the ex- citement produced by the stimulating decoction distilled from this plant may be judged of from the fact, according to Sylvester de Sacy, the celebrated Orientalist, the word assassin is de- rived from the Arabic name of hemp. "Oth- CTS say"-we quote from Blackwood-" that during the wars of the Crusaders, certain of the Saracen army, intoxicated with this drug, were in the habit of rushing into the camps of the Christiana, committing great havoc being themselves totally regardless of death; that these men were known as hashasheens and that thence came our word assassin"
 The Indians of Brazil, we learn from the same authority, know the value of hemp as stimulant, and delight in its use; and Cover the hotter parts of the globe generally, where ever the plant produces in abundance its pecu- liar narcotic principle its virtues may be said to be known, and more or less extensively made use of"
 We might enumerate many other stimulants used in various parts of the world, where in- toxicating drinks are either unknown or prohi- bited; but we refrain from doing so for sanatory reasons, and in fact we almost regret that we have suggested to the victims of the Maine law the consolatory virtues of so common a plant as hemp. But this thing is certain, that in this country, as in England, if we succeed in forci- bly, abolishing the use of spurious stimulants, the knowledge of all narcotic substitutes will become very generally diffused, and their use become so common as to enervate the whole people. We have too much faith, however in the common sense which underlies the Anglo Saxon character, seriously to anticipate any such results. The Maine law has thus far been found utterly impracticabe even in Maine. The love of stimulants will be strong element in every nation, until the world shall be so far advanced, that healthful settlements, growing out of more perfect organization of society, shall take the place of all others, and there will be neither temptation, nor occasion to rush into any dan. gerous excess. Poz.