Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-01
FoA SHr RIoHxosp wuia.
The Temperance Prohlbltory Law.


The Temperance Prohibltory Law
CnARLorrksvILLk, August so, 1854
MkssRs EDIroRs There are IL to be presumed, bu,
lew who have witnessed many Of the seasons who
DO not remember the timc when what called "The
Temperance Reform," made its frst small beginning or
appearance among us At 6rst Il small tvinkling
star in the moral horizon occasional lily mauestng itse
little clubs. and partial neighborhood associations
which, meteor disappearing for and then dis
appearing and again but little
notice, and was regarded generally of small omen
But thanks to an auise and gracious Providence this
little twinkpg star destined In tho fulness Of tine
to become Of the brightest lumn.res in the galaxy
constellation of moral heroic refuigences and to form
grandes moral achievement which has ever chesred
the heart Of the phianhropist There always have been
and Is to be hoped there always III be- In every
munity select few Of that peculiar sanguine temper.
sment natural, moral endowment which W in induce
them be the alert and prepared to act As pio
upon that noblest of all moral and phianthropic
prnciplcs-that whenever and wherever the
evil d.res present its foul and hidoas front,
no matter in what FORM that something Be done aud
something ought TO be done BY human efforts arrest
kill aud check to the utmost practical extent its fell and
disastrous progress So it in this There were
few select spirits Who under all appearances Of discour-
ssement which attended this little twiaklng star of TEN
persnce saw thought they in the vista Of the
future, that upon the plan platform OF the Temperance
reform-the total abstinence principle from alcoholic
drinks-with the blessing Of divine Providence, much
very much might be done by human effort f not who'll,
to ex,irpae, at least greatly to check the horrible evil
ntemperance, which seemed to be daily increasing and
threatening sweep, with the destruction Of tornado
over the whole moral hemisphere.
Accordingly they determined wage a war Of perse-
yerns unrentted aud uuce.sns opposition to the fall
destrO 81 nd tho k.a haa,
thousands and tens Of thousands nay countless myr.ds
OF the human family have been happily aud rroiciugly
brought reflect the deplorabe result
ing only from the Incorporate, but the temperate
moderate, OF alcoholic drinks, and have thus be-
felicitousy reformed in their lives aud habits
both. Aud thus this apparently insignificant and
pitiful temperance REFORM although originating in much
seakness, has been finally raised to power and invested
in the aspect of its great moral utility, with grandeur
and submy, such as cause has before exhibited
in the annals "i our race, that of the Christian re
gion. But still how wonderful il is remark that
outstanding the astonishing progress of this cause aud
outstanding the halo Of moral glory with which has
at length become Invested, there yet to be found
among many Of citizens esteemed be OF the
very highest grade Of intelligence in every other respect
who nevertheless appear to be hood snked blinded
TO "he majesty OF the movement, cold hearted and
indifferent, the great and important benefits resulting
and likely result from H. human family at large
to have take lot or part in the
matter. Many Of them, il is true, profess be
friendly but friendly TO the csuse-cai il "a very
good thing" etc. while at the very time they avail
shoulder side wind cut as for instance, they
often heard denounce vehemently any, the least
TO legal enacments and restraints in order fur
Their the progress of the cause aud the
patate huently moral suason the only true
and proper TO be resored for that purpose But
mark the precious consistency of these men. DO you
or hear OF one of them uniting in the ess; de-
gree in any effort for carrying out such reform upon their
iavorite moral suason" plan, giving it in that
spect the least aid by word deed in any shape? No.
never, On the other hand do they invariably
from
meetings temperance conventions and every thing OF
kind, calculated designed to advance The progress
such REFORM upon their aforesaid appropriate plan OF
Then how understand the conduct or position
of these nothing, do nothing orai sudson friends
Of the temperance reform! The H. that it is to
be feared the solution of the difficulty or mystery
is only be found in the fact, that such are-nne
cases of tent decidedly unfriendy at heart
totally indifferent to the existence progress of the
form shape; and the writer thinks that be could
venture small wager that they generally or perhaps
in almost every instance, belong TO the class who
called moderate drinkers Shame on huminity-who
having from habit acquired such decided fondpess or
nordnate appetite for the wine and brandy have at
length bee welded TO the grafcatonot that ap
petite trfing and Insignificant it would rational
mind the deprivation OF such gratifca-
ton far great sacrifice TO be made at the altar OF
suffering humanity, aid in the of myriads Of
human beings, bora aud yet be born from the de-
Vouring Of the greatest scourge which has ever
visited aud devastated the human family. They are, it
would SEEM perfect strangers TO that noble philanthropy
which animated the bosom Of Saint Paul aud which
ed him saw that alt eating caused his brother to
offend, he would eat more while the world lasted"-
Yes, IL would seem that N must be the pary love
Of the dear creature which is the OF such
conduct-and il So what sad commentary does il fur.
uish upon the fralty poor human nature even in it's
most enlightened stae-snd al the time, what evil
dence does n afford Of the niauing nay, it might be
said magic working power of the invidious, hdious
monster, thus to be able, not only TO darken the
tai vision of ts VICTIM but in combination Herewith to
deeriorae, blunt deaden his moral sensiblity to
render him palpaby indifferent to the veal
his feowmortas But this, it seems ia so, when
the influence OF this "back beverage OF hell" is
ried the extreme OF which it is susceptibe-but
whan carried to that extreme its consequences then
come much more awful in converting its victim il
would seem, almost into perfect demon, such battles
all descrpuou-d human nondsScrpi. The writer
been led into these reflections by having lately heard
highly intelligent citizen OF this town, casually but
with much emphasis OF and manner rem,rk that he
regarded the whole present plan of the temperance
form TO effect object by legal enacments and restraints
as fudge aud humbug," he did every other eff
fort to effect any moral reform by any such means-that
he considered moral sussion" to be the only proper
means to be used on all such occasions.
The writer ia that this phrase these phrases
mere fudge aud humbug" belong 10 the mere fashionable
can't srgon OF day. may be regarded intended
any tng nothing the aginalion or random
fancy OF the person who them may choose to ai
TO them; but when used by gentleman of the high in
egence Of tue alluded il is to be presumed that
he designed to attach to then distinct and specific
meaning what that distinct and specific meaning was
the writer wi not undertake exactly to say
II by it, the idea WAS intended to be conveyed that all
legal means that could be rcsored in order promote
or advance the temperance reform wou prove aoOrtve
or Intellectual to accomplish the object, TO the full
desired, or so as to embrace the whole community aud
every individual member Of -then IL il 70 be presumed
that will dispute the truth OF the position but
the idea was meant 10 be conveyed that legal mean.
that could be resored TO- could be made AVAILABLE or use
full to any valuable extent in restraining the evil of
temperance then the position is be regarded totally
insdmi ssible. FIAT VERITAS
To THE Editor THE WHO.
SiR-KuoWing your Journal to have the largest circu
laon Of any political newspaper in vrgina as All old
anhacrihnr tnsnentnlz thn Of