The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-27
NO. As.

age races are invariably .druaknrds
when they have free access to ardent
spirits; and wh>key has done more
than the sword Of the white man, in.
depopulating our continent Of its abo.,
rigpes. Wherever, we find nation
characterized by indifference to ardent
splrlts,. we may be sure, that thew.
abound in the refining and humanta-
rian sentinenls. Indeed! n,o,t per.
sons can realize these truths in thcnl
selves, by little obser, alton. Wi..
our moral and ..inteIleclugl iacu,ies
are most elevated, Or, wien pe,usinr
the most brilliant works Of g.iliu, or
in enjoying the society OF those whom
we love best, we feel VINO desire for
ardent spirits. But when. depres ed
by succession of difficulties, and
maddened by wrongs and Injuries
which energze every fierce annual
passion, we arc enabled TO enjoy the
unadulterated brandy, rum. or whiskey
which in our better moments. woi1ld
be harsh and disgusting,
In short, withtmt dwelling farther
on this prolific theme, which is not
yet half illustrated, it is obvious that
the consumption of alcoholic drinks.
and other narcotic stimu!:.n;s. is an
instructive effort of til. depressed and
degraded constitution. for ther;yiolent
restoration OF its higher powers; its
energies. hopes, loves, intellect. aad
moral sent'men,-an effort. producing
transient success bat Is permincnt
injury.
1t then, we wna!d relieve intempcr.
ance, We must keep man from sinking
into the purgatoria! regions of hur.an
dispair, where he is tempted to grasp
ut these temporary. artificial mtiga-
tIons Of his sutferings. In other words,
we must keep up the energy of the
moral and intellectual natcre of man,
and give to his higher powers that
permanent and steady vigor, which
will keep them sustained throughlife..
The tonic recommended as the medical
remedy, will do great deal to pre-:
vent that exhaustation and depression
which benumb the higher organs of
the brain, and will thus contribute to
tho mora! rs we'll as the physical. cure
OF intemperance. But our hiaher
powers need something more than Il
mere tonic support. They need to be
strengthened by Il systematic exertion
and qualification vH
A considerable amount of this
desirable qualification. is already &C.
complished by the processes of fcduca.
ton especially, where that education
is accomplished chiefly by oral instruc
ton, fro,ntne lips Of able and eloquent
men. And, it is we'll known. that
intellectual education accomplishes
scr appetitcs, and checking the ten.
dencics to vice. But education will
never perform even half its duty, in
reforming man from vice, until it has
become not merely intel ectual, bnt
emotional and industrial. The unlor-
tunate scholar, who has merely DRY,
lifeless, intellectual education. is
turned adrift upon tho world, with
feeblencss in his emotions, and Ian
gour in all this energies which 90 to
mako man, with utlittle self sus
tanning energy and, spontaneous hap.
plnesS, and with no refuge from the
melan choly which settles upon him,
but in those pleasures which he has
learned to derive from literature, and
the activity of his own intellect. On
tho other hand, an education that
embraces the industrial and emotion.
al elements ofour nature, which Keeps
the pupil under the incessnnt influence.
of action, enterprise, social cnio, meat.
eioquence, music, and contagious
enthusiasm, sends him forth fully
equipped, with an energy of character,
and internal resources for naupiness,
which defy the depressing influences,
and ,scorr the aid of stimulants.
But as 1t is not my purpose now, !
to discuss the education Of the young,
| would refer to the Iamcntable defect
which our society exhibits in reference
70 the moral uenns Of counteractiny
intemperance. .r....
AS the world is now going on, and
has been going on for thousands of
years, adult men must and will have
stimulant~. The laboring mass of
mankind are duumed to an amount of
toll which wlthdraws the vlIal power
from the brain, to accumulate in the
muscles, thus deterioralirg the mora.
and ~ 'HNstellectu ! nature, .url siyisg Ah,
performance to mere animal file. 4
purely animal existence, deprived of
emotional ami intellectual pleasures,
's barren and dreary il not absolutely
miserable. y par;iai reict from
monot"ny and misery i, Found IN ti,,
family circle, but the many unfavn
rable circan,s!ance and cares whtc,S
belong To snai, render 1t out MI i'm
perfect solacc, and the over-e.XcI
iaborc.'. .i;i, hut the alternative OF