Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-01-12

Coalition Again.

H4
brief statement of the reasons why object to
such coalition and. to avoid any misappre-
hension, 1t may be well to observein the on
set, that the terms anti-slavery, abolition, free
soil. liberty, freedom, humanity, free democra-
| cy, as applied to the factious organizations of
| northern fanatics are to be understood as
meaning one and the same thing. Their ex-
PLANTATION, should explanation be sought for,
may be found in the declarations of the foreign
ernissary, Geo. Thompson, VIM. Lloyd Garri-
son, sister Kelley, and Of all their aiders, abet
tiers and sympathizers. Whatever the local
names by which the various groups of these
factionists choose to designate themselves they
are all embraced in the general organization,
known as "the American and Foreign Anti
Slavery Society:" term high sounding in
deed, but. by no means of fearful import.
The objections to coalition between the
cause of temperance and abolition, are 81.
The cause of temperance is emphatically
moral question. 1t had its inception in evils
existing in our social condition, and had, and
still has. for its object, their removal. Its mis-
sion was to save individually, not collectively;
it had to do with individuals, not with society
at large 1t came to proclaim peace and good
will at the domestic hearth; to stay the tide of
beastly indulgence and restore The unfortunate
;nebriate to his right mind. 1t addressed it.
self to the understanding and the heart and
sought to reform, purify and elevate the indi-
vidual by appeals to the kindlier feelings of his
nature, to his self-respect, to his interest," and
to the we'll being and happiness of his depend
ents. 1t came to lift the poor drunkard from
the ditch, to clothe the naked, TO give bread to
the hungry, to restore health to the sick, COM
fort to the afflicted, and domestic peace and
sunshine to the gloomy Preside of the drunk
ards home. 1t knew no party, no sect had
no selfish ends, no sinister purposes to accom-
plish. 1t came on its benevolent errand with
message of love to the individual, not with
system of cold philosophy. or code Of ethics for
his neighbor 1t aimed at moral renovation,
and the restoration Of the self degraded to
higher rank in social position. 1t had no
pirations for an alliance with church or state |;
and sought neither for political or ecclesiastical
aid, as such. It's mission, founded in pure
beEevoence, was new in kind, and unique IN
practice; and what its purposes were in the
beginning they are now. The causes that
called it forth, and the means to be applied for
their removal, are tie same now, as they were
at the first.
Temperance is as purely moral question as
is that Of honesty. chastity, love to our neigh
Dor, or any other precept in the decalogue, and
is understood as such by its friends and sup
porters. Moral principle alone is its basis and
gives it its vitality and the only legitimate
means employed in carrying it forward, are
based on this principle. 1t stands before the
community and the worlds and is recognized
purely as a moral question in all its aspects !;
and the reform it contemplates and is rapidly
bringing about is moral reform, and nothing
else. 2. The temperance cause needs no for
eign aid. Its intrinsic merits guarantee its
perpetuity and its final triumph. 1t has def
mite, specific object, and no collateral, or con-
flicting interests to watch over, or side issues
to provide for. Its materials homogeneous
and the tendency of all its forces is undiverted
and direct. Honest men of every creed and
every political party here meet on broad and
common ground, and act anitediy and effective
ly, because acting on the high and holy princi-
pies of true benevolence. and uninfluenced by
considerations of their respective religious or
political views. AS the friends Of temperance,
they act exclusively for that cause feeling
-, .ho;r md ak IF III IN
carry il forward without calling in the aid of
other interests, or tampering with extraneous
influences that are, at best, OF doubtful utility.
No true temperance man would wish to see the
cause put 10 hazard by the incorporation Of I'M
pure or foreign ingredients. Like alcohol TAX
en- into the system, such materials might pro-
duce an artificial stimulant, but the effects
would doubtless prove in the end deleterlous
The great cause of temperance reform needs no
such appliances no resort to artificial stimu-
liant or expedients Its own inherent energies
and resources are amply sufficient for accom-
plishing all its purposes; and. should it fail IN
these, but little need be looked for from exter-
nal sources, except utter humiliation. 8. A
the political parties, the wing or democratic,
or with the less reputable faction of abolition,
would prove disastrous by it's being made
secondary question, to be brought out as an
issue, or overrun and "crushed out as would
best subserve party policy. and party interests,
It would be left entirely at the mercy Of heart
less demagogues and pot-house politicians
lose its distinctive features, and be borne away
amidst the whirlwind of party strife. 1t has
not the sympathy of either of the great politi-
cal parties. as such and would be ground to
atoms beneath the weight Of either.
1t would not, however, in my judgment, be
liable to such fate in alliance with the aboli-
tior faction being stronger in numbers,
stronger in moral power and stronger In the af-
fections OF the community but Its chief, per-
haps its only, danger would lie in diversion
Of its efforts, and in the corrupting influences
necessarily growing out of corrupt association
The design of the leading abolitionists in
seeking TO mite temperance and abolition in a
common cause is not so much to benefit the
former, as to add weight responsibility and
moral power TO the latter to draw warmth
and vitality from it to help them prosecute with
more energy their ubiquitous crusade against
our institutions, domestic, social and political
Their purposes as far as am able to infer