The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-27
Let US, then,. anaIyse moro thoroughly
the nature Of intcmperance. j..

Why is it that men rcsort.to alcohol
ic drinks, or to coffee, opium, and
tobacco2 Is it not for the cxhIaration
or elevation dcmandcdl Simply be.
chuse it is not spontaneous-because
the constitution of those individuals
naturally sinks below tho elevation
which is necessary to happiness; and,
to rouse the sluggish energy of their
oppressed functions, they resort to a
transient physiological stimulation,
which produces no permanently good
effects, instead ofresorting to the more
natural and wiser processes, which
would restore their dobilitated facul.
ties.
The brain which IS still dull from
fatigue, from unintcllec.ual habits,
from sensual e1cesses, or from excess:
i've manual labor, is but poorly quail.
fled to contribute to the joy or pleas.
ures OF social evening; and the
deficiency which is felt is so promptly
relieved by the exhilsrating influence
Of strong coffee or tea that the tempta.
ton to their use becomee irresistible.
The selfish cares Of business, the
anxities and irritations of life, the
fatigue and depression CT labor, and
the moroseness which settles upon US
when, for days in succession, We have
scarcely on, hour Of happy emotions
these, and similar Influences combined,
depress the moral nature to an extent
which becomes gloomy, it tnot painful.
Agreeable society may not be within
reach-books may possess but little
interest to shose who have not been
familiar with their use-and there
seems to be no refuge but in some
narcotic stimulus, which may deaden
the sense Of mental or physical psin,
much in the way of refining the coar.
and stimulate the torpid organs Of the
brain to vigorous action and joyous
emotion. Coffee, perhaps, gives a
partial relief, but it does not meot the
domand. Wine and brandy are then
called in to rouse the Sluggish facul.
ties, and restore the lost emotions Of
pleasure. But perhaps the voice Of
prudence ia heard, warning fo escape
from the Intoxicating bowl and n
sater substitute is sought and found
in tobacco; and she smoke Of the
cigar, or bhe pungent stimulus Of the
leaf, spreads an anodyne influence over
mind and body, whilst it rouses
blissful and social feelings, and happily
removes the depressing effects of a
long chain Of vicious influences. That
toba eco, opium and wine have these
delightful influences, in stimulating the
intellect, rousing the affections and
hopes, the genial impulses and practi.
cal energies, may not be known to
those who arc most zealousIy engaged
in opposing thoir use---tor upol, this
subject All incorrect view Of physiology
has become widely prevalent.
But, in truth, the real charms OF
these articles consist III tho tact that,
for the, time being. they rouse our
faculties to temporary energy, and
thus lift US up out Of the purgatory
OF mental depression into which we
necessarily sink when We violate the
higher laws Of our being. Hence, the
demand for narcotic stimulus is always
most prevalent among those who have
departed most widely from the nobler
attributes Of humanity. Woman, in
all the bloom and briljanoe. of her
beauty, with roses upon hor cheek and
celestial soitnesj In her eye, seeming
in our presence as ministeriDg angel,
presents the highest type Of lovabIe
humanity; and in her constitution there
is no demand for artificial stimulation.
Rum and tobacco are horribly discor-
dant with her delicate and refined
organization-and the incessant flow
OF her energy, hope, love, and intuition,
need 20 Artificial impetus. But in
proportion as she degeneratcs from
her beauty and loveliness--in proper
tion as she becomes coarse, anmaized,
and vicious--in proportion as she
sinks into that purgatoriaI sphere of
existence in which the brutal, criminal
and unfortunate are found she loses
her repugnance 10 alcohol, and clutches
at whskey and tobacco, to obtain, by
their anodyne power, q faint telnpora.
ry conciousness of the bright hopes and
loftly emotions which belonged TO her
earlier years of innocence and bliss
Her genial emotions are aroused not
so much by their direct stimulation as
by benuming or Paraiyziny her painful
sensiblities, aud producing il torpid
tranquility Of the lower unimal fucuI.
ties.
AS with women, so with men and
with nations: Men Of lofty intel.
lectual and fhoral nature--,he hiuh.
est type of masculine humanity, arc
above the necessity for alcoholic
! stimulation, and rccoil from every
form OF intempcrance ;or, if the,
indulge in spirituous drink, at uIl, are
content with the milder beverages, and