Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-08-16
The Way to promote Temperance.

Inc way to promote temperance.
s'The dogs that bark the loudest, bite the
least" says the old adage: SO oftentimes
those who profess the most and talk the loudest
do the least Such is literally the case in
the present campaign, when the greatest pro-
LESSONS OF zeal in the cause of temperance,
and most lusty appeals in its behalf are put
forth by certain persons, whose lives CORE
spond but lily with the sentiments uttered with
the lips or through the pen men who hghten
up or relax the Maine law to suit the emercen-
cies of the time, who can brand, those who
never in long life of usefulness and honor,
violated the strictest temperance, christian
ministers who for years have been faithful dis
pensers of the word, and christian men against
whom even calumny, until now, has been ut
terly silent, as g rummies and " rum-sym-
pathlzers,p while under the stealthy covert Of
this loud outcry, they indulge freely in that
which they condemn, and by their example
give the lie to their words. We do not say,
nor wish to be understood, as implying that all
who profess this friendship for the temperance
cuase are amenable to this charge. We think
that, as now presented, the great majority Of
those who profess so much, care but little for
temperance, or the Maine law, or for aupht
else than political poi0er, while many Of them
are playing the part of sheer hypocrisy, and
few are honest and sincere, but mistaken and
deceived.
Is the cause of temperance to be really and
permanently promoted by committing it 10 such
handst Is this 6 eve service " to be lasting
instrument of good and is there no need Of
g heart-service " in the great work of REFORM
Is the best mode of efecting change from evil
to good, in one particular virtue, that of open
ing Pandora s box, and sending forth throng
of other evils to infest the land, and will even
Z" Hope - remain at the bottOmi Are not
falsehood, hypocrisy, SANDER, reyilings, I'M
charitableness, false accusations, back-bitiRgs,
prosecutions, injustice, sins and evils, in these
days las well as of old Is any one virtue to
receive life and vigor from the decay of all
othersl Are men to be legisldted into chris
tian principles whose root and strength IS in
the heart. Are meekness, kindness, charity,
patience and broiherly love, to be discarded
even by those who are set as pastors and
teachers, when they for while leave the pulpit
for the press! I@it thus that morality is to be
advanced in the world, and the benefactors Of
our race are to do praiseworthy service. We
trow not The temperance cause in the hands
of these men, whether they know it or not, is
as the ark of the Lord in the hands of the
Phiistines.
We cannot believe that temperance is to be
built upon the ruins of truth, charity, benevo-
lence, and brotherly kindness. These must
be its real basis and support, and when any
virtue is made mere mercendry matter, il
ceases to be virtue neither can it flourish
under that culture, which saps the soil Of all
its nutriment and strength, and recklessly
tears away its protection from adverse blasts,
and sweeping tempests. The truth cannot
ho thaff 10 al To nth
virtues, and must thrive and grow as they in
crease. Just laws, commencing themselves to
the good sense OF community, founded on be-
nevolent and wise principles, consistent with
the fundamental ideas of free government,
may render effective aid in the progress of
this reform but laws which array a large
part of the people against them as unjust and
oppressive, as regardless of mans higher ma
ture, as inconsistent with all preconceived no
tons of the legitimate province of government,
and tending 10 degrade man, I" made, little
lower than the angels" TO the position of
mere animals to be driven by the whip and
goad, can never do valuable service in the
cause OF reform.
The only really permanent and extensive
good which has been effected in temperance,
was that by the Washingtonian movement,
which appealed TO men as men, which sought
TO make right the heart, whence proceedeth
all manner of evil, which with the hand of
love lifted men from degradation and vice, and
called the law to their aid only SO far as en-
ightened reason, and a just regard 10 the
rights of all sanctioned and sustained IL
With such law would the professed friends
of temperance labor with half the zeal they
display in behalf OF the unconstitutional enact
menis Of last winter, in the promotion of cor
rect public sentiment, and in convincing and
leading men 10 correct habits, they would
shortly effect more, than the service of their
whole lives in their present course can begin
to accomplish. Let them try it, and see!-
Age.