Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-11-15
The Use and and Abuse of s.imulants

An article in the last number of Putnam.
under the above caption, has attracted our
particular attention. 1t is clear and concise,
and discusses the uses of stimulants from
time immemoriai, the necessities which re-
quire their adoption, and the fallacy of legal
restraint, further than of a regulatory charac-
ter, in style so iorcibe aud convicting, that
we have determined, at the hazard of Civ
ing our Daily the appearance Of prosiness, for
the benefit of our Weekly readers to trans
fer the most important portion to our columns.
The subject of temperance, the evils of
the violation of that principle, and the me-
thed 'sf suppressing thosee evils, are questions
which may well elicit the attention and study
of the philanthrophist. The writer in Put
nam makes a sensible allusion to the ame-
liorating effects wrought In the habits of the
public by those temperance reformations
which effected their operations entirely
through moral influence He cites the fact
that under the penetrating power of reason,
brought home to the public mind through
the agency of men who felt and practiccd
what they preached. reformatory spirit has
been cast abroad, of which fanatics and de-
magogucs have availed themselves; the one
finding in it field in which to indulge his
morbid and all-consuming appetite, the other,
a hobby by which he could gain an epheme-
raj ascendancy and upon which he has sue
ceeded in establishing in many States of our
Union Prohibitory Liquor Law. The fact
that men are exceedingly sensitive in and
tenacious of their personal rights, and that
the public mind is subject to constant and
opposing changes its currents, is mentioned
as cause for the existence of general senti-
timent which would permit an enactment in
volving the idea of absolute prohibition in
any species of our regimen, as a ,easan why
such an enactment can be characterized by no
degree of stability or permanency. We are not
prepared to say that the enactment of Pro-
hibitory Law in the State of Indiana will be
productive of any evil,-on the contrary we
are of the opinion that it will ultimate in con-
sequences of infinite benefit to the public mo.
rails and the peoples interests. BY the en-.
actment the insane and exorbitant spirit
that demanded a law of prohibition, attempt.
ing to compel false reformation to which {
free people will never submit, has met salts
faction; and while, by the adoption of tn,
law, this spirit of fanaticism is left unre
strained to destroy itself in the gluttony o
its own appetites, the more reflective portion
of community, that were nevertheless influ
enced by the surrounding contagion, Will dis
cover the absence of philosophy in the new
measure Of reform, and will turn their face
again to the more sensible and only effectiv
method of promoting temperance-namely
that of Moral Saasioa.
When we say what we do, we are nc
anxious to be understood as opposing all leg
isation for the suppression Of a monstror
evil, now prevailing to greater extent tina
ever known before within our borders. A
enactment making no discrimination in th
persons who may sell alcoholic liquors, b.
placing limitation on its retailing, by hols
ing both the vonder and consumer respons
BILE, under heavy penalties, for injuries dor
to the innocent by cause of intoxicatio
would 90 as far towards restriction as the le
ter of our Fundamental laws and the spirit
? our people would permit, and at the san
2 time effect greater benefit to the publ
than can ever be brought about by mo
!" " stringent legislation
% We must desist however, from furth
comment, and give our readers the artit
o from Putnaul's Magazine
If THE USE AND ABUSE OF STIMULAN1
ain what thou eai,st and dfskesi seek from thence
Due nourshment, not gluttonous delight;
So thol mayst live t'i, like ripe fruit, thou drop
80 Into thy mothers lap, or be with
40 Gathered, not harshiy piucked, for death mature
70 l. THEIR USE Is UNIVERSAL.
64 The business of life is to live. From I
earliest infant hour, until the latest brea
le we struggle to resist that inevitable dec
rs which is the common lot of our race.
or provide against the tendency of our bodies
or oxydation-to use the language OF one OF I
A