The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-07-17
WRITTEN Fon THE ADpEvILLE BANNER.

|
Mr.. Editor Il see in the Banner of a
few weeks back, that there has been re-
instntemcnt of the Sons Of Temperance in
your village. l hope they will succeed
and when backed by such sound and per-
scvering gentlemen as Rev. Mr.. DuwASr
and others, they will succeed. "Time will
prove all things" This is an adngc that
cannot be disputed. Men may predict and
surmise-they may exalt and condemn, but
all their gucsses and predictions are only
proven 10y time. Some men have been
weak enough to predict the downfall of
temperance, and some have even went so
far as to number its days; but time will
prove them to be not true Philosophers
No doubt many would exult in its downfall,
while thousands pray for its permanent cs-
tablislnent everywhere. Such are the va
rions notions Of men. Now, both parties
cannot be right, for they stand in direct OPP
position to each other; but any discrimna-
ting mind can soon decide which is right
While one is destroying physical power and
mental faculty, hcaping up "wrath against
the day Of wrath," and visiting upon him
self poverty, wretchedncss and wo, the
other is renovating his better nature by Il
sober life, employed in the spreading of
knowledge and morality among his fellow
beings. So much difference are there be.
tween the temperate and intempcrate man,
that while the former is held (by the sober
and reasonable class, high in the scale of
department, the latter is doomed to the fate
OF the debauchec-a miserable fate indeed
subject to the multifarious SCOTS and
scorn Of the sober class. Tie is not only an
Object Of sport, but one of pity. If there
is creature that justly claims the sympa-
thics of an enlightened people, it is the
subject of rum.
How passingly surprising it is, to think
that man with soul-posscssing reason
! able faculties made after the image Of
God, and created for His own glory, should
20 prostitute the design for which he was
made, by indulg lging in one Of the most de-
grading vices of all others! Of what can
he think May he not as well be certain
Of the fatal effects Of the draught, as De-
mosthcncs was of the poisonous guile, or
Socrates of the hernlock' precisely so; for
he has been taught from his infancy, both
by rrccept and example, that ardent spirits
excessively used, will assuredIy complete
the dissolution Of soul and body; yet, he
will drink, with all the horrid scenes of
wretcbedness and death plainly before lis
vision. How or why it is so, will tako Il
greater philosopher than to tell
IT the effects went no farther than the
participant of the bowl. it would not be al
together So criminal but cveay branch Of
the family Gf man of fanily.) is made to
groan because Of the father. The wife who
once found in him an arm Of protection, is
now encirclcd in the arms of the mcanest
society. The son and daughter that were
once pleased 10y the fond caresscs Of an af-
fectionate father, have now no paternal
guide, no parental father. Those affections
that were once so dear, have been offered
up Oh the altar of intempcrance. Hence,
his offspring are thrown alone upon this
bleak world, upon this rugged ocean of time,
unfrendcd and pointed at by the finger of
scorn, rs the descendants of a drunkard.-
Do parents ever contemplate the force and
power Of example7 Do they suppose that
Example is living law. whose sway
| Men more than all the living laws obey1"
If SO, why lay an example of intempcrance
before a child, which, to follow, would
wound the heart Of any parent9 Does the
father love his sona would it not give him
pain to know that bis son would be
drunkard Then, how cnn lie expect any
thing else, when he lays him daily EXAM
ple? He knows how prone the son is to
follow in the footprints Of his father and
lie must know that every draught he takes
is leading his child another step higher the
whirlpool of destruction. Then, father,
with your eyes open, destruction in full
view, you lead your child, by the force of
example, to drunkenness and ruin, and
what must be your feelings if you live to
see him in the chains of infamy and dis
grace, and he charges you with rvcting
them upon him!
But here l stop, wishing with all my
heart the prosperity of the noble temper
ance cause. CAROLUS.
| Bre,oerton, s. O., 1855.
Mr.. FIlImore's Election Decided-Yes-