Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-18
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
An ADDRESS,


Deliuered before the Lincofntoa Divisioa
of the Sons of Temperance, on Feb 9th,
1857 and published By their request.
BY REV. R. H. MORRISON, DID.
when persons Of intelligence and reflection are
urged to aid the Temperance Reformation, it is
natural and reasonable TO inquire into the evils to
be prevented, and the benefits to be conferred If
Intemperanee be only an evil of limited extent, and
transient duration, then but little esncern need be
feltin regard to it But ifit be an evil Of undenia
bic and appalling magnitude and wide spread and
growing dominion, then all the better feelings ofl
our nature patriotism, charity, regard to safety,
honor, liberty and religion demand the utmost So
aieitude and effort to stay its progress.
q Let us first notice Of the evils Of Intemper-
ance
- Ist 1t destroys the health and lives Of zen.
Ardent Spirits is composed Of Alcohol and wa
ater in nearly equal parts. Alcohol is a compound
10 hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, in the prepor.
ttier Of IA. So. and "a to the hundred In its ma
ture 4 is poison. When taken in any quantity,
st disturbt the healthy action Of the human system,
apd in large qVantites, 1t destroys human life.--
Its Ultimate tendency is, to produce weakness, in
&stead Of strength sickness instead Of health and
death instead Of life. healthy constitution needs
it more than it needs arsenic, corrosive subli-
mate, OF. eicuta.
ardeRt spirits be used without injury and these
are Of persons ready TO perish. Sir Ashley Cooper
ekays-ss Ardent Spirits and Posons are synonymous
termsf DR.. Frank says" their moderate use
produces disease, premature old age, and DEATH
DR.. Trottsr says No cause OF disease has SO
wide range or so large share the nse Of Spir-
it's DR.. Emlin says" All usc Of ardent spirits
las drink) Is an abuse; they are mischievous un-
der all circumstances" Ssventy-seven Physicians
And. Surgeons in Scotland, write in one Circular
and use the following language-"We the under
signed do declare our conviction that the habtual
AZ a-s@.t ssalla nrineinal cause Of disease
IN another Circular issued ffom Dublin, Forty
eight Physician use the following words" We
the undersigned hereby declare, that in opinion
nothing would tend more TO improve the health o
the community, than the disuse Of ardent spirits
which we consider as the most productive cause o.
dise lses. and consequent poverty, and wretehed
ness"
Not only is ardent spirits profile source of dis
ease hut its hnbitual use tends to eounteraet o.
ncutralise the best remedies to be used And henc'
an eminent Physician has said-s' That half thi
men who die of lever, might recover, but for tn
pernicious effects Of Spirits" Another Physician
has said-''Th men who use no Spirits are NO
half as likely to have fever, and ten times like
to recover"
DIR. Mosely, after long residence in the Yves
Indies, sage That persons who drink notbin
but cold water, are but little affected by Tropics
elements; that they undergo the greatest fatigu
without Inconvenience, and are not subject q
Others TO dangerous diseases"
DR. Bell says" That Rum when used eve
moderately, slways diminishes the strength, an
renders more susceptible of disease, and thi
We might as well throw oil into house the ro
Of which is on FIRE, in order to prevent the fam
from extending to the inside, as to pour ardent spi
its into the stomach. TO prevent the effect Of b
sun upon the skim.
HeTe then il the testimony Of Medical men WI
ought 10 know. If you doubt its force, answer Il
question-Why do thirty thousand men year aft
year in this country alone, go down to the grave
Intemperanee2 Could you look upon this nigh
ardx drv f,lali
succession to the tomb, you would no longer dou
that this is frightful destroyer ofhealth and life
2 Intemperanee wastes the property Of men.
Next to Religion, diligence in business is t
great safeguard of men. So true is this, that it
dificult 10 raise family of children, and not ha
them ruined, unless they habituated to diligen
in business.
God in his word and by his Providence preser
n great variety Of motives to make men diligel
and these motives are strong enough and numero
enough, in such country as ours, to secure t
object, provided they do not learn to drink. B
If they do, all these motives viii fail with thor
ands and tens of thousands
Prosperity depends, under the blessing of e.
upon few simple principles plain causes
These are, lawful industry, prudent economy, tru
honesty and integrity. Let these be cultivat ed q
adhered to- and prosperity vii. be the result A
these elements Of well doing may adorn and enr
the shop and cottage of the poor, just truly,
the counter and mansion Of the rich
What happy country we live in? Where
only caste 10 character Where the suTest pass-p
to prosperity is found in the virtues of pl
heart and the actions Of an upright life. VIII
al who are willing to work, may work cut GO
name and happy home.
But let Intemperanee come with her witheri
footsteps and ali these elements of prosperity Il
guish and die. She scatters industry to the win
She trails economy in the dust. She barters trr
and honor, and Justice, and generosity, for sha
aud degradation. She rivets her grinding col
upon the necks Of her victims, and sells them
incidence, poverty infamy and death.
Of 334 Paupers in Washington County, N.
go were made paupers by ardent spirits.
Of 253 in Oneida comfy, N. Y, 246 were NJ
paupers in the same way.
OF SO in Cumberland county, Pa, As were m
paupers BY lntempcranee
Of l134 in Baltimore county, Nd, 1853 v
made paupers in the same way.
OF 1869 persons in different Aims Houses, /
were reduced to poverty by the same cause
These are only few items in the dark catalo
Could q full register Of its desolation be spread
fore you its details would be astounding.
II has been estimated by different persons a
fed to judge, that lntempsra1ee costs this couI
More than the expenses Of the General Governm
Enough to send God'sword and Missions of m
10 the ends Of the earth. How true 1t is, thi
all taxes, the tax Of iniquity i the heaviest
And for what are these millions wasted? If
into the DEPTHS Of the sea, the waste would
small matter compared to the waves of inten
ance. When the cost is fully counted up
mnst number the happy homes clothed in 50
and shame. The mother crushed to the du
anguish. The children robbed Of bread, of Cd
ton aud Of character. Itswork is only desola
1t scatters arrows, hrebrands and death.
3. Intemperance mulipiies and strengthen
motives to do wrong. Men, who when sober,
of from falsehood and profanity, and theftand
berry, and murder are too often prompted
these crimes by drunkenness Of SO perso
one prison in Litchfeld, Conn.,, 35 were inter
ate. In Ogdensburg, n. Y in one prison, e.
fuhf n toin inter