Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-24
For the Spirit of the Age.
THE ABSTINENCE REFORMATION.
BIZ sCRUTATOR.
No. /.

.
Many persons are under the impression
that, because every thing was created 'Uery
good therefore, we are justifable in taking
possession OF, and using the same and
because they are at a loss to know how to
dispose of many things, conclude that the
same must necessarily possess some won
derful medicinal or prophylactic property.
The world, consistently enough for having
imbibed this notion, is disposed to eat and
drink every thing up. This chimera of
the human brain-this igsis tatuus Of lear
ned nsen-has hada most disasterous effect
upon the destiny of mankind. Angels
weep at the wreck and ruin of the human
family, which is but the legitimate fruit Of
tie practical application Of this false hy-
pothesis.
Because St. Paul said, be ye temperate
in all things" therefore, the opposers of the
abstinence reformation conclude that the
moderate use of alcoholic liquors is right
and proper The abuse, say they, of-a
thing in itself good, does not justify the
condemnation Of its proper use; inasmuch
as all the blessings Of life may be, and are
thus abused; and, if it is right to discard
ONE because of the evil arising from its
abuse, it is equally right and proper to re-
ject all, for the sam me reason.
Now this mode of reasoning is logically
correct in a certain sense, and under pro-
per restrictions; yet, under other circum-
stances it is incorrect, and dangerous
fallacy. IF the cause arising from the a.
buse of thing is the exception, whilst the
advantage or blessing derived from its pro-
per use is the rule, then the reasoning is
correct and the thing not to be discarded
on account of its abuse. But, on the 9TH
er hand, when experience demonstrated o
us that the curse is greater than the bless
ing, then we are bound by all the humane
principles of our nature to contemn its
use. The holy, self-denying Paul, accoun-
ted single human soul of SO much impor-
tance, that he would on no account what
ever, allow himself any indulgence which
would endanger the soul of BROTHER
If meat" says he, make my brother to
offend, | will eat no meat while the world
standeth, lest make my brother to Offend y
I" 1t is good neitherto to eat flesh nor to drink
Ewine, nor any thing whereby thy brother
, stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak
!. Taking alcohol then, upon the assumed
ground of those persons who contend for its
use-its being a creature of God designed
for man to drink-yet, upon the principles
laid down, and the conduct of Paul, we arc
! imperatively enjoined now, henceforth, anc
; for ever more, to abstain from it, not only
, as beverage, but also as medicine fo
SO long as the advocates of the abstinence
reformation still contend for its remedia
use, so long are We destined to fail in ou
enterprise as its use as a beverage is pre-
), dicated upon its medicinal qualities; and n
one would drink it but for the fact that h
e believes it to possess serne property advan
tageous to his physical well-being. TIL,
6 drunkard too, has the same right to betak
b himself to alcoholic potations to relieve tn
: pain and remorse of conscience consequen
+ upon former debauches, as the physical
0 has to prescribe alcoholic liquors to sic
L man suffering the penalty due some othe
# transgression. The one takes alcohol fc
l. disease, the other prescribes it and th
! latter is as much in fault of the former
! conduct, as the devil was of the fall of AC
N am. The drankard who drinks it to e.
# cess, the genteel man who does the sam
u thing moderately, and the physician WI
ID prescribed it to sick people, are all viol;
It tors of physiological law, and each respo.
a. sible for his transgression; and their Gu
r pabilitF Is in exact ratio to the evil inf
n. ence they exert in their respective voc
y tiens and stations, In life. The drunkal
Or probably had the. least responsibility in Il
le matter, being alone -culpable for the evil |
> brings upon himself aud posterity-his e.
r. ample serving. rather to o'disgust than indu,
" Others to, drink-while the physician'sr I
" sponsibilities are greatest. His very bus
Il ness in life is of sush a,nature as to gir
h use to. the necessity of liquor manufactu
ed ing and vending. whilst his precepts al
r. examples in. egaudi tp'its use give rise
re and confirm the belief in the minds of Il
,st people,. of its necessity, ,:.both as rene
ur for. and prophylactic against disease.
% Hence, he is respensiblein great measu
. for most. if not all the drunkenness of t
nd world. as we'll as its legitimate conseque
nd ces-
IN Now, some professed temperance m