American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-02-15
COMMUNICATIONS.



For the American Citisen
Mr.. EDITOR AS the subject never
exhausts itself, again take up my pen,
which is mightier than the sword if well
welded, and still hold out to publicview
this most attrocious evil of Intemperenee,
and allow me here to introduce charao-
ter in the form of moderate drinker,
and [ would say, that this evil did not
burst upon us like the rain torrents Of
our mountains, it commenced a placid
rill, gliding silently along, it became deep
er and broader and more impetuous with
each successive year, until it rolled del
uge through our land; destroying prop
erty, character, health and life. In its
course our prisons and our grave yards
have been filled with its miserable vic
Tins. And who amongst us is to be chief
ly blamed for these evils ? | answer, the
moderate drinker, he originates drunken
ness, he perpetuates it. The demonstra-
ton of this position is clear, no person
comes into the world drunkard. No
child is born with an appetite for Ardent
Spirits, the appetite in all cases is acqui-
red, and most persons require long prac
tice, slipping glass to-day aud another
tomorrow, and thus on gradually till the
drunkard is formed not indeed that any
one sets out with the intention of becOm-
ing drunkard; ah, no the very thought
of it shocks him, and if the probability of
such a termination to his course, he only
limited unpleasant or angry thoughts are
enkindled. The design is always to drink
moderately; always to hold the reins of
appetite with firm and unyielding grasp,
and such is the strange infatuaton at
tending the use of ardent spirits; that
this purpose is kept in view even to the
verge Of an untmely grave. Even, while
evidently to all others, it is carrying him
to sure destruction. OF all druukards
who have lived and died, not one but
commenced a moderate drinker. The
same is true of all who now live, a dis
grace to their country and scourge to
their friends, all aimed to drink moderate
ly. Where are they to day? Lost and
ruined. Since then the only pathway to
intemperance is through moderate drink
ing---let this be abandoned and we place
between ourselves and intemperance a
bridgeless and impossible gulf, to think
how easily, at how slight sacrifice of
shortlived and hurtful qualification you
may heal the sorest aiiliction of your
country, and your race, then say. who
amongst you will be moderate drinkers
Will the christian. will the patriot, will
rhe Philantopist, will even he who
rationaly loves himself?
| could not well close this article, with
out saying, were it not for the moderate
'drinker very few landlords would be will
ling to keep the poisonous drug about
their house. 1t is clear that the drum
kard after all, is very poor customer.
not always having the money to pay for
his grog, and just to think of the land
lord setting down amongst pack of in
ebriates, it is too much for human nature
to endure. Landlords have told me them
selves, were it not for gentlemen that call
ed occasionally for their drink, they would
not keep it one hour to accommodate the
drunkard. Look moderate drinker where
you stand, and hope you may see that
you are perpetuating a traffic which is
fast robbing this land of all that is noble,
and fast peopling the dungeons of Dark
Despair. d. NJ. HARBAUGH.
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