The Portland daily press., 1869-02-17

CCNhAOMs
Hon. Matthew 81. Carpenter of Wisconsin,
the coming man Of the West, whose bril-.
fancy, eloquence, good looks and pleasant ad-
dress have become the favorite theme of
newspaper paragraphists, signalized his cleo
tion to the United States Senate by taking a
total abstinence pledge in large meeting at
Milwaukee. He has never been an intem-
perate man, but forewarned probably by the
fate of Salisbury, Patterson, Yates and
Chandler, has concluded to place himself Oh
safe ground. At the same meeting geveral
prominent lawyers and politicians, somewhat
given to the habit OF drinking followed his
example. Mr.. Carpenter pursued some
What novel course in making his address,
taking his text from 1st. Corinthians, 7. 10: /:
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to
offend, L will eat no meat while the world
standeth, lest make my brother to offend,n
His whole sermon is full of scriptural allu
sions and scriptural phraseology, making it
singular production for Western politician.
We give below that part of the discourse in
which he treats the subject generally, merely
observing that he dissents from the methods
used to promote abstinence in the Eastern
and some of the Western States:
The moral history of man is composed of
the struggles which from first to last have
been going on between his reason and his
passions, contending for the mastery. This
contest is waged, with varying success, in the
mind and heart of man, from the cradle 10
the grave. When reason predominates man
approaches to the image of his Maker; as
the passions prevail, the man is degraded to-
wards the level of the brue. Reason, un-
der favorable conditions, will always prevail
but the indispensable condition of its sue
cess is its unclouded serenity. The mind
erect, poised on its own centre, will shame
the passions and appetites of the body into
silence and submission; but obscured by the
fumes Of drunkenness, the mind is led cap
tive-like the shorn Samson-and made to
do the work of passions stronger than the
Philistines. All the great achievements of
man, in learning, ambition and piety, are ac-
complished by the subsection of the appe-
tiles of the body to the precepts of right rea-
son; and thus temperance becomes one of
the corner stones in the structure of per-
feet character. 1t has the promise of the
world that now is and that which is to come;
it is necessary condition to temporary pros
pcIlly3 anu 10 d otcp up lOWdIu THOSE moral
heights from which the enfranchised soul of
man-repeating the words of the great Mas
ter-can say, 81 haze overcome the aUorld."
All this is so obvious that no teacher, di-
vine or human, inspired by wisdom of God,
or merely prudent from the experience of
life, has ever omitted it, in laying down the
precepts which may promote mans advance
ment. Temperance was the exhortation of
Socrates to his pupils in philosophy; of Cice-
70 to the orators of Rome; of Caesar to his
captains painting for military fame. And the
greatest of all the Apostles of Christ COM
marded us to build up Christian character
by adding to faith, virtue; "and to virtue
knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance
and to temperance, patience; and to patience
godliness, brotherly kindness; and to broth
erly kindness, charity"
In view, then, of mans obligations to his
fellow man, and the indispensable necessity
of temperance to human welfare, here and
hereafter, the duty of every man, great or
small, high or low, rich or poor, to do what
ever he may to promote the cause of temper
ance among men, is too apparent 10 need a
moments argument.
The end in view, temperance, as applied to
drink, means reasonable and proper use ol
drink, and is an entirely different thing from
total abstinence from drink. If all men were
as strong as Paul, and as steadfast as limo.
thy, "a little wine" might safely be used fol
the stomach's sake, for the often infrmties
of the body, to gladden. the heavy heart, to
lift man sometimes above his sorrows, and
give him cheerful countenance. The tenn
perate use of wine is as innocent, and may
be as friendly to human life, as the use o.
meat. Jesus, at the wedding of Cana, by the
exercise of superhuman power, furnished
wine to promote the festivities of social oc
casion. The first miracle was miracle o.
good nature and cheerfulness
| But God has given to man no attribute oil
| power, no means of comfort, that his fallen
nature has not perverted and made the means
| of his disadvantage. And observation and
experience teach US that the majority of men
use stimulating drinks not in moderation
not for their own coed, but intemperately
and to drunkenness; to becloud the mind and
arouse the fiendish attributes of their de
| graded nature. The crimes that are commit
ted; the sorrows that are suffered; the tear
that are shed; the wives that are widowed
and the children that are made fatherless, be
cause men are Incorporate, beggar enumera
| tion and description. All men know tha
| even temperate use of stimulating drink.
| tends, at least, to intemperance, even will
the best OF men, and gives countenance tc
immoderate drinking with those who have
not the strength to resist temptations. Very
well, says some man, who nightly enjoys a
gentle tipple, if temperate drinking is no sin
then 1 will enjoy it; and if another man
drinks too much because he sees me drinl
enough, let his sin be upon his own head. S,
says not the text / have quoted sIf mea
make my brother to offend will eat no mea
aohile the aoorld standeth, lest I make m,
brother to offend. ."'And to the selEconfdent
boasting of his ability to indulge and avoi'
excess, the Great Master says, "When y
think ye stand, take heed lest Ye falln