Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-01-26
Spirit of yetferson.
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
Temperance Lecture.

snectoble attentive and appreciatlve audience
wos assembled, The lecturer or speaker
c,mo irto our midst by invitation of the tenn
p.rauce organizations of our town, which,
tbronch the exertion of a commendable zeal,
have accomplished great good and effected
several desirable reformations within the past
six months and it was with the view of
giving new life, and energy, and impetus, to
these organizations, that this address was
deemed advisable. Whether or not the eff
fort of the distinguished lecturer accomplish
ed the good whls \ was hoped for and expect
ed, is something which each mind must de-
termine for ITSELF after duly considering and
carefully weighing the several positions as
sumed and arguments advanced in their sup
port The general position that intempcr>
ance is great evil, and wide spread IN Its
havoc, is one that no sane man will attempt
to gainsay, or by any process of reasoning
seek to controvert. That it is the monster
evil of the age, carrying down to disgrace
and untimcly death. more of human hope and
happiness, than all other vices combined, is a
proposition equally demonstrate; but wheth-
or or not its vicious influences are to be most
successfully combatted and counteractcd by
bitter invective or sober reason, are questions
for reflection and consideration.
DIR. FINLEY, who addressed our people on
Thursday evening, is divine OF distinction
and abiity-jn his particular vocation a
strong man. Upon the subject under consld"
Grafton, he is. al Ieast an enthusiast, if not
fanatic, and his u,gdc of dealing with the
subject is not entirely Invested of offensive
ness. Bold, fearless and independent in the
expression of his own views. he assumes
position which lie deems impregnabie and in-
controver.iblc, and from this, hurs his anath
cmas with the force of unclaimed thunder
regardless of aim. and intent only upon send
ing his bolt into the camp of evil, where he
expects it to produce combustion and conster-
nation. He stands upon the broad platform,
that he
..uods charter imtablc TO the winds,
TO blow whom he plea7cs 3"
and neither the pulpit, the bar, the medical
profession, or the domestic circle, escapes the
extended range Of his denunciatory arraign-
ment aud bitter accusation. DistiIers are at
Unce proclaimed WHOLESALE murderers,
whilst the vendors Of the ardent are held up
as '.robhers and sou-destroyers." How far
are such rositions tenable: aud upon what
basis or foundation DO they rest? and to what
extent do they influence or induce individuals
to desist from the manufacture, the traffic, or
the use Of alcoholic drinks? If man is
murderer, or robbcr, or soul destroyer, is his
morality likely to be improved or his sensi
bilities touched. b. pulpit proclamation of
his criminali'y? These are questions which
we leave to the solution Of the learned lee
turcr, avcrrin- at the same time, that we
inean no cenSurc upon his zeal temper
ance man or temperance advocate. His cause
is a good one, and in its general features, in
vulnerable. yet he may breach its walls by
iniudicious assaults upon those who are as
sumed to be its enemies
And who are these supposed enemies =
First. we have the distillers, then those who
Grant license for its sale, then the vendors
under these licenses, ami thcn-hy inle!Ici-
tous arran sement-thc occupants OF the sacred
desk. next the bar, after them the doctors,
md last but not least, the Indies who manu-
facture domestic wines, brandy peaches, cher
ries. etc. In Justification Of the distillers,
vendors anu license granters We have not
worl to say except that it is hardly proba-
bic that their rcformations will be effected by
such sweeping and unsparinS denuncat'ons
as those uttered in the lecture under consid-
70, l,,.r Inf In
ministry are in any sense chargable with the
iuebricty that prevails in high places and low,
but were glad that the eminent lecturer had
to 20 to Scotland for his Illustrations Of the
dissertation Of the sacred desk by the use Of
wine; and that the Scotch dominic lived Ill
an age not so far separated as ours from the
noted period when the miracle was performed
at the marriage feast in Cana, Of Calico
His rounding off of the bar, we expect, was
mcrited Lawyers, as class. are good lIv-
ers. and adhere to the relics of the past, with
tenacious devotion. Since Paul studied the
profession under GamuIel a little wine for
the stUmach's sake" has been deemed lndis-
pensablc, and it is time that The superior adj
vantegcs Of this age Of progress should over
come the barriers Of ancient customs, and en-
list the talking talent Of the country against
the use, in any form Of spirituous liquors -
Doctors, as class an supposed to have made
such attainmCuts in science as to tit them
to deal intcI.igcntiy with the human system
in all its severe contests with the numer-
GUS diseases that flesh is heir to. But the
learned lecturer knocked the props that sup
port science and showed by illustration that
liquor is not good as u medicine. For in