The Morning herald., 1877-07-04
Communicated. 80
TEMPERANCE vs. INTEMPEKANCE.

Dancing seems 70 be an unmsnsgeoae 0io
phapt on the hands of the (TemperanceD y
people Of this city. It will be, indeed un"
fortunate If such matter should be per-
mitted to destroy the good that has been
.ccomp,ished. It seems to me that the OBJ
lection ia not so much to the Reform men
having q "dance," ss it is to the professediy
Christisn leaders giving It their encourage
ment. If messrs. Wells, Lee, &C., are sucn
disinterested, self-sacrifcing laborers (as
their friends clsim) in the cause OF CON-
mon humanity, why do they adhere win
such obstinate tepacltiy to 8 scheme wh'cn
promises to create an irreparable schism IL
their ranks. If they presume to play tne
role of Tsrquin, they must expect q Tar
ouin's fate. If they aspire to that OF .
Cromwell, they will find that they 40 NOT
live in A Cromwell's time, but in time anc
in q land of federation, and among people
who. for more than an hundred years, have
recognized the enthusiastic doctrine tha'
"all men are born free and equal" and the!
need not be guilty Of such contumacious
folly as to suppose that such declaration Of
human rights will be disregarded oecaust
they have appeared upon the arena.
The gentlemen who conscientiousiy OPP
posed dancing, deserved, at least, what tht
lowest political caucus would have Granted
"a hearing NOT by packed committee OF
manufactured sentiment, presided over by q
b ,rlesoue "Alexander" and supported by
would If he could be "DemostheDes," as
sembled in solemn convocation, graciousl,
tolerat,ng an "illegal hearing" OF gentle-
men, who, to say the least, are their peers,-
hut by brothers, in christianlike, gentle"
manly manner, free from all dilatory inter-
ruptious for the purpose Of enforcing a de-
testable gag law.
If dancing will adorn the Moral Reform
that such men desire to enforce, God save
us from their Moral Reform. 1fit will not
why risk its pernicious effects or its demor-
alizing tendency, seeing that "whatsoever
ia not of faith is SIM" Observation and ex
perieuce teaches us that the exhilarating
effects of this vice 1. most powerful stim-
ulant to the passions for intoxicating
drinks, that has proven itself, too often, ab.
solutely irresistible.
I have heard these leaders say, that Tenn
perance is part Of the Gospel. So it is
but dancing is no part of either. They claim
to sustain it by Scripture, yet they say they
have too much respect for their God te
dance themselves. But why so, If Scripture
sustains It? Dancing was part of the rell-
gion of the ancients. They danced because
they had respect unto God, and rejoiced a
his mercies. Yet Mr.. Lee says "tbis is jus
the reason he will not dance himself" 0
consistency Thy will find, If they hool
dancing to Temperance, and try to hitcl
both to Christianity, that they will not fit
More than that. They will forfeit all CLAIM
to the support or the respect OF many wb
have contributed money and brains to th
support of the cause, and that the way
absolutely too narrow to admit such con
glomerated pot of hash. have been move
BY the appeals of the Reform Men to thei
comrades, to flee from temptation, an
more than once have I rejoiced that th
truth has been impressed upon their mind
that they cannet successfully fight tn
Devil In his own domains.
The ball room and the bar room are NJ
only partners in business, but the devil hs
joined them together, and what he hi
joined together, let rot puny man-who'
moral forces are entirely exhauste
in resisting the monster-attempt to p,
asupder.
/ repudiate the charge that "Christis
churches of Wilmington, are no friend
the reformed men, n,"-It is false in eve
particular, and let me say to the Reform,
men. If you find any sympathy outs
the rails of the church q DO not say Meth
dist) but church, 1t is not because you q
reformed. for the world will love its ov
and those only.
Who, ask, inaugurated the Temperan
movement and who has supported
Who for the great part has furnished t
brains, the money. the audiences. Why t
church of Jesus Christ, and who for t
great part are the thousands of persons tt
We have induced to sign the pledge--.h
are members of that church who were j,
as good Temperance men and women beft
Mr.. Wells came here as they are no
Men and women that stormed the cure
of popular opinions, and dared to endr
public ridicule, and who pobly stood up
the street corners, proclaimipg the Cos,
of Temperance before Messrs Wells
butcher we're ever beard of in Wilmingt,
honor to whom it is due-even If it be [
devil himself-but notwithst anding I