Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-06-07
10, the Louisiana CapitoHan.
GOVERNMENT.

/
Of the consumer. Tho health Of the
physical economy depends upon the
harmonious action of all tho animal
organs, and the consequent progress OF
the functions Of life.
We all know, whatever has u tenden-
cy to disturb the general equilibrium OF
the physical constitution necessarily de-
ranges the. health, az health can only be
maintained while the harmony Of parts
Is preserved. Every organ, moreover,
has its appropriate stimulants; take, for
example, light for tho eye, atmospheric
air for the lungs, food for the stomach,
and for all Others. But, II it be inquired,
to what organ Of tho animal economy
ardent spirits IL appropriate, we answer,
none---ior no organ, In healthy state,
needs Its assistance.
1t neither promotes digestion, absorp-
ton, nutrition, assimilation, nor elimi-
nation; nor IL there III organ In the ply
steal system that is not disturbed by Its
lodgment In tho stomach,
The blood IL tho common medium of
comm! nication to every part of the
body, and for tho common benefit.
When charged with tho duty Of convey
Ing ardent spirits, it presents 1t, as IT
docs other materials, and each organ
instruction makes an effort to repcl the
noxions agent, and, IL not oycrpowercd
by thelunwelc0me visitor, it succeeds;
II othetwise, however, it passes onward,
still rejected at every call, until it IL
finally seized upon by tho emnnatories,
us a common enemy, and cast ont.
This we all know, takes place in obe-
dienots to the laws Of tho animal frame;
such laws was implanted by the Advise
Maker; laws upon which every physi-
clan proceeds In the admission of his
remedies,
Go, inquire of your public officers;
examine the records of your prisons and
courts of justice; visit your jails and
penitcntiareS, the receptacles of living
death and moral putruscence; look ut
tho victim of intoxication, as his very
heurt writhes In unayailing anguish.
His property wasted, reputation lost;
the wife of his bosom brokcn-hcarted,
or already consigned to tho voiceless
tomb; his children unlettored, and in
rags, and abandoned to the cheerless
prospects Of necessitntcd bcnevO-
lence; and then pronounce upon the
benefits of Gan net entitled an net to
regulate the sale Of Intoxicating liquors
in tho commonwealth of some State.
What We ought to ask ut tho hands of
our Legislators is that we may be at least
left free 10 graphic with the monster IN
sustained by law; and until our efforts
are directed to this point--the fountain
of the misery and death that rolls
through tho length and breadth of this
commpnwealth-we may not hope to
redoela this country.
And if the present temperance move
ment is ever to pause, and the dcluge of
fire continue to roll through the land,
scorching and whitening all that is fair
and lovely, consuming and annihilating
all that is excellent and elevatng in
prospect and possession, the men who
authorize the accnrscd traffic, and those
who traffic IN it, must render the vast
and continually increasing burden of
guilt, and the retribution finally annex
to tho tremendous ruin.
In a country like ours every thing de-
ponds upon the education of all the peo-
ple. And it il impossible to conceive of
the possibility Of securing tho higher
objects of civil government without the
education of the masses.
Where this is overlooked, for example,
speculation and self-aggrandizcmcnt be-
comes then common passion-money, not
intelligence, is the.ruling principle.
Egypt, once queen of the nations, dug
the grave for her own greatness by the
the indulgence Of otieminacy, and for
twenty-three centuries stronger tyrants
have filled the throne of Ptoomys.
The grandeur of her ancient ruins, and
the silent and awe-inspiring eloquence of
her pyramids, only tell Of the glory and
greatness that existed.
The c0nquests Of Greece opened the
hqod-gates of luxury and intcmperance
upon her hardy citizens, and the sun of
her glory went down in eternal night.
Rome, before the iron arm of whose
power thrones trembled and dynasties
crumbled in common ruin, saw herself
covered with disgrace, and tho shield
of her fame cast away by the same evil.
1t is tho tendency Of intemperance, to
stultify the mind, corrupt the affections
and destroy the health; hence; the daily
,ise of ardent spirits as a beverage tends
to enervate tho intellect, blunt the sen
sibilities and deteriOrate the national
character. Intemperance-it disquali-
fes and disinclines the natural DISPOSE
ton to perform the duties dcvolving
upon mankind. lntemperance-dis-
graceful to civilization and even to hui
mainly itself. The evil of incompetence
is broad in our land, and it's continue
ton enslaves many true-hearted men.
The question is proposed that we double
our diligence, Influence, time and labor.
And may gracious Providence smile
upon the order and cause in which we