West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-03-02

Veloped not only In drunkardS, Dut
in moderate drinkers. A predispo-
sition to the use Of alcoholic liquors
has oftenbeen inherited by sons from
parents, who were never known to
drink to excess, and the parents
have learned to their sorrow that in
this case the fathers had indeed
"eaten sour grapes, and the chill
dren's teeth" were "set on edge"
Since the invention of the art of
distillation wines and malt liquors
can be fortified, and many kinds of
intoxicatingdrink made of which
the ancients knew nothing, and a
type of constitution inherited from
those who use them which Graves
them almost from birth, or from the
time the first glass is taken. We
do not affirm that every moderate
drinker, or even a majority of those
who touch wines, suffer all these
evils. If that were 50, the human
race would long since have been ex-
tinct, for the temperance reforma-
ton began within the memory Of
men now living. But we maintain
the following positions: very many
Of those who use intoxicants as a
beverage suffer these consequences ];
no man can predetermine whether
he will escape, Or what the effect on
his children will be; the use of in
toxicating liquors is unnecessary )
therefore, no prudent man, no
Christian commanded to "watch
and pray lest he enter into tempta-
ton" should run the dreadful risk.
II. But fla man be not ''fully per-
suaded in his own mind" that he is
in danger, as a Christian he should,
for the sake of others, abstain. That
there is a doctrine of self-denial, of
giving up for the sake Of others,
things which are unnecessary, yet
believed to be within the bounds of
Christian liberty, none deny, Sup
pose man to honestly say 81
have knowledge, L have self-con
troll" does not the word ofGod come
to him saying, 'Destroy not him
with thy meat, for whom Christ
died ?" at is good neither to eat
flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any
thing whereby thy brother Stun
bleth, Or is offended, or is made
weak" "Take heed, lest by any
means this liberty of yours become
stumbling-block to them that are
weak. And through thy
knowledge shall the weak brother
perish, for whom Christ died? But
when we SO sin against the brethren,
and wound their weak conscience,
we sin against Christ" With the
certainty that so many will be ruin
ed if they use Intoxicating liquors
at all, how is it possible for any man
to escape the conclusion, that he is
bound to deny himself the annneces-
sary pleasure (even if he conscien-
tiously deny that it be perilous to
him) for the sake of others? If it
be proved that, in view Of all exist
ing conditions, this doctrine does
not apply to such aquestion as this,
is there any subject to which it can
be shown to apply?
III, 1t is the duty of every man
to place himself where his influence
will be in favor of the cause of tenn
perance. He who drinks wine and
beer can do but little in leading
men to be totally abstinent. Ifsuch
men have spoken powerfully and
efficiently, if they have reformed
drunkards in any considerable num-
bers, the result of their labors have
been in most cases mysteriously con-
cealed. The total abstainer can say
that he believes it to be dangerous,
that he dares not trfle with it,
and the young and many others
will say, or feel, that if such a man
as he dare not trife with it, it must
be perilous for them. Or the total
abstainer can say, that he is not sure
whether he could drink in modera-
ton or not, and though he might,
yet he is sure that multitudes can
not, and for their sakes he denies
himself; and from that platform he
can speak so that many will be NOV
ed. How different the influence of
the man who says at the public din
ner, or among the wedding guests,
81 do not drink" and that of one
who lovingly caresses his glass.