West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-03-02
The Impregnable Basis of Total
Abstinence.
BY J. NJ. BUCKLEY, EDITOR N. Y.
CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

taking no questionable positions,
and by so presenting the really
strong points that it was impossi-
BILE to resist their force. If that
principle be ever essential, it is in
the conduct of the case Of Total Abb
stinence from intoxicating liquors
as a beverage uersal8 their use as
such, always on trial in the Court
of the People.
The Rev. Howard Crosby, D. D.,
pastor of Fourth Avenue Presbyte-
rian Church, and Chancellor of the
University ofthe Cityof New York,
is well-known Christian gentle
man, Greek scholar of the first
rank, master of strong English,
man of wide learning, of great in
dustry, and Of equal frankness and
independence. He holds that the
plan of total abstinence will not be
adopted, and that it ought not to be
adopted. He began his Boston lee
ture thus:
The object of temperance socie-
ties is to prevent drunkenness. The
cardinal principles of these socie-
ties is total abstinence from all that
can intoxicate. That total absti-
nence, if adopted by all, will pre-
vent drunkenness, no one will dis
pute.
In closing the lecture, he says:
Let me, in conclusion, distinctly
say that do not oppose the princi-
Piles of total abstinence from all that
intoxicates, for the indjuidolal. Ev
cry man is at liberty to abstain if
he will and it is his duty to alb
stain if his own conscience COM
mand it. That against which |
contend 4 * x is the total absti-
nence crusade Or propaganda; the
forcing total abstinence upon the
community as the duty Of all the
putting under the ban every one
who does not follow that standard !;
the insisting of total abstinence as
the only safety against drunken
ness.
On the first Of these admissions
we might ask, Whether the evils
of drunkenness are 50 great that uni
versal total abstinence would, on
the whole, be benefit to mankind?
Isthere a human being not intoxi-
Gated or insane who would answer
the question in the negative?
On the secondit may be said, that
if "every man be at liberty to alb
stain if he will" and if it 'be his
duty to abstain if his own conscience
command it," there can be no inn
propriety in his endeavoring to i'm
press upon others the reasons which
lead him to abstain. Nay, more
as a lover of his fellow-men and a
servant Of God, he must ondeavor to
manifest what he believes to be, on
this subject, "the truth to every
mans conscience in the sight of God"
If this has been done in an improp-
er manner by any or many they
should be rebuked, and DR.. Crosby,
according to his judgment, has
done this. Upon the general issue,
we hold that the plan of total absti-
nence for the individual rests on sure
foundation. He should abstain be-
cause Of
l. The peril to himself from the
use of Intoxicating liquors as a bev-
erage. That there are multitude
of drunkards none will deny, (even
though the rhetorical 100000" or
1900, 900" be justly disputed y that
there is a larger number, not drunk
ards, who habitually use wines and
liquors, and occasionally become in
toxicated; that many, who do not
become visibly intoxicated, lose
their self-control, utter hasty words,
form erroneous judgments, perform
rash acts, because of the effect Of
stimulants; and that many habit
ually keep the system charged with
wines and liquors, to their physical,
mental, and moral injury, are, we
suppose, admitted. 1t is true, as a
general statement, having few ex-
oeptions, that these began by the
moderate use ofintoxicating liquors.
None expected to become drunk
ards None expected to seriously
injure themselves.
It is also fact painfully illustra-
ted continually, that, in state Of