Year: 1869

Temperance societies have given well sus-
tanned trial to the exacting of a pledge as a
means of suppressing the use of ardent spirits.
Giving all the credit that is justly due,to their
zeal, on the score of success and awarding to
their efforts the highest need of praise there
still remains this fact, viz that means to
reform the general habit of drinking spirirs, it
has not met with the hoped-for success. Half
a loaf is bettar than bread,i is sound
maxim. Suppose that we moderate our preten-
tons, and instead of expending our powers in
futile coerton and exaction to root out all evil,
we try only to master half of it at time.
For reasons, generally considered beyond
human conception, it has pleased Providence
to impant in every people of the earth an
appetite and craving for stimulating drinks
just as it has given all nations craving for
religious excitement. But they will rise earlier,
go farther, pay more for, and keep their heart
and eye more steadfastly on, the former than on
the latter.


The atheist may turn some from religion,
total abstinence preachers may turn some from
the goblet, but neither make any lasting revolu-
ton. Religion will flourish in some form,
and so will exhilarant drinking, SO long as
mans constitution holds present characteristics.
People who look at every thing from the narrow
standpoint, that shows only the end, from
which nothing else is exempt, may denounce
spirits for the evil they keep their eyes upon.





an admixture of evil. Some men denounee all
religion, because can't hypocrisy, false doc
trine, venaty and insanity are sometimes ad-
mixed with the institution.
Who would attempt to abolish religion be-
cause of its evil ingredients? ? Rather, We per-
nit religion to carry many evils, than to risk its
safety, by going far in attempts to seperate the
evil from the mixed good. If we could root out
half the evils, it would be as pure we ever
hone to make it. So let us deal with eXhilarant
| drinking as an institution. Where one thou
sand men will give pledge Of total abstinence
and keep it, ten thousand can be persuaded to
give pledge and keep it, to substitute pure na-
tf@e California wine for distilled spirits. The
Rev DR.. Bellows confirms the experience of all
travellers, that the most contented joyous and
least intemperate people seen in the Vine
yard countries of Europe. 1t is only when yen
pass over into the grapeless lands of Europe,
Great Britain and America that intoxication be-
comes onspicuous, with the brutal exhibitions
of violence that it engenders. Where bad
brandy kicks up a row, good wine of the coun-
! try inclnes to innocent hilarity and good hu-
NOR. Brandy has affinity for, and calls forth
all the evil passions while wine finds its affinity
| in sparkles of wit and the milk of human kind
ness.


| Could we bring about an exchange of the one
for the other it would be great step in aid of
as a first accomplishment? Is there not hope
from this moderation? Would it not convert
hard class into easier to persuade, by ap-
peals to reason? We call upon all temperance
men, who are not themselves intemperate er-
tremists, to change their tactics. Let US fight
the enemy on this new line and, with Gods
blessing, we will convert him to peace, to sobr-
ETY.. to health, to industry, and to higher social
and political aspirations.