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EFFECTUAL CURE FOR INTEMPERANCE.

Principally, all this is the effect of intemperance. What is it that levies a heavier burden of taxation on the general community than the national debt? The answer is, intemperance. What is it that excites passions which often terminate in rapes, riots, robberies, and murders? Intemperance. The broad way to destruction is crowded with intemperate travelers, the number of which will not be known to mortals till the day cometh that "God shall judge the world in righteousness, and render to every man according as his work shall be.”

An important question now arises. What shall be done to exterminate an evil which has long been sweeping over our world like a raging pestilence? An answer is prepared; join the temperance society, and unite in all laudable efforts to promote the pending National Temperance Reform. The constitution of the temperance society is based on a conviction of the EVILS OF INTEMPERANCE, and its object is to enlist volunteers from every department of community to aid in overthrowing this common enemy of mankind. The position which reformers are required to take in this mighty warfare, is to deny themselves of the use of spirituous liquors (except in case of medicine), and endeavor to persuade their neighbors to do the same. This is the exact standard of the temperance society. Under a full conviction of the gross perversion and abuse of distilled liquors, the laws of the temperance society are designed to abolish the common use of the article, and confine it to a medicinal use, for which it was first designed. Common sense dictates, that apothecary drugs and medicines are to be used only by the sick, and by

OBJECTIONS TO TEMPERANCE ANSWERED. 163

them only under the direction of medical authority. Only let this simple, plain, common-sense rule be adopted in relation to the use of spirituous liquor, and let it become. a general and universal rule, and be faithfully observed, and the Temperance Reformation would be equally extensive, and drunkenness, with all its train of evils, would be exterminated from the world.

CONCISE ANSWERS TO THREE POPULAR OBJECTIONS

to the principles of temperance and the Temperance Reformation, and a few words to the ladies, will close the subject of this chapter.

I. A popular objection to the restrictions of the temperance society is, That to abide them, mankind are deprived of their liberty and natural rights! Of what liberty and natural rights, it is inquired, do the laws of temperance deprive mankind, or any of them? The answer is, If I join the temperance society, and observe its rules, I must deprive myself of the liberty and natural right of drinking rum, gin, brandy, and other liquors when I please, without being subjected to the pains of applying to a physician to know whether I need a dram or not.

A moment's reflection will show, that the principle set up in this objection leads only to a perversion of all that liberty and natural right which are guaranteed to mankind by the constitution of heaven and the laws of every free country. Because a man is at liberty to think, speak, and act freely, does it follow that he has a right to conceive murder in his heart, to commit suicide on his own body, or put an end to the life of his neighbor? Because man

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OBJECTIONS TO TEMPERANCE REFUTED.

kind are endowed with natural rights to breathe air, eat food, drink liquid, and labor for support, does it follow that they have a right to manufacture poison, and eat and drink it to their destruction? Follow the principle of this pretended liberty, and see where it will lead. My life is my own, and I have liberty, yea, a right to dispose of it as I please. This dose of poison was manufactured by my hands, or purchased with my money, and I will drink it if I please. This wife, these children, this house, are all mine. To bind myself, or be bound, under legal restrictions, that I shall not kill my wife and children, and burn my house with fire, when I please, would destroy my liberty and natural rights!

These may appear extravagant. But, believe me, this is but the maturity of the principle, based on the objection under consideration, which is often made against the restrictions of the temperance society. Every person who indulges the habit of a common use of spirituous liquor, on the principle that it is his liberty or right so to do, does nothing less than to take by piecemeal a dose of poison which will terminate in all the degradation and wretchedness in life, and misery in the world to come, which are inevitably connected with moral suicide. Hence, for a person to lay himself under such voluntary restraints as tend to the preservation of all that is essential to his present and eternal welfare, is so far from depriving himself of his liberty and natural rights, that this is, in fact, the best and only sure method to secure them.

II. Another popular objection to the temperance cause is, that it materially injures the interest of individuals.

WHO ARE THE LOSERS?

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Distillers and venders of spirituous liquors, doubtless, constitute that part of community alluded to in the objec tion; for no others can be said to be losers. Give this objection its full force, and what will be the amount? Suppose that distillers and venders of this article will be losers, what is their loss, to the general loss of community by the traffic? Compute, for instance, the loss and gain of a neighborhood where spirituous liquor is the staple commodity of traffic unmolested, as is frequently the case where there is a distillery, a tippling house of ill fame, or a little petty store of dry goods and groceries, with a license to sell liquor by the small measure. The retailers, it is granted, get the names of a considerable number of their neighbors on their book of account, and all, or much of the small money out of their pockets. They may thrive; but what becomes of their customers? These spend no small portion of their time and money at the tippling house or store, and the harvest they reap is intemperance, want, and wretchedness. The venders of spirituous liquors are truly sowing the seeds of evil among mankind, which injures the whole community in exact proportion to the advantage of the individual venders. What, therefore, is the verdict of benevolence and philanthropy in this case? It must be this, let the pernicious traffic of spirituous liquors be abol ished by the overpowering influence of the temperance society; and let the distillers and venders of said liquors join in the general reformation, and pursue some other calling for a livelihood, instead of one which tends to the subversion of all good, and the introduction of wretchedness and misery among their fellow men.

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WHERE DOES THE BLAME LIE ?

III. One more popular objection to the temperance cause is, that many who profess to adhere to the rules of the temperance society do not abide by their own engage. ments. We are very sorry to be obliged to confess that this is too true. It is much to be feared and lamented, that some of the members of temperance societies are not faithful to fulfill their pledged engagements. But, does this prove any thing against the institution? Certainly not. The very objection is based on the virtual admission that the institution is good; but, that some of the members are disorderly! If the institution itself were pernicious, no reasonable person could wish to see its rules observed. But, when it is admitted to be good, tending generally and ultimately to the best interest, welfare, and happiness of mankind, what a frivolous pretext is this, to bring objections against an admitted good institution, because some of its members walk disorderly! The absurdities of such an objection are too glaring not to be discerned by the most superficial observer. Similar objections might be made on the same principle to the church of God, and to all divine institutions; for many who profess to be their votaries, are a disgrace to the cause which they profess.

On a review of all that has been said, I would exhort the advocates of temperance to be faithful to the cause they have espoused. A total subversion of the empire of intemperance is the object we have in view, and arms are never to be laid down, nor even an armistice consented to, till the work is done. Under the wave of the victorious banner of temperance, our martial band, throughout this

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