TEMPERANCE.
Being satisfied from observation and experience, as well as from medical testimony, that ardent spirits, as a drink, is not only needless but hurtful; and that the entire disuse of it would tend to promote the health, the virtue, and the happiness of the community: We hereby express our conviction, that should the citizens of the United States, and especially all young men, discountenance the use of it, they would not only promote their own personal benefit, but the good of our country and the world.
President Jefferson said, "The habit of using Ardent Spirits by men in public office, has produced more injury to the public service and more trouble for me, than any other circumstance."
Ardent spirits has made at least two hundred thousand miserable paupers in the United States, many of whom once enjoyed a competence, if not wealth.
It has annually destroyed thousands of our fellow-citizens, consigning them to a drunkard's grave, and seriously multiplying widows and orphans.
It has filled the jails, prisons, and penitentiaries of the United States with criminals, who have sacrificed character, society, and friends, for strong drink.
It has involved a waste of properly to the amount of many millions of dollars.
It has burdened the country with a tax of millions of dollars for the support of its paupers.
It has palsied the industry, corrupted the morals, and degraded the character of Americans; proving itself more injurious to our country than war, or famine, or pestilence.
And what good thing has it done, or will it do, to counterbalance these deplorable and alarming effects? Not One. There is not a single redeeming quality. It neither prevents nor cures disease. It does not aid labour, nor promote domestic happiness. It adds nothing to national wealth or prosperity.
Public attention has been awakened–an experiment of a proposed remedy for intemperance has been successfully made, proving by actual demonstration, that the power to terminate the evils of intemperance rests with the people. More than one million and a half of persons have signed the pledge of total abstinence, and as many more are practising upon the principle without signing. Thousands of merchants, grocers, and inn keepers, have discontinued the sale of ardent spirits; many distilleries have put out their fires; and everywhere the spirit of freedom from a degrading vice has been aroused. Light and love have awakened every effort, and they will accomplish the object. This object is distinctly announced to be the total disuse of intoxicating drink in the United States and throughout the world.
Parents, enlist your children on the aide of total abstinence. It can do them no injury, and may save many of them from ruin. Let them adopt the sentiment of the following lines.
THE PLEDGE.
The pledge we sign, to drink no wine,
Nor brandy red, to turn our head,
Nor whiskey hot, that makes the sot,
Nor fiery rum, to turn our home
Into a hell whore none could dwell:
Yes–here we pledge perpetual hate
To all that can intoxicate.
