There is one thing, however, to be said in favour of the gentleman—­ namely, his education, which fits him for offices and professions which must remain for ever out of the reach of the half-ignorant.  It is, therefore, only in agricultural pursuits, and mechanical operations, that the working man is able to obtain a superiority; and then only if he be sober and industrious, for whiskey has been the great bane of the colony.  Hundreds of our cleverest mechanics, and many of gentler blood, have fallen victims to its influence.

It is said that temperance societies have done a great deal towards checking this evil, and that the new society, the “Sons of Temperance,” will complete what the others began.  I am quite willing to admit it as a fact, because I believe that the practice of temperance has gained ground, both in Canada and the United States.  But I am unwilling to allow that the means taken to effect that much-desired object are the best that might be adopted.  Indeed, I think, in some instances, the endeavour to prohibit the use of fermented drink altogether, has been carried to unchristian lengths.

I believe that, if the same amount of money had been expended in propagating the gospel, as has been laid out by these total abstinence societies, more real converts to temperance would have been gained, because principle and true religion would have been the bases on which the reformation was founded.

Throughout the whole Bible and Testament, there is not a single command to abstain totally from either wine or strong drink; but there is a positive one respecting the abuse, and dreadful denunciations against the drunkard.  Then in respect to the prohibition, the false prophet has, in the Koran, forbidden his followers to use wine at all.  Now, which do we profess to follow,—­the precepts of Jesus Christ, or those of Mahomet?  But some will say, if your brother offends by his intemperate habits, you should abstain altogether, that you may become a good example to him.  By the same rule, if my brother is a glutton, I should abstain from food also.  Now, I believe with the Apostle, “that all the creatures of God are good,” and lawful for us to use; but we are not to abuse them, “but to be temperate in all things,” thus acting up to the rule of scripture, and setting a better example than if we wholly abstained from fermented drink.  Any other rule, excepting in cases of notorious drunkenness, is, in my opinion, anti-scriptural, and therefore wrong.

The new American society, “The Sons of Temperance,” which now takes the lead of all other temperance or tee-total societies, is a secret and benefit society, having its signs and pass-words.  In the hands of clever leaders and designing men, may not a society of this kind become a great political engine?