Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1815-02-20
MONITORIAL.


GI ln.Oxlcaliol and diunkcnntsS Many OIL
the most operative have been ably iavtsti
gased and Tic danger from them clearly
pointed oft. But am confident, That too
little attention has been cal.ea 10 a custom
universally prevalent, and wi,ici. cx'ept.a 10
greater number Of individuals, Than any
other can now tecolleet. The custom to
which aIlude, Is thai of distributing spirit
Gus Eguots amongs. The soldiers on days Of
lr,iew and training the militia. Another
reason for selecting ibis particular custom
is,that many sober s reil-c'ing people think
il mex, TO impossible to put stop 10 il, or
so to modify ii, that il shall DOT be a,ten.
did with such dele,esious i f. cis ] believe
however, nothing is wsnlins but the exer-
tions Of military oilicers he Character OF
this class OF ci,zcns iusti6es aGens belief,
that sight oithe evil will secuse vigorous
and pclsryering siIosls on their pal;.
gfis unnecessary To mention the fmnrdi-
afc effects OF the practice above referred 70
Those who have heard the bcisterous clam
ors, the inaeceni and p diane language,
with ghica ths streets are hll.d or have
known any thing oil the anisnoslties ire
qaentiy excited, or The wickedness often
committed on The evening oil review, will
need no enumeration Oh description OF mint
TO assist their memories, or 10 eniiytn their
conceptions. But tie dagger, 10 which
would here particularly invite attenJ9n, a
rises from the facility, with which young
men, Just entered the ranks, may Crafty
too general thirst for ardent spirits. Ard
boys think themselves flee 10 practice the
vices OF manhood from the general license
OF thai day 81 drinking TO excess. Can II
BE- denied with any appearance oftrusb,that
training days, town meetings, aud raisings
have made, in the country IT least, niore
young tippiers, than any. Other three causes,
that can be menlioned--perhSps than all
other causes put together Ptimit me
then with diff Ience TO suggest some means
ofsrresling the progress OF this eyIl--an
evil, that affects society IN the most sensl-
bic part Lee me take tie liberty OF ad-
dressing myself directly TO those, who hold
commissions in the militia.
Youmusl have often lamented the neces-
si.ys under which you are supposed 10 IA
boz of contributing 10 perpetuasc an evil oil
g,ea, magnitude. Ytu will not charge q
stranger 10 you with ofiicioasness for med
ding with asublect, no less inses, sting To-
him and to all, than 10 yourselves. have
as tiulc inclination as power to dictate 10
YOU your dnsy. Ny object is rather to as
sure you, that you will lot stand alone IN
the work OF reformation that some at least,
and trust al the wise and yirtIous a.e
~I.~ - <,v,I .,,v -, Z. e,,y... vr,, nav .
dc7s 10 arrest the progress OF dsunkepness,
TO restore the father 10 his family, and TO
wipe away the tears, that now 50 often fall
In secret for the shame and ruin oi a piodi-
gal son. Are jou a father and have you
experienced fathers hopes, and fathe S
fears Should souc son--bua will not
wound your heart withsthe supposiaon lie
is vet innocent o, may he nc So forever
That the militia expect 70 be treated with
ardent spirits, when called into the held OF
exercise and review, is thought by some a
sufficient reason for continuing TO supply
them with The usual quantity. We hear il
often said, al svo1isd NOT do 10 So,fAioid SIR
IT, Why il would not do, ! have ye, TO
learn. What objection to something like
the following Let the officer, who fears
the inpula,ion OF parsimony, employ the
usual expense Tor rum in providing Other
refreshments for the soldiers, IN procuring
equipments lqr the poor amongst them, in.
preparing accommodations for his men,
when weary with the ia.igues Of the day
in hundred ways rather than The old one,
The benefits of such an alteration would
soon be observed and felt by the soldiers
themselves; and they would return to their
families at night in peace, while even the
most abandoned would secretly bless you
for the reformation / am by no means so
saaguine or so infatuated, as to suppose,
that this g,cst work can be completed at
single blow. Il requires tine and labor
And what does no! The question is, can
Il be effected by the ordinar, means and ex
ertons, that are necessaryto the accom-
plishm=nt Of any important undertaking
c. .ainly--ee,tainsy, as men are men. his
my be called hasty But say again, GER
fanny Nor shall this point beAgiven up un-
I'll facts drive me from it Let US suppose
military commander, impressed with the
impor,snee Of the subject, 10 come before
his men, and thus address them.
Friends and Fellow Soldiers, you doubt
less expect az this time TO be furnished BY
me with ardent spirits. The custom, am
sensible, has almost 6 own TITO a law. But
are there not powerful motives for It's dis