Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-02-27
MONITORIAL.



the ruinous practice Of distributing arden
spirits among the soldiers on aiming days
much more have we reason TO expect hi
cxertion from the soldiers themselves
They are more deeply interested IN th'
event. On them the whole weight OF ih'
private calamity falls. AndiS uIlima,ei,
rests with them 10 say, whether The prac
ticc shall cease forever, or whether it shall
remain principal source Of all the evils
that follow in the train of intempefat'
drinking. Ineed, therefore, make no sp-
ology for addressing one short Essay e
them and the subject viii secure atlcn-
ton, if the execution should fail oil appro
baton.
Before. however, proceed any farther
i,may be necessary to o5viale one ob]sc
ton. Perhaps il will be said, that rum i
necessary to recruit the exhausted splits
and TO inyigorale the system after the IA.
tigue and Precipitation OF a day OF military
exercise and review. After what has been
already suggested on this subject, should
not acsin introduce ii here, We're Il not Tor
the firm hold ais opinion has taken OF the
publick mind Although every well IN.
formed person knows, that the opinion Is
not well founded yet thousands have been
led away by it TO their destruction. Ii is a
curious fact in the history of Drunkenness,
that rum has been thought salutary in
heat. and in cold, useful as medicine in
sickness and a cordial in heal,h,a PROPER
companion at feast and at a funeral, cal
cuIated 10 blunt sensibility and to heighten
our pleasures, equally necessary in the
midst Of the Joy at the meeting OF friends
and in the pans OF separation, an improser
Of the memory, OF wit, OF the Imagination,
and of the reasoning powers. Proteus is
fairly ouipro,cused; and rum has more
than one claim 20 the name OF Legion.
AS to the opinion above stated, il viii be
recolleoted, that in former number il was
asserted to be wholly eroundless. Had
/ rested this assertion on my own knowl-.
edge or experience, il might have been
Justly considered hasty ard plesumpsuous.
But the uniform testimony OF all the res
pectab!e Physicians, with whom have ever
conversed on the subject, and some prom
ineht facts, within the reach OF every per-
sons observation, placed the question be
yond thereach of doubt Every one, aceus
toned to drink ardent spirits, when expos
ed to fatigue, may make the experiment
upon himself. The writer has made il in
a few limited instances ; and the result
every time confirmed what Physicians hsd
told him. Very extraordinary cIrcums,an
ces snay be conceived, and do sometimes
happen, hen il is necessary 10 drink ar
den, spirit when it is given TO him "who
is ready 10 perisl." With these few ex-
cepiions there is every reason to believe,
that ardent spirits are OF no utidfy 10 the
animal system should have said nothing
On this subject, had ! supposed all my
readers acquainted with an" Enquiry INFO
The Effects ef ardent sfnrifs" by DR.. Rush oil
Philadelphia he says, " Nor do ardent
spi.iis lessen the effects of hard labor upon
The body "--" here Is no nourishment III
ardent spri,s-"-" Experience proves, that
they increase the effects OF heai upon the
body" But cannot enlarge. Procure
this excellent Tract, if you have not read
it. 1t costs but penny, and may be reed
in an hour.
Permit me now to address few detached
sentences to that large and respectable class
OF citizens, composing The body OF the mi-
liria --Al,ho' small proportion OF you ever
drink 10 excess yet let me ask you, does
il not facilitate and encourage excessive
Are you not sensible, thar drunk
snness is grea, evil ! You cannot look
round you, and deny lis banelul effects.
Why are ardent spirits so much used
Why are they given--rather why are they
accepted by the militia on the occasions
have mentioned Some rational answer
ought 10 be made to this enquiry. Can
you give any! Suffer me to briog the sub
ice, home to you. Il cannot be examined
too closely. Let reason and conscience
speak. Why do you take spirituous Ii
quors at these times Are you benefited
by them! No. Are others No. Are
they injurious to you Yes, remotely, il
not immediately. Are the example and
cncour agemenl injurious to others! Yes,
Is there any thing compulsory in The case
Ne. Any fatal necessity ! No. VIVA.
then is the inevitable conclusion | need
not draw il for you; your own judgement
has anticipated me. The practice CANNOT.
stand moment the test OF examination.
But you will, perhaps ask, what must
be done. Can there be any doubt ! FELL
YOU ciIiters you wish the p:ac,ice stopped,
and every thing is done Do hear some
one say, should be glad 10 adopt thu
measure but am an individual. And
,nha aHe all lhr rest of xniir comma aeu-