Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-10

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dram shops, IN drinking with their jovia
companions to the destruction of theil
morals, neglect Of their business and
grief of their families. Every distiller
contributes his proportion to this mass of
evil. Shall we ask the conscientious dis
tiller, how he can reconcile it to his
feelings, to be a party in contributing his
portion thereof And let us also ask
him whether the converting the precious
fruits of the earth, into an article SO de-.
|structive to the lives, as we'll as the NOR
ais of the inhabitants and thereby so
raising the price of the necessaries oflife,
as to make it difficult for the poor. and
particularly the widow, with her father
less children, to procure bread (; COMFORTS
with the christian character, OF "feed-
ing the hungry. and clothing the naked,''
and in short of doing good to all! Dis
Iulling grain and other valuable produc-
tions of the earth, has indeed become a
general practice; but be it remembered
that general practice can never make
wrong light, in this, any more than com
mon habit takes away the criminality Of
drunkenness.
Are not those well meaning persons
who have, perhaps without much refec-
|tion, entered upon the distilling business,
loudly called upon to sacrifice gain to the
public good, seeing il so evidently unius-
tifable under any circumstance to change
the fruits of our land, into an article so
banetul in its effects to his fellow cit-
zens /? Has he a right to expect, that pro-
iperty thus obtained can prove blessing
Ito his descendants.
1t is a>certained, that enc of Che lar
ger distilleries. will consume in one
month, as much grain, as would furnish
bread for several hundred persons whole
year. And, that an Incorporate man
can drink in gin or whiskey, the spirit Of
a quantity of grain, which would sup
ply himself, wife and children, with
bread And even that valuable and whole.
some vegetable the potatoe, does not es.
cape the destruction Of the still.
Have We not grounds 10 fear that an
Almighty experimenting providence.
will withhold the increase of our fields
| and visit u, with famine if we continue
thus to abuse the blessings and bounty OF
Ibis hand Can the farmer ask a blessing
on his labour, when the fruits OF his fields
INTENDED for the support OF life, are con.
|verted into an article of death, and de-
1strover of moralss Without morals all
Ipretentions to religion are but mere de-
Huston
! These ravages on life, health, morals,
property, domestic happiness. aod the pre-
Icious fruits of the earth, we have seen
with astonishment, and despaired Of a re-
|medy Citizen after citizen has be-
Icome infected ard sunk into an untime-
lily grave, the miserable rictim of inlem-
perance Men Of standing and
usefulness are turned into contemplate
drones: families driven from aifluence to
Indulgence and wo: and it continues tc
prevail TO an alarming degree. and very
little is done. Indeed. drinking both
temrerately and intemperateiy. has IN
creased, till liquor is every where.
Most families that claim respect, must
We supplied with ardent spirits: and
Low often in the cottage of poverty,
| here the children are crying for bread.
lis the Jug of uhiskey to be found!
Vain and visionary are all those theo-
l,ies, which promise men liberty or hap
1piness, while the first principles Of moral
l,ty cease to BE regarded. Moral cor
Eruption has destroyed republics of an.
Icient and modern times: till there are
lew, if any left but our owns
Here hint to tarea,, keepers and re-
|tai7ers Of ardent spirits, comes in apply.
do those of you who, for the sake OF gain,
| so stife your consciences as to furnish
Ihe drunkard with the means OF drunken
ness, think you are clear OF the dreadful
consequences of it? or that you stand
iacquitted before him, who has pronoun-
ICED. 8. Wo to him that giveth his neigh
hour drink: that putteth the bottle to
him and makes him drunken ?"
Let men who wish well to their coun-
TRY unite in petitions to government, to
Impose still heavier duties on imported
,pirIts. and our own distilleries, and to re-
suate taverns and retailers of spirits,
and to secure the property of habitual
|,lrunkards, tor the benefit of their tami-
lies by laws similar to those in Cennec-
|ticut.
And, beloved young men, spurn at the
|opinion some have adopted and been
|rained by, that liberal drinking denotes
Ia liberal mind, and is trait Of gen
I.leman. Absurd and delusive idea !!
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