The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-12-08


10 relieve bis necessities by those means
which have brought him to his fate.
The burgiar,--tte incendiary, ,--the man
slayer viii at ooce cxclaini, had not rea-
son been lost in ,hc madness of intoxica-
ton they might have enjoyed the com
mon blessings Of life with their fellow
men, unencanbeted with the shackles of
punishment-unpouuted with crime.
{ Why should We affect surprise then,
that every day brings with it a new cata.
ilogue OF offences, and every court should
send here an Increased throng of culprits.
Look at-the numerous poisoned foun-
tains whence issue streams to contamin-
ate the community, and cease to wonder
that SO many have fallen victims to their
balcful influence.
At a fair computation there are in the
small state of New Hampshire two thou
sand shops, taverns and places where ar
dent spirits are retailed to the citizens.
They crowd not only our towns and vii.
lagos, but in our remotcst settlements
they rise up to mar the rural scenery and
blast the humble labors of honest indus.
try. While, like the Egyptian plaques,
no dwelling is secure from the intrusion
Of this evil, more fatal than these, il ever
finds some apology to he made welcome
there. The aged must partake Of j as
stimulant necessary to their constitution,
--the young, as agreeable to the gaiety
Of their time of lilf ;--the cpicurc, as es-
scntial TO the enjoyment Of his feast -
the hungry, rs substitute for food -
the laborious, to alleviate the fatigucs of
toll ;--,he dnoccupicd, to prevent the
lsssitude of indolencc. winter it
must be used for the cold---and in sum.
fner for the heat---and with a thousand
such absurd pretences this poison is urg.
Cd upon its victims.
Let us for moment contemplate its
effects, compared with those evils over
which humanity. is so often called to
weep. The United States contain pop
ulatiof OF seven millions, Of which posi-.
bly, ten persons may annually perish by
the savage practice of dueliing "A sin.
gle instance goes through the most oh.
scure Gazette ofthc union. Every pull
pit resounds with denmciatiois Of the
crime, and our state and national assem-
bhes pause in their career Of Legislation
to give uttcrance to their adherence OF
the custom. Would it he cxtravagant
to say, that each Of the dram shops in
this state has at least ten persous in trim
Ing for destruction?---can itbc doubted
that every shop has one victirn'S But
as the real fact would indeed be too a.
farming, let US suppose, that by every
ten shops there is but oue individual an
nually added to the hecatomos sacrificed
to intcmpcrauce, and this state contain
iug little more than two hundred thou
sand inhabitants viii unconccrnedly have
Witnessed two hundred of their number
every year perish by drunkenness
The attention of the world is called to
Nitptt5 the horrors Of Asiatick super
stition. The distressing scene of fhc
Hindoo female throwing herself upon the
funeral pile of her husband is described
with ali its affective cncnmstances--and'
who SO unleeling that has not tears for
the affecting tale? Yet can we be mov-
cdby none but miseries beyond the At
lanticks Hindoostan contains popula.
tion of more than one hundred millions.
-~-Admit that two thousand of the mum.
Der each year fall victims to their super
stition---it is only one half the proper.
ton ofshe more horrible sacrifice to in
tempst nee in the State of New Hamp-
shire. Is the effect of their custom,
which Is so much smaller in amount,
made equal BY the greater aggravation
81 its circumstancesS Far otherwise.
The disconsolatc widow there makes
herself an offering to what she believes
|the dictates Of conjugal affection Kre