The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-07-23
COMMU NICATION.
FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE.

MIR SHIRLEY,
When vice prevails to such degree as it does al
the present ume IN this town, every individual who
has the least interest for its welfare and considers that
It's future interest both moral and temporal depends
much on the present character OF the rising generation
ought TO use all the influence he may possess in check
ing It's alarming progress. When the fathers of the
town aud those who now superinfend its affairs are
LAID in their graves unless the current takes differ
ent turn, shall have individuals TO conduct cur a
fairs, much noted for irrelision impety and profit
gacy, as we have formerly BEEN for uprighiness
That our young men indulge themselves in very many
vicious practices, evident to admit Of doubt
Did not conceive II duty which owe my God and
my fellow creatures, would not attempt to urge upon
my fellow citizens subject painful but while duty
impeIs and the necessity Of the demands it, can
not keep silent. hope that some of the young may
be reclaimed, who may ths-who are far INNER
sed IN the vices Of the times whose bacchanaiian rev
els and nightly debaucheries are undermining their
constitutions and rendering them unfit for those servi
ces which they night at future period bestow up
on their county and their town. also prompt to this
undertaking.
Every revolving day brings our view the dissipa-
ton OF cur young That hour which calls for refresh
ment the aboring part of our citizens witnesses the
youth resorting TO their places OF dissipation to par
take of that lebriating draught which SO nsensbly
preys upon the constitution and renders them once
objects of pity and disgust. Ii is rare in these times
that we can find young man whose countenance
does not strongly testify that he is too fond OF the in
toxicating cup.
The example Of one vicious youth is like conea
grafton, spreads from individual 10 another and
deles the power of man TO stay its progress When
once we give way temptation it makes il easier for
the next succeeding one to gain acendency over our
minds, aud thus temptation succeeding temptation. we
plunge deeper and deeper in vice till humanity sneal
ing there is not the least hope Of recovery
Those places of i'll fame which are GROWING so nh.
merous and fashionable frequently resorted to and
which are so destructive the morals of our Young
ought 10 excite III the breast of every wel-sser to
society, complete disgust If they are as some saw
a necessary evil they ought not TO remain in their
present situation Surrounded some of them are
by SO many children, they communicate their banelul
poison to their tender minds and such is their readi.
ness 70 learn that our ears panied with the mpre-
cations which daily proceed from the lips Of children
vino are even ignorant of their horrid import Yes
we hear the name of y I'd and Christ proianed by
some, who never heard of this being in any other
way their minds filed with every thing that is
bad, and with shame be il spoken that bows of fifteen
OF sixteen years OF age are seen visiting those places
10 JOIN hand In dance with those whose society is
poison and whose principles destruction.
wish could stop here.-Another evil equally as
fatal which sets at defiance the laws of God as man.
prevails 70 an alarming degree. That day. consecra-
ted oy God and set apart for his peculiar worship Is
by some wholly disregarded, and employed IS day OF
recreation. 1t - fact that this dty some Of tie se
bold offenders these daring youth have procured car
rases and ehalse to convey them to neghborng
tavern where they employ themselves in fostyity,
and IN the company, TOO, of those fallen, degraded
females, driven from society by their own mprudence
whose company would never be sSught even by
their visitors unless coaked under the darkness Of the
night, or smut IN from the view of bv the close
ness OF the carriage in which they ride On the Sab
bath 100, may be found many of young men at our
places OF entertainment, who by degrees throwing
OF all parental restraint and by this SIN and disre-
gard OF the sabbath, are paving the way for more
open vices and rendering themselves subjects of shame
and remorse.By all that il dear and sacred ia socie-
W let those vino feel for its interest, and who
slder that SIN IS reproach TO any people, and that
righteousness eXateth nation. unite all their power
and concentrate their combined influence 10 suppress
these prevailing these growing evils Where are the
laws which prohibit such daring vices and where are
the individuals 10 protect those laws Shall these
evils exist, and no inquire into therf Shall the
Christian, the mnrallst, the welwsher society," be
daunted by the croutery of boys and remain inactive
when such scenes witnessed every day and almost
every sabbath : VERITAS.