Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-03-01

| VI COUfcrbdllUu Is u0t Only uuTuts our
j, has tendency 10 make The young end
unthinkIng believe that drunkenness is
but little evil; and thus they are led
on TO the bafeiul practice.
Tipping shops are another fruitful
source OF drunkenness, anG ought TO be
discountenanced by every lover of his
country. There are always many of
those who are silly enough to spend their
time and their money in tipping shops,
and thus make and keep themselves
poor and degraded, when if there were
TO retailers OF half.pints they would pro-
badly be at home, attending TO their do
mestic concerns, and save their time and
their money, and SO become happy and
useful. Retailers of ardent spirits are
IN practice enemies to the happiness of
their fellow men; they are adding to
their own wealth, but they are dimi-
| nishing the wealth OF hundreds OF thou
sands. They rob the poor wife and chill
dren OF the necessaries OF life, and take
that from their ncighbor, for which they
do not give an equivalent. They are the
occasion OF most of the disorderly con-
duct which occurs: they encourage idle
ness, and many things ruinous in their
consequences. What is more loathsome
and disgusting 10 thinking and upright
mind, Than to see mad who processes
TO be very moral and benevolent, stand
ing behind a counter, measuring out half
puts to a company of drunkards, thus
assisting them to comp..te their ruin,
for the sake Of filthy lucre?
Is it possible that a man possessing
one spark of benevolence, can engage
in disnlling or vending ardent spirits for
the use OF drunkard Does love to our
neighbor consist with our assisting him
to destroy himself, or doing any thing 10
aid him In the work of self-destruc rions
here is, no doubt, at this time more ar
I dent spirits in the United States, than
would supply the real wants Of the inha~
oltants tor twenty years: there can there
fore be no proper plea offered for the
practice rothlng but an iumoderate
love Of money could induce an to be-
lieve that duty called him to pursue such
a course. But tiIpling shops do noe
commonly al first form men to habits of
drunkenness; our young men become
drunkards in the houses and fields OF
their parents and their nelg hbors. l! is
by the side board, in the guest chamber
at the marriage feast; the log rolling,
the houseralsing, and the harvest field:
these are the places, and these the occa-
sions, on which our youth are taught TO
believe that ardent spirits are almost the
best hing in the world. Here they adopt
the absurd opinion, that they are neces-
sary on all occasions; here they form an
appetite for strong drink here they learn
to cali for the boItle as often as they are
thirsty; here they learn to boast of their
ability TO drink their pint or quart in
day; here they shake off the shame of
beng little Intoxicated; and thus they
are prepared to resort TO the tavern or
dram shop, not to be made drunk ards,
but to receive confirm alton, and SO COM
plete their own ruin"
There is no life pleasing to God, but
that which is useful to man; and as the
object oil this society is usefulness, it is
both our duty and our privilege, to coun-
sci and assist each other, on the subject
before US, viz. the prevention of intern
perance. If we would be useful in re-
forming others, we must reform our
selves; If we get drunk, or if our con-
duct be calculated to countenanCe il, in
any wise, our usefulness is at an end
The r-ost glorious victory which we can
achieve, is the mastery OF ourselves. All
men ought to beiree, and fee lhemseiv
SO; men must be brought 10 do right by
convincing them what is heir duty Our
country isOew; the people are generally
sober, and it will be vastly easier TO pre-
vent intemperance now, than to cure il
alter 1t has taken deep root.
The cause you have espoused is manly,
patriotic and benevolent. 1t is glorious
work, worthy the phianthropist, and
worthy the Christian. VIVA, can be more
noble and praiseworlhy, than endeavor-
ing to promote the real good of our fel-
low men. He who converts sinner
from the error of his ways, shall save
soul from death, and shall hide multi.
tude of sins"
May God for Christ's sake bless YOU,
and enable each of us to discharge the
duties we owe to ourselves, our neigh
Dor, and our God
JOHN GILMORE. Prest.
1 SAMUEL G MORSE.
| RANSOM GEAR.
| ASAHEL ENLOE.