Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-06-02
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
ON DRUNKENNESS.-N

Drunkenness Is either actual or habi-
tual; as it is one thing to be drunk, and
another to be "a drunkard. WHAT we
shall observe upon the subject, must
principally be understood OF habit of
in,emperance although part of the gull
and danger described may be applicable
to casual excuses; and all of it, in GER
tain degree: in as much as every habit
is only a repetition Of single instances.
The mischief of drunkenness, from
which we are to compute the guilt Of II,
consists in the following bad effects
which will be sufficient for several short
essays.
lst. 1t betrays most constitutions Ell
Their into extrayagancies oil anger, or sins
of lewdness--
Then mark We well, and keep in mind,
The God OF nature has designed,
In wisdom deep has laid the plan
To keep just balance in the man.
Blu, many plans have been laid by men
TO obtain the end, (happincss,) withou,
the means appointed, or contrary to the
appointed means, that is, by their own
schemes.
Experience shows that the intempe-
rate use of ardent spirits, is we'll calcu-
lated to throw nature of her balance
either by oenumblng the Judgment, (the
governing principle,) apd firing the
passions, or by giving to the imagination
unusual strength and qnickness, and
readiness to resent injuries, supposed, or
real.
When passion prevails and the judy
ment is subverted, all the springs Of car
nal passion are filled, LUST awakes, and
the consequences are so bad that dclica.
cy forbids me to draw them in plain CO.
lors. But suffer your Imagination to
pursue the libldipous debauchee in his
course. He boasts OF his conquests over
female virtue, and, perhaps, flushed with
his devillsh victory, offers to bind him
self under the penalty Of wager, or
even heavy curses, that he can conquer
again. lntlamed with liquid FIRE, con-
science becomes scared, he prowls abroad
for prey--,he unwary, aud simple are ia
ken, and his beas'ly appetites are salts
fed at the expense OF ruin TO his deluded
victim.
What is more like the animal tina,
wallows in the mud, than the man whose
beastly dispositions are thus made mani
fest through the destruction Of his pru
dsnce and judgment, by the Intoxicating
cup!
Blu. suppose the poison should ope-
rate the other way, the consequences are
scarcely less dreadful. The picture is
yet shocking to every feeling of virtue
and decency. How common is it 10 see
men, while partially Intoxicated, like the
copper.head or adder, biting al! that
come in their way; forgetting that they
are but poor crawling reptiles, resent
real or supposed injuries of the most
trivial nature, as if they were to be bow
ed down to as men once bowed before
another calf. As soon would fall in
with bear robbed oil her cubs as such an
enraged man. Visit the Court-houses,
and hear the pleas Of defendants there,
and intoxication is offered as an allevia-
ton Of the offended conscience, and pal
lia;on Of the offence, although the law
sternly denies the absurd excuse. The
fact is so we'll known that ardent spirits
will cause mon to throw off the restraints
Of conscience, that they are frequently
taken TO screw the courage to the stick
ing place." for the purposes of diaboIi-
cal revenge.
Void Of consideration, the sub]sct OF
incompetence, while on FIRE, will as soon
take the pointed steel and sheath i, in the
body Of one endeavoriug to do him good,
a. the greatest foe.