Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-07-29

much more from foreign countries
Great God of Symzona! said |, these people
must be far advanced the broad road to destruc.
tion. But, friend, perhaps have misjudged their
for further than the waste ofyour bread stulfs and
the brutal appearance ofits devote.s, you have not
informed me OF the good evil it may do n society.
Nevertheless, from its effects some of your citi-
zens, i turn from it with horror.
Why, sir, to inform you Of all the evils which it
daily produces in society, would wear out your aud
and nv own patience; but be assured that it de-
s,roys more human beings, than the sword pesti-
ence and famine un,ted. There i. scarcely sln-
Gle disease TO which our race j. liable, but may b.
produced, or rendered ncuraOle, by the intempe-
rate use OF spirituous liquors. Ii brings prema
ture old age; it t,.ehtates the body anil PROSTATE
the powers Of the mind it en!arges the liver and
reduces an iucurable disense in that important
organ. IT. in fact according to the poets The fire
stolen from heaven o animate body of clay and the
pain ofthc enlarged liver which it produces, is tn
vulture which is eternally gnawing it, as punish
,npnj Or the theft.
Bcs dies teing the parent of train of innumerabe
diseases, IT embodens It's votaries to the commission
of every species OF crime under heaven.
All, friend traveller, how often have seen the
most perfect state OF domes felicity, and the homr
Of family which seemed Il terrestrial paradise, co"
verted into pandamonium aud place of con'.nu
broils hy the use Of his accursed beverage-nay.
t, hat inrC OIL Ey
tan entering into the garden of Eden, during 'r
innocence of our first parents-Ah, how often has
the fond wife o mented the hour that joined her
destiny to an incorporate husband {; ani how Oft"
when they have seen a beloved promis,ng son q.
whom they had placed their future hopes, ruined IS
intoxicating droughts from the seducng cup.
However capaciousa mans talents, and however
numerous his friends, all avail moth os when he in.
dulges in the frequent Of spirituous liquors.
DISGRACE and ruin are sure To overwhelm him; and
often though | am ashamed To acknowledge it.,
plunges him into crimes Of the deeper dye, 10 less
than to raise his hand against his own species and
become murderer.
Friend. said |, what horrid picture you have
drawn of the effects of strong drink and the devrav
ty of your own citizens. In my opinion, it Is high
time for the strong Of the civil authority TO in
terfere to save your nation from speedy destruction,
and tell me, friend, has i, not already excited alarm
in the minds or your worthy magistrates
Alarm no, said he, the General Government
dare not prohibit the distlation OF 4ran, for fear
Of gin insurreoton and States have not the power.
or if they have they are far from being willing to
exercise it, and therefore leave the good people to
conduct as they please in this particular. Nay,
they give to every town the liberty of regulating
the sale of liquors-the consequence Of which is,
licences are granted to sell drains in all the grocery
shops throughout our towns. OF course, persons
disposed to drunkenness, can procure the means
with very little trouble.
Friend, | replied, you surprise me more and more
but perhaps you can inform me why Il wise gov
crnment like your own, does permit its subjects TO
indulge in the abuse of intoxicating liquors, which
are so very prejudical to their health-so demora-
lizng and so obnoxious 10 the well being Of society.
Revenue, revenue, salu ne, Is tne Sranu oUJect-
and it has been conteuded that the dstlllation Of
the different kinds of grain encourages the planter
in the raising of it, to such degree that there is as
great quantity for the purposes Of Bread offered in
the market, as though none were distilled. This
may be so-but still, ia my opinion, government
would do we'll to tax this article ten times much
as they heretofore have done, and thus proportion
ally lessen the duties on the necessaries Of fe and
also prohibit the sale Of strong liquors by the small
quantities, at all places except public inns. The
enhanced price, and the difficulty Of obtaining it,
would very much lessen the consumption Of it.
But we fear that long time will elapse before any
salutary laws will be enacted to restrain people
from indulging in the perpicious habit of ntemper-
ance for in a free elective government like our
own, few individuals of such unhendIng vrtuous
principles. can be found, who will use their power
and inauance to put down vicious practices, at the
risk Of losing their popularity.
We lament that the good old time, when spirits
were used only as cordial, have passed away, and
that an age ofdrupkenness so likely to succeed it.
How melancholy it is, to many Of the rising gen.
Grafton reeling out their wretched lives, in state
of stupidity, and Fastening TO their last account,
with as much uncoucern MS the senseless idiot.
You formerly thought the habit Of using tobacco
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