Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-02
Iron the Me,u- York Enquirer.
INTEMPERANCE.


Facts, or things pretending to be facts, are
the basis of all reasoning. Ii delights US, there
fore, (as we have kind Of Platonic attachment
for reasoning) to stumble on body of moral,
religious, or political statistics. There is a So
ciety in Boston which now and then issues
tabular view of the actual condition OF Drunk
enness in these United States One of these
Reports has fallen in our way, and the following
passage from it may amuse our readers
"rhe arden, spirits drank in the United States
cost, $40, 100000 annually, and the pauperism
occasioned thereby upwards Of IL 900 600 more.
Out Of 1860 criminal prosecutions in the city
of New-YOrk in 1920, more than 800 we're con-
nected with intemperance. In 1895 $50 per-
sons sent TO the Almshouse in Baltimore, 554
were the victims Of incorporate practices IN
drink. More than 10000 persons annually die
in the United States Of diseases produced by
intem perance. One third of the deaths which
happened in New-Hayen, Conn. in 1926, were
Traced to intemperance. Taking this as the ba-
sis Of the calculation, 1880 persons die annu-
ally in the United States from the effect of in
temperance. In London, one in eight deaths
is attributed 10 this cause, but the above esti-
mate would make one in three over 90 years OF
age in the y. States. Ii is ascertained there
are 100000 drunkards in the y States, and
these carry misery and affection into at least
100000 families"
All this may be true, or ii may not be. But
il il be an inaccurate estimate, il Is only because
the numbers arc too low. There are more than
one hundred thousand drunkards in the Uniled
States. We do not mean by The term those
only who are in constant stale characterization;
we also comprehend those who are protessed
tilppiers, beginning with their morning bitters
and going through the regular catalogue oil po-
iy0nymous drains till bed lime. This is stlg-
MA upon the national character. We have heard
it Reproduced from the pulpit and the bench un-
Ill our senses ached and our s,omachs nauseater.
Not long since the Recorder, in very impress
| sive charge, dwelt upon the ncholy subject
at much length, and confessed with humilia
ton, that it was pernicious and dlsSraceful
habit, which had deeply compromised our cha
racter abroad Within the present week, in
village not many miles from this city, at noon
day, we saw two individuals staggering through
| the middle Of the street most hlthily drunk
| Upon enquiry, we learned that one was about
the wealthiest person in the place, worth CON-
| siderably above 100000, and that the other
was the Postmaster! Can any thing be more
shameful? There are laws to punish an ha-
bitual drunkard, and those laws ought to be EN-
forced When man Cat least man OF decent
| station in society pleads in an English polioe
office lnloxIcatio as an excuse Tor any offence,
Ihe magistrate always begins by saying
"F,rst, shall fine you five shillings for being
drunk, and now" sc sc Why 20, authorize
cons,a5les to take up every drunken man no
matter what may be his fortune or rank they
enc ounter in the streets, and send them TO tht
| Wac Vhouse? Ifpersons WHOSE education and
standing lay thea, under greater social respon-
sibines, ,cW persist in their fondiess for drink,
ieI them, at least, drink III pri,alr and IN gen
tlemanly way, and on gentlenianly beverage
Blu: TO make pot. house Of their bowels, and
swill bitters, juleps, gin sings, cocktails, and
thousand other vulgar beverages, from morn
ill night, in bar rooms and gin shops, argues
as great a deficiency of physical taste a. II does
Of common decency. However, the vice, IN
some degree, carries the punishment, along with
il, and after few years indulgence. he often
der will have an opportunity to repent, amidst
the ruin Of his health, character and fortune
If the new religious paper, instead OF warning
against theatres and lottery Offices, will JUST
wage battle with New England rum, Yves, In
cia brandy, Holland gin, and Scotch whiskey,
it will presen, farer claims to public patronage
than by whole library Of dissertations against
the tragedies of Shakespeare, and the doctrine
OF Chances.