Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-09

~
TO that determination we should have religious
ly adhered, had we not noticed that the writer
Of them, grows dull with experience, insolent
with practice, and mad with defeat The
Iibcls on this community which he is continu-
ally emitting, shall not pass of without notice,
and as the humble advocates Of the reputa ton
Of the town, we shall, in our way, attempt to
refutc them.
In the paper to which we allude, and which
is published each Tuesday and Friday; we find
the annexed paragraph, and we venture to say,
that more shameful libel on the reputation OF
the citizens of Providence was never published:
at is an undcniable fact, that more than a
hundred (perhaPs tro hundred) families, in
tins town, IN which ardent spirits were feelv
introduced and freely used, previous TO the
late interest excited upon this subject, have al
together abolished the habitual nse of strong
drinks, except as medicine. II is still more
obvious fact, that great numbers of our citi-
zcns, particularly young men Ia large propor-
ton OF whom were among our most rcspecta-
blc and most promising members of society
who formerly ,Dere in the practice every day
OF drinking one glass or more Of ardent spirits,
at some public bar-room, have abandoned the
pra ctice altogether, from a conviction of its
improper tendency"
The assertions, contained in the foregoing
paragraph, are, We undertake to say, without
a shadow Of shade for foundation ;---and
VIC expressly avow that it is ungenerous, un-
Just, and ridiculous, to attempt to make the
world believe that there ever was, in the town
Of Providence, either one or t,D0 hundred
families, the members Of which were in
the habit of using ardent spirits freely, or that
there ever was one hundred families here,
to which ardent spirits were freely introduced !
The assertion Of such fact, is a libel upon
the whole community, aid has been uttered
by an individual, to enable him to gain
point, which is based on false premises
From the paragraph as it stands, those who
are not acquainted with the moral character
Of the town Of Providence, would be led to
believe that previous to the meetings held, on
the subject Of intemperance, and prior to the
publication of the gentleman's beautiful writ
ings, this town possessed one or two hundred
families who used ardent ardent spirits freely,
and were common 6ibbers, but who have now
thrown aside the chalice; and betaken them
selves to habits Of strict sobricty. Such is the
conclusion that stranger would naturally draw
from the paragraph, which we equivocally
pronounce to be untrue. And we take the
liberty to declare. that the individual IN ques-
tion, cannot prove that this town, ever contain
cd two families, which were in the habit of
using ardent liquors freely, and were common
drunkards; and if lie will prove, that even one
family Of such a description, ever resided
among US, and have now "dashed down the
cup" and through his agency, become vir-
tuous and sober, we will ascribe to him mer-
its, and virtues, which at this moment, we do
not believe belong to him. According to his
assertions, one twelfth ofour whole population,
have been common tiplors, and have suddenly
reformed! So gross libel upon whole CON-
munity, shall not escape animadversion; and
we avow, that a more moral people than the
citizens Of Providence never existed.
The remark he has made relative TO the
habits of our young men, is not true, and the
assertion, that great numbers of our citizens
particularly young men, were formerly in the
habit of visiting public bar rooms, and have
now abandoned the practice, is ia Sc; it car
ries on the face Of its own refutation. -
! vrt
The young men of Providence are as virtuous
as any other people they have not met with
sudden reformation, because none were need
ed-bu they have been most shamefally
abused and libclled, by an individual, who had
better cast the moat out Of his own eye, before
he attempts to extract the beam from the eye
OF his ncighbor.
The course of conduct pusued by the editor
Of the paper in allusion, has already had its
effect; ii has brought upon us the ridicule Of
the world, the laughter of sister communities !;
and if we visit Boston or New-York, we are
necessarily bored with the jokes and jibes of
our acquaintance, who enquire, if the citizens
of Providence, are all drunk, or sober; and the
wags Of Boston, have named our town, the
Emporium Of Intemperancc." So much do
we gain by the folly of a hypocrt;eai cantng
newspaper scribbler.
DocToR CHAMBERS MEpIcINE.-We ycs-
tcrday Witnessed the saiutary effects of Doc
ter Chambers Medicine, on an individual for