The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-04-25
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY,
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES

MR.. EDITOR In replying to your remarks upon
the communication signed z. in the Spy of April 4,
am not actuated by desire to engage in contro-
versy ioE the sake OF an argument, nor, to risk
battle IN words for the chance of conquest But
believing that, at least, part of your doctrine lie
unlenable, and the influence injurious feel con-
strained to offer the following reoinder.
am well aware that. the views advanced. to
which you replied, are not generally popular and
that the chief cpposers to those views speaking
generally, in our cities especially will be found in
the habitatons of wealth and fashion. Neverthe-
less, IT the subject is important, the truth should
be spoken, let it meet with opposition from what.
ever source it NAV
You ask, shall it be objected, against the at
tempt 10 produce certain, great, and practicable
good that it does not include every other inagin-
able good 7" 1t will be no misconsruction of
your language, to conclude that you consider the
present consumption of Wine in fact only an i'm
aginary evil or, that its disuse would be but an
imaginable good" or a good possibly to be con-
ceiVed! Let US for moment examine this point
One important evil attached to intemperance, is
the expense incurred in obtaining the dram The
poor tippler, wastes the money which nature and
affection teaches him belongs to his wife and chill
dren, in gratifying his Unsuitable thirst for the in
toxicatlng cup. This is " imaginary" evil il
has very properly been set forth as one of the fore
most sins upon the black catalogue of intemper.
ance. And, how is it with the wine bibbers 1? Is
there nothing of this evil here Is it uncommon
Tor the rising generation" for young men, for
old men, and alass for some who have sworn absti-
nence to spend of their pittance in one short hour
several dollars, for W:rel This is an evil. and a
reform would produce real good
But, let us look at this expense in a more ex-
tensive view The amount paid for Wine import
ed into the United States, in the year ending Sep
TENDER, 1880, over and above that which was ex-
ported during the same period, was, 81 ,331 O75 :;
while that paid for foreign distilled Spirs over
the export, was but y253 ,338. Here is an expense
which is enormous, and so far as Incorporate rum
drinking impoverishes the country by disposing of
It's treasures, the Incorporate of VI inc is more
lnexcusable, in proportion the expense is in
creased.
There aie other evils arising from indulgence in
Wine You ask, who ever heard of mans be-
coming drunkard by the use of Wine 7" an
swer Solomon He says, Who hath wo who
hath sorrowl who hath contentious who hath
babbng! who hath wounds without cause who
hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at
the Wine; they that go to seek mixed Wine."-
These were the effects of drunkenness produced
at time when distilled Spirit was not known, and
It is highly probable those effects would now be
produced. by '' tarrying too long at the wne," if
distilled Spirits" should be struck from exist
ence 1t is believed, that there are drunka rds in
our day But, if this is denied it will be contend
ed, upon the same principle, that there arc those
VINO are NOT orunkards, who yet drink their halt
pint of brandy more daily A drunkard is an
excessive drinker. There is, however, no adyan.
tage claimed by this definition. 1t is believed that
there are these who are absolutely sots by the use
OF Wine only. Pray, what is the difference (tc
borrow an idea from your other correspondent up.
on the same subJectl between diluted alcohol i'm
ported from France, and diluted alcohol in our
own houses. Suppose man were to evade his
piedge by laying in cask of Rum, diluted to the
proportions Of Madeira, and sip at his own foun.
tam; would he not become obnoxious TO the cen.
sure of his fellows2 Would not he be considered
IQI he oNH hon. FIJI
| ly as does the Wine topper Ihs subject is toe
clear TO need further argument: Yet you ask
" snail be told that am inconsistent in abstain.
ing IRON tue use of laudanum, because, forsooth
l. eat salad" This, Sir, looks to me like an eva.
sion. Who has ever denounced the use Of bread
because ltcontains alcohol or, who has ever pro-
hlpted the use sugar, or molasses, because they
are converted to worse purposes than that oil
sweetening! If, Sir, you signed pledge to ao
stain from the use Of asdanum, and, salad contain
co opium IN The same proportion compared % the
poppy, as Wine does alcohol compared to Brandy
you would not only subject yourselfto the charge
OIL Inconsistency" but, by ordinary indulgence
you would " induce the sleep of DEATH"
The consumption Of Wine is on rapid increase
and the expenditures now will nearly compare
with the expenditure of the days of "gl oriou'
drunkenness" II is true, the effects upon the
system may not be so dceterious 1t may not inca
pacltate man from attending to his ordinary bust
ness. 1t may not produce much family suffer
ing,-but, so long as it is INDUCED in, the temper
ance reform will be but incomplete And as in
duigence IN the smaller offences, leads naturally
10 indulgence in the greater-asa " temperate use
leads to an incorporate use"-ust so, certainly
this indulgence in the rising generation will prove
the portal to future intemperance AT this time
the advice Of Solomon is very appropos--" Lool
not thou at the wine when it is red, when giveti
his color in the cup, when it moveth itself Alright
At TIE lost It bitsh like serpent and stiagstA Tx
an oddsr"