Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-08-08

The undersigned appointed p Commit
tee 10 examine tine subject OF the intems
pcTnto use OF ardent spirits in the city of
/ Providence, rcspe ct(ully submit The fol.
! loving
EeenRT.
! IN pursuance CT the object of their ap-
f, poiHtnent, the Committee have employs
Cd me bueC period, which other engages
neDis have permitted, for the purpose Of
extending their enquiries in various wards
OF this city. II is with pleasure they
have learned that several individuals,
since the last quarterly meeting OF this
Society, have abandoned or made ar~
rangeuents for abandoning, the sale Of
spiiuuous liquors. Fy the Report ofths
Committee OF ihe Young Mems Tempe.
rance Society, II appears, that only three
members Of all the re he ious societies Of
Tins city arc now To be found engaged in
retailing such liquors hut the ins,an~
ces o! The reform OF hab'iual drunkards
are rare, Judging from the frequent ex~
hibItoDs OF such persons exposed in the
most degrading situations in the public
streets, and from the undminished nuns
Der Of tipping shops, the progress of re-
form from habits Of inicmpcrance has
been OF limited extent. Within nine
months OF the present financial year, our
city council have already granted eleven
riore licences for retailing ardent spir-
It's, than were granted the whole twelve
months Of the year 1880. The fact has
become apparent, that in place of con-
scientious respectable dealers, who have
withdrawn themselves, persons Of di!-
torent character have generally assumed
the business Of retailing spirits. Driven
from several adjacent towns in which the
retailing of ardent spirits have been
checked by the public authorities, many
purchasers as well as venders OF these
liquors, have heen prt badly induced TO
turn their attention 10 the traffic in this
city, where licences are still granted
freely to applicants.
!, 1t will not here be asserted, or pre-.
sumed, that all those who deal in ardent
spirits are TO be embraced in one sweep
ing sentence Of condemnation. TherS
are doubtless some persons engaged in
this branch Of traffic, who witness with
regret The degrading scenes of vice, re-
sufing from the Incorporate habits Of
their customers and sigh whilst they
stand from sunrise 10 a late hour Of the
night behind counters reckipg with fumes
Of gin and rum, to perform tasks which
their consciences condemn, in order tn
gain the means of supporting their fam;-
lies. Stern necessity is, III fact, the "a
pology almost universally urged by re-
tailers Of spirituous liquors 10 extenuate
their perseverance in the business. Grant
TO any of them sufficient wealth TO re-
lieve them from the necessity of admin
isterng drains, and few indeed would be
found lettering another day amid the dis
gustlng scenes around them.
When not a solitary voice is raised in
any quarter Of our land to advocate IN
temperance; but on the contrary, wheH
all men unite 10 acknowledging the
dreadful evils resulting from this vice.
when men Of every religious sect meet
harmoniously, like brethren on this com-
mon neutral ground, and laying aside
their prejudices, have allied themselves
in the Holy cause Of Temperance, for
the purpose Of promoting the present and
eternal welfare of their fellow men; when
even the habitual drunkard himself,
whilst he lifts the glass TO his lips, is rea~
dy to stainIner out q confession Of the
pernicious tendency OF this vice, can
there be just reason for those who ara
practically engaged in spreading abroad
these evils, to assert, with design Of
exciting public feeling, that they are
prescribed ano perseCnted class OF men,
because all Others are combined to dis.
courage the trade by which they profit
1t IS the opposition growing out Of the
avarIco of this class Of self Interested
men, which has formed the greatest OBJ
stacle in the way Of those who labor to.
diminish the evils ol intemperance in our
happily situated country. 1t should bo b
the aim Of all to convince such mon that
they misc calculate their own permanent
interest, when they contribute to destroy
the health, as we'll as habits Of industry
of their customers, by encouraging the
practice of incorporate drinking tuRu-
enced BY delusiye hope Of imrnediate
gains, they look not forward 10 the remote
prospect Of more important profits, deriv-
able from thrifty, sober customers, who
pursue steadily their vocstions, and are
thus enabled to pay punctualiy for moro
extensive purchases Of bealthful articles
Of merchandise. The children Of such
customers, following the good examples
Of their parents, and early trained ~
them 10 sober habits Of labor, contribute
soon in their turn also 10 swell the i'm
creasing profits Of respectable sraffie,
whilst they a, the same time improve