The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-05-02
For the Star.

tell tne Whoie Wory'
| For the Star.
Mr.. Epiro we feel it duty 10 offer a
few brief remarks which have suggested them
selves 10 our mind on perusal of the article, in
your las, paper, headed |" Temperance"
We perfectly agree with the writer of the arti-
Gle in question, tnaI .the sentiments of the friends
often,perance are not unfrequently misrepresenl-
ed, and to such degree, as to be very prejudicia
to the success Of their cause'
.' II isaso true, that the progress Of temperance
principles has been much retarded by the injudic-
:ous acts Of its friends as is evident, by one
al least, we think, il such sentiments your writ
er advances have been much disseminated, for
allowing him to be friend Of temperance, and
as he declares HIMSELF AZ open, ardent, uncom-
promising enemy of iniemperance, and is deter
mined, SO far lies in his power, to use all laT
of that which he complains, by sanctioning, or
giving any quarter 10, that or)uiness, or tolera-
lion OF sJsIen, the License system, which is the
very spring and founan that nourishes and keeps
alive the cursed forbidden tree, ntemperance,
which spreads arourd such desolalion, misery and
death in the moral world. Bul we have supposed
him to be an enemy in dissulse,--for we believe
that Satan and the rum seller are both pleased
with the article, and that il Is very nearly such as
The former would have suggested to the latter, for
the preservation and salvation Of their endangered
cause for Satan knows and the rum seller
Knows, that all the moral engines which the friends
OF temperance can bring to bear upon IL, or them,
will never prevail, SO long us the sale Of ardent
spirits is egaIized, is authorized BY law, and the
piee etbI9od put into the Treasury ;--therefore
the muderous and soul destroying traffic will 60
onthe run seller will continue 10 receive his i'll
gotten gain, and Satan, ruined and lost souls, to
people The dark corners of his kingdom.
! Let not our temperance friend, if such he be,
imagine for moment that the ten rum sellers, the
number he names, will ever be induced TO relin-
qus their detesable traffic., by any moral efforts
the friends Of temperance may exert, while the "a
bominable License LaU protects and encourages
them in it any more than were the owners ofthe
ten slave vessels, if the number was so small
the LaW permitted it, or was silent on the sub
lject. All the moral artillery that philanihropsis
and worthy christians could bring 10 bear did not
disturb the conscisnces Of the latter, except il
\ might be here and there one which was much
more tender and vulnerable than the rest nor did
they accomplish any thing Of consequence until the
Lap was brought to their ad-just SO it will he
in regard to the former.
|
When you tell these persons (the dealers in ar
dent sprits Of the train Of horrible evils their trai
c is producing, and try to set it home to their con-
sciences and make them feel that it is wrong, they
will tell you that good e" Deacon Giles" select
man, (and every body knows how very good the
Deacon is,) does not dsapprove Of the traffic, OF
the law approaching t,-ior the licenses bring a
good price, promote trade, as well as misery, and
enrich the Treasury, if you do not take into the
account the Paupers created by them. Likewise
parson, Lawyer, General, Colonel, Captain. and
sir. so * so, all worthy Legislators, and good pro-
iessors of religion, hsve created The law under
which the Deacon acs-Aloreover, l pay for my
privilege, therefore have right to do what
do, SO don't talk to me about it, talk to your pro-
essors ofreigicn who approve my conduct, by
au,horising it if there is any thing wrong abou
il, lei lhen' see 10 i'll don't profess any religion
myself but think am good my neigh
bors. thus he screens his conscience, and you
can't touch II. q christian professor reflect up
\ Oh your situation, placed in such POSITION dt
look at yourself.
Far better would it be, than it is now, in our es
timation, to have no law OH the subject OF sen:
ardent spirits. Let every one sell whose con
science would let hlm-have no legalized sin will
a price attached to it-then moral effort woul,
stand better chance-he rum seller would hav,
less to ease and shield his conscience But W,
believe nothing will perfect " the work oireform,
but " THE PaoHIBITIoN, By Law, OF TIL
clearly illustrated and shewn by facts relative Il
! the Slave Trade, and gambling establishments
We perfectly agree with our friend, that such
prohibition will have the effect, as he says, {
cause the ten rum sellers, to " Immediately be
: come excited, they will complain bitterly an
loudly of their grevious prosecutions, that thei
rights have been unjustly wrested from them,
: &c. &c. This must all take place, of course,
should be expected, just as il has in regard to tn
slave trade and gambling. by those interested il
their CONFERENCE.-The the sooner the bet,er,-fo
the sooner il takes place the sooner it will be ov
! er, and the good work done.
As our friend remarks" When the Apostle
were doing all in their power TO establish the chris
iian religion, and TO pull down the systems Of idol
airy so prevalent upon the earth' and asks, " di,
they spend their time and powers to obtain from