The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-16
Fsom tAs National Gazette.

y
From tie National Gasefts
INTEMPERANcE IN PHILADELPHIA.
Our "reminiscences does not extend to the
time when there was as much evident drunk
enness in Philadelphia, as there has been
within the last few months. To see man
staggering along the streets Is no unusual
sight; and we can remember when Il was
rare circumstance. The increase OF intem-
perance may be simply accounted for BY the
extension Of licenses for tipping shops, and
the multiplication Of the same under the name
Of oyster houses. Temperance associations
and christian teachers may preach in vain, 80
long as they are nnsustained by the makers
and ministers Of the law. II is necessary for
the reputation Of Philadelphia, that the in
crease Of this monstrous evil should be ar
rested. The ground should be taken that no
dram-shops at all are necessary--a truth
which no sober, disinterested person can deny.
IL this position be not assumed and properly
acted upon. Philadelphia will in time become
as Incorporate as London or Glasgow, and
will give with its weight as metropolis, an
example TO the rest Of the State which may
prove intellectually pernicious. To form an
idea Of the awful extent to which drunkenness
is carried in the British Capital, and hold II
up as warning TO this place, We give some
facts derived by Parliamentary Committee
Of Investigation, contained in the admirable
"Tour,". SC. Of the Rev. DIR. Humphrey,
President Of the Amherst College. Two hum
dred and sixty-nine thousand four hundred and
thirty -eight persons entered the fourteen gin
palaces in one week, viz: l42,450 men, lOS,-
5y3 women, and 1921 children, This does
not include the thousands of other large and
small establishments. In one single gin shop,
1903 persons entered in week. We quote
as follows from DR.. Humphrey.
g In these immense establishments the bar
is SO contrived, that the drippings, where the
liquor is served out and drank, pass down
through into kind Of strainer into vessels
prepared to receive it; and proprietor Of one
OF them, told gentleman about the time
was in London, that at his bar, these drip
pings brought him in $500 year. What
then must be the whole quantity sold in that
one house But think of the fourteen like it
of the 269,43S entrances in one week
and then that there are four or five thousand
other "synagognes Of Satan," open day and
night, throughout that vast metropolis ; and
estimate, if you can, the amount Of poison
consumed, and the numbers whom It beggars,
maddens, demoniaes Ia word which have
coined for the occasion) and destroys. These
houses are allowed by law 10 be kept open on
the Sabbath, from seven in the morning till
eleven-from one p. nj. till three-and from
five till eleven; and such are the crowds Of
squalid and drunken wretches which they
yomit out upon the side walks, just as the
public religious services of the day commence,
that in some parts Of the city il is difficult to
get to the churches, and quite impossible,
without being exposed to annoyances, which
no decent person can be willing that his family
should encounter.
Again there is grog system connected
with the coal trade in London, which is one
of the most oppressive and demoralizing that
can possibly be imagined. Nothing short of
colonial slavery, as it formerly existed in the
islands, is equally cruel and abominable. l
allude to the condition Of the " coal beavers"
on the Thames, who are employed in 'gangs"
by the undertakers to unload the ships as
they arrive. The undertakers" are, what
shall | call them--the devils factors, or what!
They either sell his drink, or are connected
with those who do and the coal beavers are
obliged to apply to them for all their jobs.
The condition of getting work are, that all
must spend in spirits or malt liquor, con-
siderable part of their earnings. The "score"
thus run up, amounts, at the end Of the week,
to one third, and sometimes to much more
than one-half Of their wages. In this week
ly score, there are two items OF the most
oppressive character called towrow," and
"bad score" amounting from Is. to 2s Sd,
and for which the poor lahorer never receives
farthing. Hard drinking is an indispensable
qualification for being put upon the list OFFS
slant employment and the hardest drinkers
are preferred. A perfectly sober man stands
no chance at all If his wife and children
are starving, and he can find no other work,
he must either drink alcohol or let them starve
The accused thing" is put down TO his
number, and if he still refuses. even after he
has began job, lie is Immediately turned off
and another man is put in his place. sim
gle instance will serve TO illustrate, as well as
a hundred. One man, disguised with the
practice, did not call at the publican's the
third morning for his share Of raw rum, as
usual, and consequently, before night he was
removed from the gang and well known
drinker was put in his place.
These remarks, adds the Gazette, are
especially worthy the per,,sal of the trainers
of iniquitous laws which are keeping certain
classes of Philadelphia in the worst horrors
of misery and vice. We believe, however,
that the time is approaching when sensible
Legislation will be brought to ameliorate the
evils in question Sound public opinion de-
mands action at once.
I've now been here nearly nine months and nv
health has been first rate nearly all the time The
only sickness I've had worth a mentionin has been
the bilious fever twic' and conjestive fever onct
the fever and ager occasionally, and the dumb ager