Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-07-11
From The Temperance Union.
THE CONNECTION OF DRUNKENNESS
WITH CRIME

WITH CRIME.
No one can have failed TO observe the indisso-
luble connection between drunkenness and
crime. Comparatively few have an inherent
disposition TO commit the grosser crimes that
consgn men 10 the scaflold or the prison. OPP.
portunity and necessity--or should rather say
temptation and necessity make by far the great.
err number of rogues When say necessity
makes rogues, do not mean to be placed in
circumstances of necessity to steal. But that
Mpendthriit and drunkard are often laid I'M
der this necessity by their own folly and i'm
Iprudence--and SO by others who are led to-
appropriate to their own use that viii a is their
neghbors. 'Lead me not into emptNion," is
probably the best part Of the best prayer that
ever was penned. And lie who dictated it
knew the power Of temptation over the will Of
man. See that young man, OF respectable pa
rentage, and numerous circle Of respectable
connections and friends, surrounded with every
comfort and convenience oithis lile--no bem.
lsh upon his character, or doubt Of his veracity
no one suspected him of dishonesty even
the tongue of SANDER breathed suspcion--yet
in an evil hour he was tempted 10 fall. Not
less certain, though more gradual, the ruin Of
the votary of Bacchus. 1t is with this latter
class that have to do. Ten thousand instan-
ces might be adduced to show that the man who
drinks is lost. Not lost, in one sense, to socie
ty, his family and friends. 1t were we'll if he
were. "Annihilation would be heaven" TO him,
and consolatian to them; but made their pest
and shame, and lost TO himself, to virtue and to
heaven.
In support ofthis position will state few
facts By the Report Of the Moral Instructor
Of the Eastern Penitentiary Of ennsylvania,
read before the House Of Representatives at the
Session Of this year, Q839) 1t appears that
out Of 178 admitted in 1888, 1928 drank and
got drunk; % drank, but did not get drunk"
leaving but % who did not drink. The total
amount Of prisoners admitted into their insti-
tuition up TO the first of January, 1899, the Re-
port says, was 1885; oil this number TAT drank
and got drunk; &c drank, but did not get drunk
sober gig; uncertain TO-" Placing, therefore,
the uncertain to the account OF the sober, 1t
leaves less than one-fifth of the whole number
who did not drink; the greater proportion OF
) whom, no doubt, were reduced 10 the neces-
sty Of stealing by their own extravaganza or
Incidence, leaving but small proportion to be
| placed TO the account Of inherent rogues.-
, Showing conclusivey an indissoluble connec'
ton between drunkenness and crime. And
showing too that by far the greater number Of
those who drink get drunk; solemn admon
ton to the moderate drnker.
i By way OF warning young men will relate
an anecdote that occurred in the city ofPhil
: adelphia, which will 60 TO prove the position
have taken.
!, One morning, about three or four years ago
i as was entering the Criminal Court, on busl
: ness connected with my profession, my atten-
ton was arrested by PERSONS hand upon my
shoulder; in looking round found it to be the
! constable in attendance upon the court, who
r with out further delay, pointed to a young man
Occupying seat in The Criminal box, and said
S he wished TO speak to me. He was a healthy
), good looking young man, with something OF
/ noble ana manly appearance that Ill behtted the
seat he then occupied. As advanced towards
HIM the blush of shame manted his cheek, anc
he shrunk back as if he would avoid the gaze
OF one who had known him when innocent, and
had been his play-lellow in boyhood. And
could the many young men who are contrac.
ting habits OF idleness and dissipation, have lis
tened to his relation Of the causes that brought
> him there; witnessed the anguish Of his heart
: as portrayed in his countenance, when he com
munIcated the evidence of his guilt and viewed
tho certainty Of his doom; but above all, could
: they have witnessed his modification, when he
discovered himself as my companion in boy
= hood; spoke of the advice Of his widowed moth
5 er, and the disgrace he now brought upon him.
!, self and her; rthey would not be deferred from
their course of sdre destruction, they would
o have read in his, their own inevitable DOOM
u Ny services, which he asked and received
S could not save him. He was convicted and be.
g came the inhabitant of a penitentiary. When
,, asked how he could so far forget his own good
n the advice of an affectionate mother, aud his
+ duty to God and country as to be guilty O.
n "Larceny," he replied, Il drank and got drunk
but for rum this disgrace had never come up
y on me-" f. ID. L.
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