Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-10-19

How important, then, that the duties arisin
from those relations, should be sacredy oh
served On this most vital subject, how fuI
and explicit is that Revelation which God ha
given of his mind and will. Break up the fam
lily, and you break up society. Whatever tends
therefore, 10 loosen the family bond, tends il
its degree TO overthrow society. This is con
sideration for the conscientious legislator; whil
he that has a hear, 10 weep with those tha
weep, will yield his sympathies to those VIII,
sorrow in no common sort. Ransack the worlt
for wretchedness in its worst forms, and we
believe it would be found, ordinarily, not at th'
home Of the drunkard, for home he cannot bt
said TO have--but at the comforless abode o
the victim of strong drink.
4. Those engaged in this traffic, expose
themselves and their families to imminent danger
We ask your special attention TO this reason
1t brings the subject home. Many who are en-
gagged in the liquor business, have around then
interesting families, as we we'll know. For the
welfare Of those families you feel, as you should
a lively concern. They are TO inherit or tC
scatter your estates-lhey are to bear up your
names, with honor or with imlamy, when your
heads are laid low in the dust Now we ask
those of you who can extend your recollection
backward for twenty, thirty, or forty years, 10
inquire and see what has been the history oil
those liquor sellers and their families, that have
passed under your observation for that space
of time. How many strong men have fallen by
the insiduous destroyer with which they have
been in league; and how have the families oi
those men, in whole or in part, reaped the sad
but natural consequences 10 which they were
exposed by parental folly We need moi men,
lion names. Your memories will do that Office
Now we ask you one question. Can you re-
member one family, long engaged in the sale OF
intoxicating liquor, that has wholly escaped all
the attendant evils with which righteous God
has linked it. By what rule then can you
promise that you and yours shall furnish case
of singular exemption from a common result
We are aware oflhat strong principle Of human
nature, 10 make exceptions in our own favor
But we bid you beware. All before you have
presumed in like manner What has come
upon them, ,cH come upon you. Like causes
produce like effects. Now look upon those
dear children whom God has given you, and
ask yourselves whether, in contempt of the
teaching of all history, you will go on in your
present course, with the desperate hope that
you and yours shall escape The penalty of a gen.
eral law. Look al that prat,ng boy, as he is
,ihe witness Of The revelry, the pollution, and
the basphemy Of the bar-room; look at that
young man, just about TO enter on the stage oi
action for himself, whom you, perhaps; have
stationed 10 deal out that vile and adulterateo
cup of death 10 your deluded customers, and
ask yourselves whether they shall share the sad
doom of the drunkard. No Your feelings re.
volt at the thought. You would rather follow
them 10 an early grave. Will you then expose
them any longer. Again we say bewareles
you lay up for yourselves matter for pungent
bu, boo,less reflection and self-accusation.
Finaly-You should abandon this business
because God condemns 1t. We state this rea
son last, because i, is most important, and be.
cause we want you to bear i. in mind You
may esteem il a small matter to strive with
your fellow man, and TO set yourselves in oppo
sition to their principles, however clear and un
answerable; but "woe TO him that striveth with
his Maker" Without attempting TO presen
the whole Biblical argument on this point, we
will content ourselves by adducng one solitary
passage from the book Of God "Wo unto him
that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy
bottle TO him, and makest him drunken ALSO
Hab. 2. Is. Is not this declaration perfectly
plain and simple. If il means any thing at all
what can it mean but just wha, it literally i'm
ports. Can any ingenuity Or CLOSING perver
il from It's direct and obvious sense. Ther
any passage Of the Bible may be treated il
like manner, and what becomes of our infaIible
rule of faith and life. We are thrown out a
sea, without rudder or compass But we en-
terrain no such dshonorabIe opinion of The
Word of God Its principles 10 guide our faith
and to govern our actions, are broad, plain ant
simple. "The wayfaring men, though fools
shall not err therein" Now we will not asl
if you admit the supreme authority of the Bl
bic; for if we are addressing any who den,
that, we have no hope of producing conviction
on their minds But we take for granted lha
you adm, the Bible for what il claims TO be-
Then we ask you to weigh well tha. fearful de
nuncialion, which we tlave cited
We might nape many other cogent reason
as The ground of Cur petition; because the sal
Of u 10 Drinks, by wholesale or retail, is wron
and lends 10 evil from whatever point you ma