Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-10
TO THE BURLINGTON TOTAL
ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

ranted to retailers OF aruent sPIls, "''e'
&c. The Courts, in exercise of this dlscre-
ton, will probably be influenced by the opin-
ions of sound practical men. 1t would seem
then to be highly proper that the opinion of
the community should be fully and freely
expressed.
1t appears by an examination of the re-
cords of the County Court, that in lS42
thirty six persons we're licensed to keep
tavern, and thirty six licenses for retailing
were granted in the county, and that of
these thirteen taverns and twenty three retail
shops are in the single town of Burlington.
In addition to this it is understood that one
large establishment sells by wholesale, and
that there are besides some twelve or thir-
teen cellars, as they are called, where the
keepers are licensed to sell beer, cider, &c.
SO that it may be said we have in this town
fifty places where the gay, the thoughtess,
and the young can get intoxicated, and
where too many avail themselves of the OPP
portunity.
1t is obvious that the great mass Of those
who purchase liquor are Of the poorest class,
and that they get nothing in return. 1t is
apparent then that the natural effect of the
traffic is to make the-poor poorer, and the
rich richer. No one would in terms advo-
cate a principle which would take the earn
ings of the poor and give them to the more
wealthy without an equivalent, and yet
whenever examined. the subject will show
that the liquor traffic has this effect. 1t is
the appropriation of the wages of labor to
support the idle. II is in fact the slavery of
the many for the gain Of few. 1t is des-
tructive of all practical equality; and let the
traffic be continued for half century, and
republicanism, if it exist, will be but an
empty name.
1t is one of the plainest principles of po-
litical economy that the prosperity of coun-
try consists in the increase of the products
of its industry. 1t requires no argument to
show that the traffic in liquor has no such
tendency; but its obvious tendency is to di-
minish and destroy the products of indus
try. Hence the prosperity of a country will
be diminished in exact proportion to the in
crease of liquor traffic. Increase the traffic
indefinitely, and want, sorrow, wretchedness,
and degradation will settle down upon the
land forever.
This is neither the time nor the place to de-
tail the evils resulting from the use ofintoxi-
eating drinks. Unfortunately they are too
apparent, and he who has a heart to feel will
be deeply sensible of the woes that follow in
its train. Were the consequences visited
solely on those who drink, then we should
mourn for their weakness, we should have
the poor consolation of feeling that they
were merited; but the man of strong drink
by injuring himself, abuses his children and
is faithless to his wife, and when at last he
finds his home in the ditch, they are cast
upon the cold charities OF the world, or seek a
refuge from more bitter woes in pauper's
home.
These evils can never be elfectually
checked, so long as the traffic of death i:
licensed by public authority. So long a.
the accursed thing is sold, so long some viii
be found to drink. Enlighten public opin
ion as you may, elevate the standard o
moral excellence to the highest point t.
which humanity can 60, and yet some wi
crafty the cravings of a depravcd appetite
even at the expense of honor and feeling
The temperance reformation has done won
ders, but its final triumph must be postpone
to the day when no man can plead the Ii
censc of the law for that which without
would be cheat.
If traffic has any laws, they must be four
ded on this plain proposition, that It's a
exchange of equiralents, and being so, til
exchange of noxious article for money c
other valuable, is cheat. The man WI
should sell tainted meat or frozen potatoe
= would soon find his levol in society. I'll
dealer in liquor is in the same condcmnatio
unless liquor has fixed intrinsic value.
is too late even for the dealers to confer
that liquor has any value as a beverage.
has long since been condemned by all int
ligent disinterested men as worse than usele
as a most grievous poison, and the voice
wailing that is continually going up to heave
is bringing down curses deep and stro
upon the abomnable traffic.
If the traffic shall continue to be license
the consequences cannot remain doubtful.
The best exertons of total abstindnce ca
not prevail against the flood of intoxcati
liquor. twill bring sorrow into every fan
", it will strike down the hopes of the lar
it will bring wretchedness into our stree
and disgrace upon our good name.
Whence these complicated ills, and W
are we doomed to suffer them That
fish men may hoard up wealth in panderi
TO appetites of which the beasts would
ashamed,