Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-17
Communications.

HE WHO MAKES TWO BLADES OF GRASS GROW WHERE
puT ONE GREW BEFORE is ENTITLED TO THE NAME OF
PUBLIC BESEFAcToR."
The above elegant sentiment Of Mr.. Jefferson, is
founded on the principle that The prosperity of a coun-
try depends on the increase Of the products of it's in
dnstry, and SO far as national prosperity consists Of
national wealth, nothing can be more true. In like
manner, whatever diminishes the industrial efforts Of
of nation is a public injury which should be depre-
Gated by oil who have any agency in controlling or
directing public opinion, and dessr yes tho s,ern re.
buke OF legal authority.
The leading object Of republicanism is to promote
the greatest good of the greatest numbers. When this
is eifectualy done it will be found that the parts har-
monlze perfectly together. The interest of the whole
is the interest of each, and no individual nor class can
rlghtfully build up prosperity on the ruin of the re-
malnder. This seems TO be self evident, and no arcu-
ment can make ii palmer. The interest of the mer.
chant can never be IN opposition to that of the manu-
iacturer, and the true interest of both is founded on
the principle tina, secures prosperity to every mem.
Der OF the community.
Let this plain principle be applied to the LIQUOR traffic
ana II VIII be readily seen that its tendency is anti.
republican,. The manufacturer consumes one half of
all the corn and rye of given district. The merchan,
sells the liquor to the consumers and gets cash for il.
But what does the consumer get? absolutely moth.
lng-nny, the more he buys the poorer he becomes.
until at last he is supported ~ the public at the poor
house. So far az national prosperity is concerned.
the public would de gamers if the corn and rye had
been thrown into the lake. II would then simplv
have been the loss of SO much rye and corn. but the
community would yet have the I'M impaired strength
OF the consumers and The les. of all wealth, the free
and unbroken energies Of the bone and muscle of the
country
When will man see the effcc. of thi. accur.ed traffic
as II that II not only is making us poor, but abject
and miserable, crushing the spirit of the country and
binding us 10 a servtude as ignoble as il is cruel. No
man can appreciate this national injury until he gives
It his undivided attention. Drunkenness has lecome
50 common that 1t ceases to arouse. We see troops
of squalld children, but heed not the cause, and the
wal'ings OF broken hearted wives are seldom heard
except by their father in heaven.
It's for tho interest of the merchant that the liquor
tranlcs should be discontinued. The profit of the
merchant is in proportion to the amount of his busl-
ness, and this depends on the amount of the
products of industry N the country. All that 10 not
consumed by the grower becomes marketable, and
hence the more there is in any given district, the more
there is TO be sold, and the number of merchants con-
tinling the same, the greater will be their profits
Instead of snnlhilaling the one half of the corn and
rye in the manufacture of q poisonous article, let the
whole be devoted TO feed the mechanic and the manu-.
facturers, or TO increase the amount of our foreign ex.
ports, and the effect will be obvious in the Increased
prosperity of the country.
The surplus in any given year beyond the amount
necessary to feed the nation, is the true measure Of
national prosperity. Increase that surplus and our
prosperity is increased in the same ratio. With in
creased prosperity the ability offs nation IS enlarged,
and its effect will be apparent in better roads, in great
er facilities for communication, in the multiplication OF
school houses, churches, &c. in the improved condi-
ton Of society and in the onward march Of civilization
and soclAi happiness.
The fair merchants have the deepest interest in this
matter Suppose a merchant has one hundred Gus
TONERS, and taking it to be true, as is invariably the
case mat they deliver him their surplus produce in
exchange ior MS goods. In exact proportion 10 the
quah'"' U nquo' ne sells them he diminishes their
ao''y' an, !" Tue END when they have exhausted their
means ana become paupers, he must look out for a
new set OF customers or become bankrun, Tb;. "a.
suit would be evident were the customer, 70 ,su.;,
the same for q given time, but his customer. are cb,no.
ing daily, rs one dies or goes into the ditch ar ,h,
poor house another fool succeeds to be stripped in hi.
turn and the merchant may and does grow rich, bu,
The community is destroyed.
Merchants as a class are honorable men, and ar.
beginning to see this matter in its true light. Indeed
many are DESTROYS to get rid of The rafhc, well know
ing that the increased means of their customers will
enable them to buy more tea, coffee, sugar, nails
glass, &c, and thereby do a better business and saw,
their consciences.
There may be a very few who will cry out per.seu,
ton, as il they had a moral right to take money for Or
article that is sending some Of their customers to III,
grave every year. Upon such. argument, i, lost, ant
We can only unlooss their grasp by the stIong arm o
public authority.