The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-03-20
ition for blood, these questions must be an

VIC HdNe Deeu lOld-dnu Tor the sake Of
the illustration we will suppose it to be true
that some one, we know not who, a few
moments before the commission of the fatal
deed, put that deadly weapon into the hands
OF the desperate STRIPPING. God, before whom
the darkness shineth as the day, saw it; and
who does not see that, in his eye, the offense
came by that man who carried the deadly
weapon to the scene Of riot, and placed it in
the hands of wild boy whom drink had mad
dened
les, we are told it was even so. The per-
petrator Of the outrage was beside himself.
He knew not distinctly what he did. Drink
had maddened him. Drink! Then that
madness takes nothing from his responsibility.
Drink had maddened him Who gave him
that drink 1t was not through any defect
OF maddening quality in the drink-it was not
through any defect of volition to strike in
the boy whom that drink had maddened-
that the weapon welded in frenzy did not
pierce the victims heart, or spill his life blood
on the spot from discovered artery. That
the volition which drove the two-edged blade
within less than an inch of main artery, did
not divide that artery, was not owing to any
want of force in the voltion, or of madness
in the drink. That the wounded man sur
vived the strokes awhile-that the hope of his
recovery was fair till disease supervened upon
his enfeebled frame-that we are permitted to
assuageeur horror somewhat by the doubts
which science confesses respecting the canse
of his death-al this is not through any de-
feet of maddeuing quality in the drink, nor
through any defect of purpose to strike in
him whom that drink had maddened. Who
.l,,+l L.. l. l.. L
it to him. 1t is known by whom the ofiense
came. In the name of Christ | say, Woe
to that man. 1t is known who ministered 10
that poor boy the maddening draught. The
finger of indignation, anticipating the judg-
ment of God, points to the new dramshop,
with its enticing appearances ofrespectability,
where the drink was administered. From
that transcription the corruptor Of morals
who stood there that night dispensing drunk
enness-came the madness which produced
the riotous outbreak. Upon that Threshold
is the stain of blood, TO be removed, not by
the mere profession Of a change, but by re-
pentance, and by works meet for repent
ANGEL Woe to the man by whom this Of
tense cometh.'
Who gave to that young man the madden
ing drink Who tempted him? Who led
him along, and joined in hand, to the carou-
sal, TO the putting ON of DISCUSSES, to the scene
of mischief, 10 the mean. cowardly crime of
breaking, at the dead Of night, with heavy
and dangerous missiles, the windows of an
unonending fellow student? In him has
come to pass, in part that which is written,
"A companion of fools shall be Destroyed
Who are they that have been his companions,
and that have led him thus far towards utter
destruction! Who are they in whose COM
pany he encouraged himself in disregarding
the necessary regulations, and in resisting
the constituted authorities of the institution
whose privileges he was permitted to enjoy
Who are they in whose company he was en-
couraged to practice that Language Of hell that
broke from his furious lips as the dagger went
to its aim! Who are they in whose company
these low lived sins-these base forfeitures of
the honor which they plighted at the matricu-
lation-these drunken frolics-these bastard
ly midnight outrages-seemed to him like
marks of spirit and Of gentlemanly breedingi
Some of them may be here TO night. Let
me say then to them, you are partakers in
his sins, as he is in yours; ON you rests n
dread responsibility in regard to yours; you
partake in the responsibility even of that hor
rid act; the offense came by you; the stain
of that blood reaches even to your souls.
And does not the responsibility reach far
Their still ? Who gave the guilty boy the
drink that maddened him! Tell me whose
influence goes to form that state of public
opinion, which tolerates and keeps up those
bloody dens Of intoxicaton at which the NOR
ais Of our youth are corrupted! How does
it happen that man dares to come TO such
a place as this, and open shop for the pur-
pose of training men to outrage and TO crime?
Who are responsible in this respect? can
tell YOU who are not. Those who in their
own practice conscientiously abstain from all
intoxicating drinks. Those who are known
to be the pledged, uncompromising enemies
of all that leads to drunkenness. Those
whose influence is continually crying aloud,
Beware look not on the wine when il is
red Whatever these mems inirmities may
be-whatever extravagancies and errors may
be Justly imputed TO them-whatever sins
they may have to confess before God-this
ofense comes not to them.
Can you say that this offense comes not by
youl If the example which you give to the
community tends to uphold the habi.ual or
the festal use Of those drinks which madden
the brain, can you lift up your hand untrem-
bling to God, and ask, Lord. is it II If
you, in your elegant exclusiveness, stand
aloof from the great movement of the Tenn
perance refo:mation-if you make light of
this kind of philanthropy-if you contemn
the vulgarity Of Washingtonianism,'- If the
red wine moveth itself Alright at your table,
and passes round at your festive entertain
ments-can you say before God that this Of
tense comes not by you! The young man,
who by the use of wine for excitement and
for revelry, has been led to the commission
of so lasting a crime, has shared perhaps in
the hospitality Of some of our families. Per-
haps he had been admitted to the civilties Of
acquaintanceship in your family, and TO the
enioyments of fashionable society in your
dwelling Ifso, what was the lesson which
YOU gave him therel If he had been invited
to your entertainments, tell me, what would
have been to him the language of your wine
glassesl Gods wisdom says to the young
man, Look not upon the wine when it is red,
when il giveth its color in the cup, when it
moveth itself Alright Tell me-tell me, by
whom cometh the offensel Tell me have
not you somewhat to repent of. somewhat for
which to cry, Deliver me from blood-guilt-
mess, oh God, thou God of my salvation!'