The Columbian fountain., 1846-03-02
For the Columbian Fountain.
MEETING BETWEEN "COLD WATER"
AND LIQUOR SELLER"
Pennsylvania Avente, near

Co1o ~ UcT. OOod morning, MT Liquor
Seller, Pve called 10 have little plain talk
with you this morning, il you can spare the
| time.
Liquor Seller. Good morning to you, Cold
Water, suppose can spare few minutes,
provided | am not 10 be insulted by an interler
ence, On your part, with my own business.
Q. ". Il is far from my design to insult
you, for while cannot but abhor your trade,
! do feel most solicilous FOR your welfare.
L. S. Humph! heard Of man who
made fortune by attending TO his own bust
ness, and j, seems TO me some persons know
OF might profit by his example.
G. N. And ye, you, sir, could not live in
your present occupation but by endangering,
interrupting, and deranging, other mems bus-
ness.
L. S. How so? invite no man 10 drink
my liquor.
G. ". Not SO fast, my friend, for find in
tbe daily press that you advertise your readi-
ness and desire to furnish the public with the
choicest liquors, SC. Why advertise?
L. S. That's my own business, bu! com
pei no one to purchase my liquors.
G. NJ. Neither does the gambler compel
any one TO enter his He'll He does just what
you admit you have done, and what you
claimthe right to do, viz: entice men into his
den by artifce.
L. ). have right to sell rum, hold
LICENSE, signed by the legal authorities, which
authorizes me to sell to whomsoever please
G. ". But deny that license from the
Corporation gives you the right to sell poison.
You are, il is true, by virtue Of your license,
made irresponsible to the laws for the conse-
quences of your traffic, but are you morally
guiltess?
L. S. If | don't sell, another will
G.. W. That is, you are prepared to say
that because theft will be committed. you may
as well appropriate the property Of your neigh
Dor 10 your own use, for if you don't, another
will
L. S. | am not accountable for conse.
quences. Let every man take care Of himself
c. W. If a maniac should ask you for
deadly weapon, declaring at the same time
thar he was resolved TO commit suicide, would
you be irresponsible for his self destruction af-
Ter furnishing him with the very instrument?
l.. s. am not my brothers. keeper
G. w. So said the first murderer, and the
answer that rung upon his ear, methinks
should star'le thee, and make thy blood to
freeze in thy veins. Listen 10 IL! "TRe poice
Of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the
ground"
L. S. This is just what expected; knew
you intended 10 insult me, and you have gone
farther than even expected, by applying to
me the epithet of thief and murderer.
c. W. You are mistaken, | have not ap-
piled either eplthet to you; only designed to
illustrate your position.
L. s. You may say just what you please,
! will pursue my lawful business, and if peo-
pie are foolish enough to buy my 1oares and
pay for them; am prepared to attend to them
the results and consequences are their look
out | have got my license, the la0 protects
me, and despise the lntermeddling of neigh
bors, and disregard their sickly, ,comanis in
reference in my legitimate business. The
panoply oil the la,D is thrown around me, n'y bu-
siness puts money in hy purse, and have mel
ther time nor disposition TO listen to the nanaby
panaby appeals Of the cold ,caier philantropists.
G. W. am sorry to find you so sensitive,
and yet, apparently, SO Indifferent 10 the well
fare and happiness Of those around you. You
have license, and you seem 10 consider that
this bit OF paper has some kind Of toilsmanic IN
fuence, and that it is bill of indulgence, un-
der which you may 'perperale any crime with
impunity Let me advise you to preserve 1t
with great care for fear of losing II place 1t be
tween the lids OF your Bible, it will be safe there,
inasmuch as that book is neuer read by rum
seller. When you come to lie down upon
your bed of death, have it placed before your
eyes-so close that the spectral images OF your
victims may not terrify you. Give orders TO
have it, after your death, pinned TO your
shroud and when you are called TO stand be-
| fore the bm-not yor bar-not al the bar
where drunkdrds are made, but at the bar
where d,ynkards are condemned; when the
wreched victims of your traffic confrpnt you,
and charge you with their everlasting destruc-
| 4 Il 49, n a. ~. IL Ltsrfh