Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-27

US occular demonstration, that ne is gross Z
violator of the tenth commandment. tilt
is with feelings Of horror that we con- '
template such a man, dispensing daily I
to his fellow nah a whitening curse I
A man whose daily employment is 10 i
scatter abroad over these lands plague Z
that preys upon the very heart strings
OF his fellow men; plague that spares
not the high nor thelow, bat casts an in
tense gloom on every circle and strikes
the death blow to the man upon the
highest pinacle ofhonor, as well as the de.
graded, breadless pauper; we say that it
IS with feelings of profound horror, that
we contemplate the conduct of such
man; but when his conduct is viewed in
IN another aspect, we cannot suppress a
feeling Of holy indignation and disgust.
II is the habit Of some venders Of ar
dent spirits to utter words Of professedl
sympathy, and dcommiseration. How do
they pity that poor drunkaFd, as he reels
from bis tavern, grocery, or dram shop,
with bloated face, trembling hands, and
ragged apparel, and how does he pro-
fess to asympathise with his broken hear
ted wife. o.! yes, he contemplates her,
poverty-stricken, setting in poor diIapi-
dated hut, with a group Of pale, mendi-
can't children gathered around her, with
fast falling tears, occasioned by the era
wings Of hunger. Olwith what SYM
pathetic tone of voice does he breathe
forth such sentiments. Is it not enough
to arouse holy indignation in the heart Of
every philanthropist, when he considers
that that man, had not been reeling, bloa-
ted and ragged, except his money had
gone into the vender's Golfers, and that
poor woman, had not been, with her be-
loved butmendicant children, all wretch
ed and woeful; had, not been paupers,
and outcasts, but to crafty the covetous
desires of the heartless liquor dealer p
Away with such sympathy and commits
Grafton. Utter these words to sense
less rock; utter such sentiments only
when you bow to your gods Of gold and
silver, tell them not to a rational and in
telligent being. Such words uttered in
hearing Of drnnkard's family, would bul
plunge them into the most consum mate
wretchedness.
4 What is the constant cry of the liquor
dealeri As unwilling as he may be L
admit it, yet the circumstances Of hi,
position amounts to indubitable evidence
We say his cry is, let men disgrace them
selves, and become miserable inebriates
and Gil the drunkard's grave let thei
wives be bToken-hearted and forlonel,
, sunk TO the cold grave; let their children
be thrown upon the bosom Of an unfriend
lily world and wander as vagabonds, but le
me haze their money, let mg Golfers be fl
ed. o give me their houses, their maj
servants, and maid servants and asses
,, and am content. o! yes, beloved idc
. Of my heart, more precious than the hap
lpiness, and comfort Of my fellow men j
this life, and more to be desired than a
i inheritance incorruptible, undefled an
i that fadeth not away, in the kingdom {
Heaven. My dear God Of gold. allor
! me to cling 10 thee with deathless tenas
: lity. Why should be concerned thoug
4 a host Of men die drunkards daily? WI
Z should care though the walls of discor
solate widows, and the piercing cry
! the helpless orphans be sounding col
!, stantly in my ears Why should i car
Z so am blest with the privilege Of wo
Z Shipping SO profoundly, and with such a
- - dent devotion at thy shrine. How do,
Il he discourse out Of a full heart, to
= God of gold: but how deeply imbeddt
: ! in bis heart, is the principle Of inhuma
{, lity; how perfectly controlled. and prom
~ ted by the accursed and selfish dispo.
- y tion Of covetousness.
= But covetousness consists not only
an inordinate love Of money but an inc
: y dinate love for worldly good and ples
- ure, by which the supreme good is su
IA verted; therefore, the vender is the {
i. casion Of covetousness in his fellow me
,s Does not the drunkard covet the exhII'
y, ating draught, above all earthly thing
a. And has not the vender greatly contr
III uted to infame that coFetous desire,
\. he would by adding fuel to fire? A
r. has he not succeeded to such an exit
- as that the drunkafd is ready to sacrif
bo, his honor, his wealth, and the happin,
IN of one, whom he led to the hymenial
mi tar, with feelings of strong affection
nj Is he not willing to sacrifice the conf
,Mar M and intellectual and moral culture of
@ 'nv children, and to fasten upon them a 1
:. stain, which cannot be wiped away
/. So strongly does he covet the liquor tit
IL er's beverage, that be is sready TO beco
~ ~ a devil incarnate and turn his once b
!, = py home, into hell upon earth.
hs vender Of spirituous liquors, has so
M fed the covetous appetite Of the r
I ~ drunkard, and the love Of strong dI
y has such control over him, that I
a. llieve there have not been few instar
~ I lin which the unfortunate inebriate, Y
q & q trembling hand, would seize the poi.
= q { Eous glass and swallow its contents,
W he exnectad the heaviest shafts of G