Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-04-28

house every night' What fight have
l to i've the sanction of my example to
such haunts Of folly and vice, and by
walking into the theatre myself aid TO
decoy others there likewise.
Now on the same principle, not OF
sell preservation, for Of that am not now
speaking) but on the principle of avoid.
ing what is hurtful TO others, what rioht
have to sustain those magazines of
death, where poisonous drinks are soldl
what right have |, as lover of and
man, TO petition for them, or to Sustain
tsat traffic In any shape or manner9-
Il glass Of wine on my table will en-
TaP some young man, or some one whose
Inclination is very susceptible 10 alco-
holic stlmulant, into dissipation, what right
nave 10 set that trap for his life -
what right have to throw over the
drinking practice the sanction of rny us:
age a1d influence, so that he shall 90
away, and acknowledge me his tempter.
II the contents OF mat spgrS11ugs- glass
shall make my brother TO stumble, he
stumbles over me. | am an accomplce
IN the wrong. If he goes away from nv
table, and commits some outrage under
the effects of that stimulaut, am, 10 4
GGrsaIn nTod degg{est gs Strict was mine the oatbs
he uttered in his debauch were, to GER
tain degree, my blasphemies. | have
partnership right in them. But for me.
he might not have uttered them, and by
giving him the incentive prompted him
to them. The man who (in the language
Of Scripture) puts the bottle to his neigh
bor's lips is accountable for what comes
from those lips under the influence of the
exciting draught, and is accountable too
for what the maddened and bewildered
man may do during his temporary in
sanity.
But in the next place, if it be wrong
; for good men to set before others an ex-
J ample of drinking alcoholic drinks. how
} much more il is wrong TO offer them di-
| rectIy as matter of merchandise and
traffic. Here too, wish to present the
: moral argument That the sale of alco-
. hol is fsgalized in many of our States,
E do not deny. | see that, and know it,
and weep over ii. Under the existing
i regulations Of the Commonwealth in
It which l reside. the traffic in intoxicating
e drinks is made legal, snd for certain
IT specified sums men have license, '-as i
of is technically termed-to dispose of al
S, coholic drinks in certain quantities as ,
e beverage. They have hcense--a lega
g permission. In the primal statute bool
J. of the universe, | read this anathema-
IS whose thundeIboIt no human hand ear
- u IN Int {bo 1oy
il tie to has neighborr' r' This Is tie Divine
declaration, however men may sopHisti
cate themselves, Or delude each other
I'd The full import and power of licens,
IN to "put the bottle" To neighbor's lips, i
re greatly misunderstood and o1errated.-
Will "license" free mans conscIenc
in from the legitimate effects Of that whic
y, he is doing? Will that make repara
C, ton to man for the loss Of his money
he time, character, health and soul? Wi
ne that make reparation TO the family rot
SIS bed Of protection, and to a communit
robbed of its real wealth, the name an
strength of its patriot sons? Will tht
ful license soothe the widow whose outwsl
lst badges of mourning are but faint e;nblen
of the darkness that hangs like night u
on her broken sPiiffit3 is there any ira
''e' fcer in strong drink who means 10 tal
LII his license up 10 the judgment bar
so, entreat him 10 look well, and 81
whose image and superscription it bear
He may then find that fatal docume
nv countersigned in blood, and registert
in with the tears Of the lost in Gods book
ev- remembrance.
ri