Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-22
m m unicatiOn.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
NUMBER XII

therefore, the manufacturer himself is guilty Of i'm
morality while thus engaged: it follows, that where
Legislative action projects the manufactures IN his
business by authorizing the sale Of Alcohol, that
such legislation encourages the Preparation Of NOR
al evil; and consequently, becomes responsible for
the evils flowing from the traffic upon society.
It IS time however, to turn to another matter en-
braced in the proposition now under consideration.
Legislative action is not only required to prohibit
the traffic IN Intoxicating liquors, because the man
ufacture Of Alcohol is great moral evil but also
2. Because the sale Of it is morally wrong. There
are a number of reasons that might be assigned,
showing this to be so, but, l shall not consider these
IN detail L shall notice very briefly, but a few of
these. As
a. The sale of intoxicating liquors is morally
wrong, because, the very fact Of their exhibition for
such a purpose, is a strong and dangerous tempta-
ton set before the public to do evil. The object of
the Yenderis, to induce the public to purchase his
liquors, and hence the preparations to show them off
70 TIE best advantage. lie may however, say that
he does not Try 10 persuade any man to drink 50
lar from this, that he actually advises them many
times not to do 50, assuring them that it will iniure
them. While, however, he exhibits his LIQUORS, or
adyerises them, thereby assuring the public that he
IS ready to furnish them with such liquors: he uses
the strongest kind Of temptation he could to induce
the public to deal with him, and IS I therefore equal
~ as guilty OF q morally wrong act, as if he actual
ly attempted to persuade them by word to purch-
ase. 1t Is the temptation he sets before the public
dhdb II luF INSTRUMENT or eVIf, ana ne Is directly
responsive for t6 influence that this temptation
exercises upon the public. AT the same time lie be-
comes responsible for all the evils which grow out
OF this influence exerted upon the public by this in
strument OF evil. And while it may be true, that
he is not responsible for the fact that men drink and
consequently commit outTages upon others vet, he
certainly becomes responsible for all those evils pro-
ceedIng from the drunkenness of his customers, in
asmuch as those evils have proceeded from the in
strument which he set before them that induced
them to commit those outrages.
If indeed it be true that he frequently advises
ms customers not to use his liquors, (Which | con-
less IS a matter hard to believe) because he assures
them that 1t will injure them it IS a plain acknowI-
edSement that he is engaged in an employment
that Is injurious to the public. Out of his own
month therefore, must be be condemned. If it in
Jures them, then it follows that he is furnishing them
with dangerous substances, and is therefore wicked
" employed. This very fact, IF it be a fact) that
ne advises them not to use his liquors, is a very
strong proof that he knows that it will infict q
great evil upon the public as well as mon invidu-
as, ana that consequently, he wilfully commits an
evil upon the community. In every way therefore
mat this subject can be viewed, it is only evil and
that continually.
1t is not only morally wrong, because it is placing
q temptation before the public, but
(2.) 1T is so, because it is taking from their CHS
toners their money and property without giving
them an equivalent for it. This is an act Of sheer
injustice. 1t is rs wrong in itself as if he were to
take their property and money from them per force !:
ana more SO, for III this latter case he would only be
doing them a pecuniary injury, but by taking their
property and money for the poison he gives them.
ne not only does thema pecuniary injury. but brings
EVIL upon their souls and exposes them to eyerlast-
ing lniamy and anguish. It is under the influence
ol MS own ayarlcious disposition that he will, for a
sIX-pence or a shilling send these miserable Victims
OF his injustice into everlasting burnings.
That the consumer of Alcohol does not get an
equivalent Tor his money, &C.: is evident. For it
affords him no kind of nourishment-i does not
protect him against disease, il does not cure him Of
any malady, it affords him no help to perform his
daily task Of labor, nor does it inyigorate and ex-
pond his intellect, nor supply him and his family
Wlth any OF the necess2ries Of life, nor does it quail
ny hlm Tor any useful service to society in none Of
these respects does it afford him any benefit; but.
on the contrary, in every one of these Instances. ii IS
an mdIscriboble evil to him. His money is gone,
MS property wasted, his family reduced to poverty
and want, his health is destroyed, his reputation
sffHtGd and insane, his soul covered over with guilt
and pollution, sinks down in deepest sorrow, and he
dies an outtast from God. and is doomed to eternal
VOL! All this he BUYS Of the GROCER. Oh!
the cruel injustice OF this traffic. But
3D. 1t is exceedingly unjust to the whole COM
munity. This injustice consists in %inficting upon
society all the evils inseparably connected with in
temperance. These evils comprehend
The expenses brought upon the community by
intGmpeTance occasi0ned by the traffic on account
of the pauperism in the land.
The insanity and idiocy oceasioned by intenipcr-
ance brought on by this traffic. This produces an
enormous amount Of expenses.
The loss sustained by the community, by the dis
tinction Of property by sea and land owing chief
ly to the drunkenness Of those in whose care the
property is placed.
The vast amount Of expenses on account of lit
cations in courts of law, together with all fines anC
5 iIn]Trisomcnts for the same.
- The g~rcatloss sustained on account Of the lessen
49, 7 - IL --1---1 81
= ne Of the products OF the labor obtained from tn
/, inebriatc.
The estimates Of losses sustained on account @
these things, together wish the consumption Of
!, vast amount Of grain in the manufacture OF intoXi
l eating drinks, and all the time aadlabor lost in ti
n business, amounts to the enormous sum Of nor
y than two hundred millions of dollars per annum.-
T. This is wholly lost to the community, and for While
, not one cent is received us a remuneration. No Oh
is benefited by this traffic but the manufacture
and wonders Of these articles. The community ia
y out Of their own pockets, this whole amount: an
II Ill to enrich those manufacturers and vendors
Alcohol, who, like so many giant VAMPIRE
suck the LIES blood OF The nation.
az But the sale Of Intoxicating liquors is mora
ly wrong, because, it is a violation of the gener
p principles OF divine revelation on this subject.
u The principles of divine revelation on the SUI
III ject of moral right or wrong, forbid the doing
n every thing that viii iniure another. 1t likewi
OF requires of every one such q course Of conduct t
q wards others, as will secure to them their just al
equal rights. 1t considers all delinquencies in the
6 matters on the one hand and all violations on t
other, as highly criminal. Now, the sale Of stro
drink is obviously y%iolative of the principles
n right, as revealed in the Bible. Its laying a stu,
MS bling-block in the way of the public by which I
people may be ensnared to their great hurt. III
as is wholly wrong and is a direct violation of
rights of the people. This appears from the f
- lowing considerations
- l.. 1t violates the law Of equal justice. The l
in this case is comprehendcd in the following tern
'"l Therefore, all things whatsoever We would that n
m should do to you, do We even so to them for thi.
cir the law and the prophets Mat. vii, II. The Ct
nc text will show that giving evil things to Others
y violation OF this law because it cannot be fulfil
unless our conduct towards others is the same as
=, would that theirs should be towards us. If the
'h' fore it would be wrong in a moral sSase for ano
er to iniure us in our property. health, reputat
and family in this life, and subject us to evil in
next; it necessarily follows that whatever course
conduct on our part towards others, produces 81
results with regard to them, must for the same I
son be morally wrong in US. Now it is beyond
dispute that the sale of intoxicating liquors d
this in every case where it is used, to the prof.
/ tionate extent to which it's used; consequently
sale of it in all such instances does the persol