Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-10-06

But to such defamation It was unansweratly replied,
that whatever the evils Of the practice might be 1t
was impossible to rcprcss them by prohioitory cE-
actments and that the attempt to do 30 had been
productive Of lar more mischief, than hSd ever re-
suited, or could be expected to result, from the
greatest abuse of spirits.
Such is brief outline of this celebrated embargo
on the use of spirp, and such the fate Of this first
attempt, by the strongest ana best Government on
the face Of the cari to take nway the taste for such
an article, or at least lessen SIS consumption The
experiment failed because Il was ut war with nature,
who is ever victorious over the folly of man. but
it is strange that this same Government, disregard
ing the instruction and suggestion Of it's own history,
should have tried nt Inter dny, again to reverse
the law of God which requires the use of stimulus
by man, TO be again defeated.
still sadder tale can be tod Of Legislation against
spirits in Ireland Would that there were space to
give the narrowing story in all its details, but If any
one disputes it he shall be pointed to the Record
Certainly il entire prohibition of tho disiialion or
retail Of spirits, if heavy taxes to prevent either
in an undue degree enforced by constant surveillance
of the police and sevcres. regulations of the military
could make people sober, the Irish would be the
most so of any nation on earth. Besides other ty-
rannica cnactmcnts in order to encourage spies and
bid for treason among brothers, rs well ~ to make
the posscssors Of property pin heartily in the sup
preston of illicit distation:and retailing, the novel
cxpcdient was here resorted 10 of imposing heavy
fine on every Parish, Townand, Nianorland or Lord
ship, in which an unlicensed Still was found, while
the unfortunate wretches caught working in Is, were
subjected to transportation tor seren years.
Bu, instead of putting down illicit distillation.
these unheard of cructics rendered It universal and
filled the country with bloodshed and even rebellion
to the civil authority as well as the military force Of
the Government. Whole Districts were absolutely
dsorganizcd, the only result being the exasperaon
Of the popuIacc and the preparation of the most
revolving atrocities BY then,p-d the military. The
Rerenue Commissioners reported in 1871 that in
the teeth of the above barbarous statutes and in
despite Of the cxcrtons Of the police and military to
prevent it, six millions Of gallons were consumed in
Ireland annually that rvadcd both the duty on DIS
,ation and the license ON retailing 1t is said by
the Rev. Mr. CmcMEerER, in his valuable pamphlet
on the Irish Distillery Lesos, published in 1918,
that The Irish system seemed to have been form
cd, in order to pcrpetuate smuggling and anarchy.
1t has culled the evils Of both savage and civilized
life, and rejected all the advantages which they
contain The calamities Of civilized warfare, arc in
general inferior to these produced by the Irish Dis
tlery Laws" Hence England was driven in 1923,
not by humanity, but for the sake Of her Revenue,
to reduce the tax on disiillafien and license The
consumption Of Liquor that paid duty, Immediately
arose in round numbers from 100000 gallons to
100000 annually, at which it has continued, with
slight luctuation ever since sometimes much more,
sometimes little less Ireland was All unfortunate
country in which to make such an experiment, be-
cause not only of the temperament Of her sors, but
of their extreme poverty by reason of British taxa
ton and consequent inability to buy Tea, Coffee or
Tobacco. as substitute.
The History Of Scotland furnishes the same in
structivc lesson MS does, dare fay, that of many
States the Continent, upd yet we Americans in
many portions of this este9sive country, which is
breaking in two of its own sight. disregarding the
admonition of all His,orSs ssephy which
lB esaHp:s, Si%s ihe