Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-12-21

Your most obedident s~erv't,
j.. DEBRUN.
Scotland, for a number Of years, has gain
ed the unenviable notoriety of being the most
intemperate nation in the use of Alcoholic Ii
uuors, to be found in Europe. Parlimenta-
nv statistical returns have shown an enorn12HS
consumption f Gf sGrSf (i6r the
ana g The c~onimunitX @.fIcultural
P o : he it. 20 their honor and
O. arc the most temperate,
4sal, peasantry in Europe.) The enor-
NOUS consumption of liquors among the OPP
~eratives and mechanics, has long ago arrest.
ed the attention Of the sober and philanthro-
pic of the nation. For years, in almost eve
nv town, Temperance Societies have been in
existence, doing much good but it is to be
regretted that the established Clergy have
never as q body used their influence against
1ntemperance. A few of them having actu-
ally denounced Temperance Societies, from
the pulpit, as being unscripturaI The back
wardness of the Established Clergy to join
tho great moral reformation has, no doubt,
retarded thousands from joining the move
ment and becoming sober, useful members
of society.
The amount Of stipend or salary of the Es-
tablished Clergy depends wholly on the price
of grain. Every year the ,fdrs, or medium
priee-ef7 gram, rs cufcufEtei !; # tho liars or
medium price of grain for the year current is
thirty shillings per quarter, the Clergymen
of the district receive just half as much stip-
end or salary as they would receive, were the
grain selling at sixty shillings per quarter
the grain varying in price according to the
convenience or distance from market. When
Breadstuffs, therefore, are selling at enor-
nous famine prices, the more lucrative is
the salary of the Clergy. Now, it has been
calculated pretty accurately that if all the
brewing houses and distilleries were stopped,
the cereal food would fall in price very con-
siderably, as nearly one-half of the grain
grown in Scotland is yearly destroyed ut the
mailing houses, and changed from healthy
food to vile, unhealthy, poisonous liquors.
Whiskey being distilled from all kinds of
grain, and Porter and Ale are vile decoctions
Of the juice of Barley, with mixtures Of dead
ly narcotics.
Were the manufacturing of alcoholic liquors
abandoned, and a Maine liquor law in full
operation in Scotland, what a blessing of in
estimable value it would be to the poorer
classes. The rent of lands would become
less, but in the end it would be a great gain
to the land owners. Crime would decrease,
poverty would give place to virtuous plenty.
The Bridewells, Warehouses and Poor-hous-
cs would become deserted, thereby lessening
the taxes on property, which under the reign
of Intemperance have become enormous
The salaries of the established Clergy would
become less, but surely from their ~princely
incomes, varying from about two to upwards
of four thousand dollars F! ! per annum, a
most liberal deduction could be made, leaving
them ample means to enjoy both the necessa-
ries and temperate luxuries of life. The two
classes opposing the entire disusc of liquors,
are the landed proprietors and the estab.
lished Clergy in general but notwithstand-
ing this formidable opposition, the good cause
is progressing nightly. A League, for a
few years has been in operation, called the
Scottish Temperance League )" its branch.
es have overspread the length and breadth o.
the land it is daily growing in beauty and
in strength already it has lessencd the Ii
censed drinking houses nearly one-half, anC
the time is not far distant when the Main,
liquor law will he in operation from Land
End to John OtGroat's. Recent English
Newspapers contain the following cheerin!
intelligence of a United Kingdom Alliance
formed of the most distinguished names il
Britain. Already large and influential meet
ing have boon held in London, Manchester
Edinburg, &C., at which the following De
claration has been adopted:
general council OF tn
United Kingdom Alliance hereby affirm an,
record the following declaration:
L. That it is neither right nor polite for til
State to afford legal protection and sanctioI
to any traffic or system that tends to increas
crime, waste the national resources, to COZ
rupt the social habits, and to destroy tn
health and lives of the people.
2. That the traffic in intoxicating liquor.
as common beverages, is inimical to the tru
interests Of individuals, and destructive of tn
order and welfare of society, and ought, there
fore, to be prohibited.
3. That the history and results of all pas
legislation in regard to the liquor trait
abundantly prove that it is impossible t
satisfactorily limit or regulate a system S
essentially mischievous in its tendencies.
4. That no consideration Of private gain {
public revenue can justify the upholding of
system so utterly wrongin principle, suicidi
in policy, and disastrous in result, as til
traffic in intoxicating liquors.
5. That the legislative prohibition of tt
liquor traffic is perfectly compatible wit
national liberty, and with all the claims
t Justice and legitimate commerce.
G.. That the legislative suppression of Il
liquor traffic would be highly conducive
: the development of q progressive civilizatio
, I. That, rising above class, sectarian,
party considerations, all good citizens shou'
combine to procure an enactment prohibitir
the sale of intoxicating beverages, as affor
? ing most Efficient aid in removing the apps
4 ling evil of intemperance.
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