Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-05-02
ABOLITION OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
BY LucIAN MINOR.
ToIIrHE people oFsvIRGINIA.

But were the money embarked IN that business
ten times what il decomposition for the makers or
vendors would be greatly misplaced, if they be
compelled to turn their capital to better uses.
The change would soon be 10 their own great adj
vantage Their true solid Interests would be pro-
NOTED by abandoning the unhaIlowed traffic. In
some useful and honest pursuit, sounder morals
and more thriving fortunes among their customers
more extensive dealings in what they sell, and more
punctual habits. of payment,-will soon repay
Them manifold Tor the pittances they-now wing
trem the drunkard's trembling hand Themselves
would be saved from the danger Of intemperance
which has usually ingulphed more than three
tourths oil those who sold such Liquors. In this
walk OF mischief indeed, pre-emnenuy, it seems
to be ordained that the ensnarer shall be caught in
his own snare. So vast proportion of drnk-sell-
ers, or their sons or son-in-laws. become drunk
ards, that 1t must be deemed Heavens chosen re-
trloutlon for the crime of poisoning. "The poi
Soned challce Is commended TO the prisoners own
lips" r4r ..-la
How different the drunkard. makers gains, from
those OF the honest farmer, physician, lawyer
mechanic! Every labor of theirs sweils the wealth
or promotes the welfare of some lellow-man; and
OF the community also, by creating value, saving
from loss, or relieving from pain. And every dol
lar they receive, may be deemed sort of testiao-
mai 10 the value OF what it was paid for. Suppose
this testimonial written upon the coin, and the
farmers money might ad,-"Ths certifies, that
that the bearar has furnished ten working men with
breadStuf for week." The carpenters: s"rhe
bearer hereof. has built comfortable house 10
She!tet lalSe iaullly.' Inc phySlclan'S The
bearer has cured J. S. of dangerous illness, in
time for him to harvest his crop, which would 9TH
erwiSe have been lost" And the lawyers: "rhe
bearer, by his disnterested advice, has saved b. c.
from engaging in a tedious, EXPENSIVE, and doubt
full law Sut.'' ai., -.-=-H nj
But for the liquor-dealer's earnings what equiv
alent does any man receive? None. His custo-
mers receive what is not only valueless, but the
deadEest bane of human happiness. And every
dollar he receives, instead of teStfyng 10 the good
lie mas u0ne, memorial OF the mischief he has
spread around him.
His coin should be inscribed-'Ths quarter of
dollar certifies that the bearer has made man
beat his wi[e.''-ssrhiS nine-pence witnesses that
its owner caused poor man 10 lie down by the
way-sde i'll a winter night and freeze TO DEATH"
'This dollar is memorial of seven days and nights
OF wretchedEeSS, which Were given to whole lam
lily In exchange for it.''-''IhS bag of money GER
titles, that the has sent two Of his neghburs
to Jail, and their wives and children to the poor
use."-"The bearer hereof caused man 10 be
murdered; for which the murderer Is in the peni-
tentiary.''-
Yes THE LIQUOR MAKERS AND THE LIQUOR Sell.
LER's MONEY TIE PRICE OF MISERY, OF CRIME, AND
OF BLOOD.
Even to tIlem-thoSe great authors of crime and
wretchednesS-you owe it is mercy TO snatch
them from their "road to ruin" Not only the pes
tlent nature of their Calling but the certainty, if
we judge of the future by the past, that far the
most of them will be drunkardS, and beggar their
families--makes it your duty, us rulers and guar
them and to their wives and children. More and
more of them will meet the fate they deal out to SO
many others: because men VINO persist in such a
traffic, amid the glare of light which the last 25 yrs
has shed upon its miSchietS must have hearts and
minds too callous, too incapable of noble feelings
and high thoughts, to Withstand sensual tempta-
tons. For years it has been remarked that the
traffic was falling into lower and lower hands: the
hands of creatures in whom british traits override
the human traits; and who, Therefore, will natural
ly be over mastered by brutul appeties. ga
To abolish that nuisance, we ence thought that
no coercion would be needed:ithat feelings of hui
manity, and want of buyers the Temperance
Reformation prevailed, would induce the dealers
voluntarily 10 quit their dreadful trade. Thous-.
ands including mostof the conscientious and good,
did yield to the calls of humanity. Butvery many
no more needed the appeal than hungry wolf
would be persuaded TO leave his PROSTATE, bleeding
prey: and these received acceSSions from lower
grades, perhaps out-numbering the humane and
Conscientious renouncerS of the trade. The whole
army of dealers lave been so active--have piled
their allurements SO effectually-have made Temp
tationS SO to swarm through town and country--as
in great degree 10 have ueutraiZed the Reforma-
lion. Continually, reclaimed inebriates have Leen
made to relapse, and new ones been formed. The
ties of nearest kindred have been forgotten in the
love of gain. Unfortunates, who imperceptibly 10
themselves had been enchanted by the Habit of
drunkenness; who at times had freed themselves
but been caught again and no painted for deliver
ance, but whose weakness made the success of
their life or-death struggle depend upon the alb
Sence of temptation; have found the fatal bait
thrown daily in their way, by the last hands that
should have dealt such death. Brothers have
thus tempted their brothers to destruction; and faith
erS their sons. .. IL.
There is no hope of arresting this mighty tide of
evil, but by prohibition. "Moral SuaSion," adj
dressed to the dealers, has utterly failed and will
ever tall with that large number of men who value
money not only more than Socety'S pence and well
fare, but more than brothers children's lives
To recommend Moral Suaslon longer, towards such
men, is a cruel mockery of the unhappy sufferers
by the traging OF strong drink" LEG l. SnaSion
oilers the SOLE hope of inducing those to quit their
quest of gain, with whom dollars and cents out
weigh all The promptings Of public spirit, Kindness,
and justice.
But with the drinkers, the case is far diiferent-
Towards them. Moral Suasion is all that ask
all that would have. They q repeat) are I'M
conscious OF the net they have glided into until it
is closed upon them. Never punish them for being
victims: for an imprudence, which is always its
own punisher. Do you fine the money borrower
Tor falling in the usurer' grippe ?-or mprson the
traveller, whose purse is taken on the highway
or the stabbed man, for suffering dirk to be driv-
Ell into his body ?-No-you punish the usurer-
the robber-the stabber. Just SO, apply moral SUI
aston 10 the deuded bibber of wine or spirit: but
to the manufacturer and vender-to the drunkard
maker,-say, i'll voice that shall be heard in every
mile square from Hancock to Norfolk, from Mary
land to Tennessee, t'TuoU SHALT NOT KILL!
So far from Furnishing drinkers would repeal
the present unwise, and never executed law which
threatens fine for getting drunk. Appeals to
their reason-to their selt-reSpect, and sense Of
duty and interest-would be infallibly successful,
if accompanied by a careful Punishment of temra-
ton And the proposed Law would Danish it:
would put the means Of self-destruciion out of
their way, as parent takes dangerous weapons
out of child's hand, to prevent 1t hurting his
himself or others. 5e,s g. ltss fas
In that Law there should be no prohibition of
any mans buying or keeping liquor for his own
use, or to treat his friends with. The Maine Law
contains no such prohibition. Misapprehension
on this point has been widely diffused: and kept
alive by some, after being correctly informed-to
render the Law odious,
The writer does not ask you now to command
the Massage of the Law. He would not have it