Spirit of the age., 1853-05-25


RyWe copy, with great pleasure, the sub
joined article from the Weekly Post, of this
CITY, and reoi e in finding so able an ally in the
great work of Reform. We hope others OF
our contemporaries will follow suit, instead of
publishing articles from opponents to reform,
and thus aiding in gripping the great wo'k:
REFoRM-Whatever may be said or thought
of the wisdom of those measures which have
been recently adopted in several of the North
ern States for the abolition Of the liquor traffic
no good citizen can occupy neutral ground IN
regard to the vice Of intemperance, which those
measures are intended to suppress. There
are honest differences Of opinion as to the right
Of the mniority of the citizens Of State to
enact laws which must necessarily prevent the
use us well as the abuse of particular articles
of luxury, but there can he no honest difference
Of opinion as TO the right and absolute proprie
ty ofsuppressine and utterly banishing from
the bosom Of society those agencies OF Sltan-
the retail shops of liquor. beggary, and ruin.
The nauseous stuff that stands upon the
shelves. le ks from the barrels, and perfumes
the atmosphere Of these abominable localities.
had as it is, we shall not abuse. 1t is indeed.
generally, a most wretrhed apology for na-
tionaI beverage, disgusting to every palate not
already rendered caious by its use; but it is
only the material agent. the unconscious instrn-
me1t of disease and penury and DEATH To
indulge in epithets of abuse against it, would
I've fanciful method of de ding with the mon
ster vice which feeds and fattens upon it. Let
US rather turn our ewes upon those moral a.
gents, the keepers of the low groggeries that
IRE so frequently found near our towns, and in
them, and along the public highway, the favor
| ite resort of every ab ndoned character and the
nursery of every low species Of vice. Against
! them and their nefarious calling, the language
of denunciatiOn cannot be too strong, nor the
penalties of the LAW too severe. They are the
pests of every community, and ought to be
dealt with like every other great public evil
A radical remedy should be applied, which hav-
ing for it's primary object, not revenue but sup
preston, would command such universal a9.
proval from the people as to be carried out to
the end with fidelity and firmness.
We do not entertain doubt that measure
aimed directly and singly to this wholesome
object, would meet with the appreciation anc
support of a vast iority ofOnrcitizens. Every
body admits that those establishments which
areearried on upon liquor basis, where few
Indifferent articles of goods are retaied mere
" as blind to conceal the main article upor
which the profit depends, are moral nuisance.
that breed the corruption they feed on, anC
that society would be highly benefit d by thei
entire removal. They are acknowledged to b'
the prolific centres of every vicious influence
and the grand school of crime. where the future
. victims Of the law are regularly trained to thei
f doom. Who can suppress the wish that thu
enlightened legislation of the present day m
succeed in applying to so enormous an evil
radical remedy What lover of his countr
and his kind wonld not re oce to see this source
of national infamy abolished from among th
| elements of our social state ?
We are not arguing for the Maine Law
2 Our opinion in regard to it has been long ag
: made known. In some of its principles an
: provisions we have always thought that il wa
legislation carried 10 extremes But Main
: IS not necessarily our model. We want | "
r devised Ivy our own legislators with referenc
: to our pecIl ar w nts and exigencies. an
f with wis discretion steering wide from an,
p invasion of the p rSonal rights of the well-b
: havea citizen We want laws we'll founded
: not upon anv new theory Of morals or 1overr
ment, bat upon the long es s'ahIishcd principe
i which have so happily sustain d and preserve
our institutions in their integrity to the preseI
n hour. We want above all things healthy stat
l. OF public sentiment, which vii demand of thos
n who administer our laws faithful discls lsarG
e Of tn ir duty, and cause the vigorous enfoic,
:. ment Of them against everycl IS of offenders
h These remarks are not elected bv anylhir
l. new in tn aspect of things around US, but h
= a strong conviction that, as pubic ourna ist
q continually ope atng, like others. for wea' {
q woe. upon the interests OF society. we are 5oua
: to spe1k earnestly upon question of such Wit
IMPORTANCE. and to use our little influence
D gainst vice in all its multiplied forms.