The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-10
Mr.. MoRRIs-Please give the following
article, from the Boston Journal, a place
in your paper, and by so doing oblige
SUBSCRIBER
Wholesale Liquor Dealers.

1--WE have not q doubt that in the opin.
ion Of many men, the Wholesale dealer
occupies much higher position in the
scale of morality-immeasurably higher
than does the retailer. But is he really
entitled to such position upon any Just
principle? We do not hesitate 10 answer
no! We care not for his fine apparel, his
costly furniture. or his princely dwelling.
They are stained all over with the blood
OF the victims of his unholy calling. 1t
crimsons the rich man,les in which the gay
vile and daughters faunt by the wretched
and thinly clad children of want and des.
titution, made so by his trade. Every
stone in his marble palace has dragged
some soul down to the drunkard's hell
upon earth. Every spring in his sofa has
cost the sirews Of some strong man. Eve.
~ wire string in his piano has been torn
from some painting bosom. All the gorge
Gus dyes in his soft carpets have been cum
ningly extracted from the bodies of his
victims. There is the bright vermill;on,
drawn from the throbbing arteries of weak
women-the ultra marine of children g
blue eyes-and the lake white, ground
from young mems bones wrought in beau.
tiful devices and brightly colored flowers,
which he treads proudly under his feet
Yes, had he q conscience, he might fear
to tread that "crimson carpet" lest his
feet should slip in the gore, or the bones
crackle under them, or the starry flowers
look up with fearful, human eyes. re-
proachfully upon him, from its delicate
woof. He might start up shuddering, from
the spring seat of his luxurious sofa, as il
he felt human muscles contracting under
him. He, would fly from the sound OF his
rosewood piano. as though every key.
touch sent forth wall Of human agony
He would shun his gilded mirror. as though
a ghost lurked behind its quicksilver ANAL.
gam, ready to stare upon his face and re.
proach him for its murder. He would moi
dare to seat himself behind his blood horses
purchased with the price Of blood--iesl
the echoing sound of every proud hoo
fall might summon q spirit from the land
Of shadows. to charge him with the crimes
which naturally and inevitably result from
his unrighteous business! Shall be be
deemed comparatively innocent because
he pours out poison by the wholesale?
AS well might one who should poison
the waters in the Croton Aqueduct plead
Innocence. because, forsooth. no drew i
mot forth from the leaden pipes and pres
sed it 10 the lips Of the citizens. And il
he not guilty Of the meanness Of adulter
ating that which is already poison? as i
the hot draught were not potent enough
for the destruction OF the body and sou
until they drugged 1t with the fiery essences
of Delirium Tremens, SO that the brain o
him who drinks the accursed draught
shall TEEN with phantoms snakes and dag
gers and bring prematurely upon him th'
horrors Of the damned. Surely when mel
shall come to realize the true nature of ihi
horrible course which overshadows tn
whole land they will assign to every on
engaged in it his proper place in the seal
Of morality"