The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-04-12
Communicate.
fROr the Ohio Union.l
APPEAL To LIQUOR SELLERS---N0. LII.

TRor the Ohio Union.l
APPEAL To LIQUOR S~ELLERS--N0. III.
SIRs: / presume you all agree with
me, that no mar who claims 10 belong 10
the human species, should follow a bust
ness which does injury, and nothing but
injury, to his fellow men. We appeal to
you, then, TO cease the traffic in in:oxi-
eating liquors, because it dOes injury, only
injury, and unalrerable injury, to your Tel
low men, IN all relations and circum'
stances. Scarce any other business, Pur-
sued by man, is productive Of so much
mischief, as this. We have all reprobaled
the slave. trade. We have beard Of, and
almos, wept over the horrors Of the middle
passage. Most civil governments regard
and treat this traffic as piracy. And yet,
even this horrid slave trade does not pro-
duce ss terrific and extensive evils as the
traffic in alcoholic drinks. The separa.
ton from friends by the slave traders, is
scarce more sgonizing than 10 see them
dying BY inches, under the operation Of
this slow poison, with all its accompania'
ments of shame, Eisery, remorse, moral
degradation and prospective woe. Death,
itself, is not sooner produced by slavery,
than by drunkenness. Aud the fearful
sufrerings Of the middle passage are surely
no, worse than the horrors of delirium
Gemens.
The bondage Of the slave master is not
more degrading, or more difficult 10 escape
from, than that Of alcohol. Slavery leaves
the mind and heart, TO some extent, free
and the slaves may practice pieiy, and rise,
finally, to glory and 10 God. But the
traffic in alcoholic drinks, produces a habit
which binds the very soul Of man TO the
TAR of lust, and drags j. down 10 eternal
death. Nor is The proportion Of slaves
torn from Africa, 10 its one hundred and
fifty millions OF inhabitants, as large as the
proportion Of those who die annually, in
the United States, from drunkenness, 10
its tEeRty-three millions Of population.
know you would be offended 3, being
compared TO the inhuman monsters who
engage 10 The slave trade and who are re
garded and treated as pirates. do no
make the comparison. But it is a fac
which no man can deny, who is willing Il
lces Al things as The exist, that the legiti
mate, necessary and actual results Of you
traffic.. are in many and mos, respects
more dreadful than those Of the Africa
slave trade.
But perhaps you regard me as speakin
TOO strongly. Look a little more minu'cl
II this subject, and | trust you will cOnle'
that it is almost impossible 10 speak 10
strongly. | cannot detail all the evi
growing on, of your traffic. Langual
fails. Imagination confesses its weskne,
here. Nor do | mean TO affirm that cvei
one Of you produce these evils. But Il
business 10 which you are eagagod doe
And that business, as you carry il o
must produce more OF less Of them-mu
lend directly to produce them all. 70
business makes drunkardsl Men are n
naturally dmnkOrds,-Ihey become SO
gradual process. And To- this procel
your traffic is Indispensable. HnO h9n
was sold, as beverage, drunkenness Won
be impossible. And what are men wi
become drunkasAsi They arc men wi
are robbed Of reputation, prosperity, frien'
health and h~appinsssf and sooner or lat
fife aud soul. They become, speedi
n objects Of shame, scorn and hooiing,
all who know them. They are dsgrad
and speedily sink TO deeper degrat
lion.
Who wishes TO be regarded as the cor
or companion Of ~drunksrdsi Who dc
NOT regardihsm as among the mOstbss'
Ted and depravcto Of meni Their und'
standings are snfeeblsd, their cOnscisnc
benumbsd. ihsir moral ssnsibiliiies blend,
their hearts hardened and their brutal pI
sions aroused. They are los. to sOciet
10 friends, 10 happiness and to heaven.
They sre miserable, and fast sinking In
deeper misery. Poor, wreiched. Loaf
some. brutal ouicssis, for time and sier
", from man and from God. To So