Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-07-20
For The Free Prsss.
THE MAINE LIQUOR Law,
or
THE EFFECTS OF INTEMPERANcE.
by J. 3. JOHNSON, N. D.

Among the many subjects which interest
at present the public. and is extorting from
the public mind various opinions, - the
wiia Of 6a disHar TGnhiea SS tbs
commend itself fully to the minds Of the
philanthropist and moralist as comprehend
ing all that concerns the prosperity and hap
piness Of community. Already have pc.
titions gone forth from every part Of Virgin
ia as inyocations to the Legislature TO follow
the example Of Maine in abolishing the
& Liquor Traffic. aud with q stentorian
voice the people called the attention Of the
members Of the Legislature during the last
session Of that body Justly did the public
demand their notice, for. who can contem-
plate the consequences Of drunkenness With
out great disposition to offer bis aid and
countenance TO the adoption Of any method
or law tina. would Danish from the limits Of
our State the greatest curse that ever cross
ed its boundary, and diffused. its baneful ef.
fects among its citizens. Compare the
dreadful consequences Of incorporates With
any Of the extraneous; influences which ex-
cite the awe of man, and we find they dwin-
die into subjects Of minor considera-
ton. Pestilenee and war are only occa-
sional, aud mankind can elude their visits
hut drunkenness is perpetual, and its work
ings are always operating in engendering
misery, disease and death !; aud the obserya-
iion is borne out by the result Of an exami-
nation Of the mortuaTy statistics Of Virgin
ia, for we find that more than fftsea HUNDRED
die annually from the direct effect Of the
habit of intoxication, and that the annual
e. r.
FIVE millions Of dollars, Independent of The
loss consequent upon the imprndence accru-
ing from the habit Of dram drinking and
who will doubt the misery Of this Cerbesus-
like demon when be refers to the table of
paupers, and sees that it results in making
more than two thousand beings dependent
on the public, at tha enormous expense of
one hundred thousand dollars year, not
including that depauperaled multitude Of
men, women and children, who are Tot con-
sidered objects Of pnblics commisseration,
aud that BY the sale Of Whiskey more than
thirty thousand drunkards may be counted
within the limits Of our State. Or who
will doubt for one moment that four out Of
every Eve acts Of suicide, larceny aud riot
are not the direct effects Of inebriation a.
Who can examine these facts aud look a.
round at the brutal condition Of his fellow
man. without having every feeling Of bis
heart turned to resistance to stay the pro-
gress Of such demon s0pregnant with mis-
chief aud destruction TO al that is high and
holy7 And who can mediate the forlOrn
predicament Of tho inebTiate without feel
ing Of compassion and = desire TO rescue
him from the inevitable ruin andto restore
him again to that circle i should hare been
his pride to have made happy, and to make
good to her the trust, from whom be had
wrung 50 many CALLING tears aud again re-
kindle those ties Of affection which the
drunkard had extinguished BY bis inhuman
treatment and shameful neglect 10 smooth
from daughters cheek the blush Of shame,
SO often called to her innocent face by the
presence Of drunken father, and collect a
gain into enc band Of happy union that fam
Nv separated BY . fathers dissipation, aud
LEI them exclairn With exnilation that The
Z drunkard Is reclaimed Oh how sad il
win make the reformed drunkard feel, to
think Of tie Tretchedness produced By each
& cur Of Kindness" and Lcthean duaif! and
now much anguish fhoss dranebisH wfune
from The coniiding heart Of an snisbls wife,
Who had relinquisbed home, fortaos and
Iuxurv. 20 share the world with tie being
mon whom hsr artless affection vas bsstoW-
"a. ana meIanch,ly he vii Be . think that
,koss aeucrs a. Affection we're nippsd il
,hsir bua--eoIl uegIse: and mortified pride
* ,ysd upon her sposIess soul, until rsuorsse