The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-11-22

which it is said that whatsoever is deceived
thereby is not wise When Cassie ex-
claims, o, that men should put an enemy
in theIr mouths, to steal away their
braIns,' it was that invisible spirit of wine,'
he meant-that which is taken, not so
much in the form of wine itself, as )f al
cohoIic spirit, and the substitution Of wine
Tor which has always been found so salu.
tary, both AS respects health and morals.
That alcoholic spirit-taken as in any
other torn than that of wine it undoub-
tediy isl as alcoh"l-weakens and con-
tracts the animal fibre; and hence the
nervous energy of different organs is gene
rally Destroyed. The use OF such ardent
spirit, by stimulating the brain, and pro.
| ducimg II determination Of blood to the
head Is considered to be principal cause
ot appoPlexv aud sudden deaths in this
! country. But it does far more and far
worse than this. II demoralizcs, it de-
grades man, it destroys his reputation, it
blasts his character, it ruins his soul. 1t
is Il vice which deadeus the conscience and
prostitutes the reason of mau, thereby
exposing him Ia the inroads Of almost
every immortality. Wine. on the contra
ry, to quote ,br words of the present
Cuauce!i"r of the EHrhcqusr of England.
used in senatorial discussion on the sub
ject i'll hand, 10 'one Of the great gifts OF
Providence TO man; and, considering
what place 1t occupies among the means
OF subsistence, considering how many
useful and Wholesome ends it subServes in
connection with his physical temperament,
considering the manner in which it might
be uScd rs competing article with alco-
hoI!c spirit, IL were most desirable to place
it within the reach of all classes
This is the characteristic which wine
almost invariable bore in former times
especially when society was moral and
refined. r..
Bot We may rest our case upon still
higher grouud. Wine, rs we have seen,
~ris deslsDeG "ut only to eaiiSen, but
10 strengthen uiau's heart Tee sanitory
Reasons inr promoting the use of wine aro
oG tie strongest kind. So, also, are NOR
al aud social. And movement is going
Oh in England for the reduction Of the
duties ON wines, which is stimulated,
mainly, by such considerations. The
member OF The Imperial Parliament,
whose speech Nc have taken as the text
OF this article, has addu.ed some forcibe
testimonies in support Of those views, and
to eni-rce his arguments. lie quotes, for
INSTANCE, the opinion Of the late Mr. Por-
Ter, whose statistical research and compu
tatIons, AS rel iorth in his Progress Of
the Nation, and other productions, have
established his reputation as one Of high
authority, not only in England, but all
throughout Europe, and even in America.
Aud bI, testimony is conveyed in these
feS words
have very little hesitation in giving it
a. my opinion that to introduce the con-
sumption of wines TO the great mass Of
the people OF this country, would prove u
great moral blessing
Another weli-qualiiied opinion ad.
duced is that Of Mr., Laurie, who has de-
clared:
The reduction Of duty on wine would
teul To make the people more moral, and
would be equally productive TO the reve.
nue.
And in order 10 exhibit the direful ef.
fects of encouraging the use of ardent al
coholc liqnor in preference TO wine, he in-
PRODUCES the following stri ing passage
from Nh admirable work Of DIR. Moor.
mae, on Moral and Sanitary Economy
The yearly tally for strong drinks in
England and Ireland, allowing for the EN-
pIoyment of alcohol in the arts, amounts
" tifiy millions sterling, and, if tobacco
he added, to fifty seven millions, all to Sc
curea tleeting and too often most ruinous
enjoyment. In paper in Chambers
Journal, Industrial Glasgow in 1850, it
Is affirmed that million sterling is there
annually expended in beastly excesses,
half the wesk's earnings going towards
the profigate enjoynenis Of single
night, whiIs squalid wives and wretched
children are left alike bereh of comforts
aud necessaTles.'
The eminent chemist, Liebig, is quoted
with forcibe efcctrw hen he declares
Spirits, by their action on the nerves,
enable q man TO make up the deficient
power NJ the expense Of his body. lie
draws, so 10 speak, n bill on his health,
which must always be renewed, because
lor want Of means he cannot take il up
He consumes his capital instead Of his in
terest, aud the result is the inevitable
bankruptcy of tho body. Wine, as
restorative, as a means of refresllment
when the powers OF life are exhausted,
OF giving animation and energy where
man has 10 struggle with days Of sorrow
rs means OF correction and compensa-
tion when incorporation occurs in nutrl-
ton, aud the rgsuism is deranged in its
operations aud Ms a means Of protection
agaist transient organic disturbance
Is surpassed by no product Of nature or Of
art The nobler wines Of the Rhine. and
many of those of Bordeaux, are distin.
guished above ell Others by producing a
ininimomof Injurious afier-eiieets.s In no
paEt of Germany do she spothecafies' es-
tablishments bring so low price asin The
! rich eisies on the Rhiue ; 70, the vine y