The Delaware herald., 1854-04-05
OrlamaL ArtltLts.
Written fof tho Herald.
THE BLIND MANS RACE.

RUMsELLER, LISTEN TO A PARABLE--A GER
tain man prepared his ground and advertised a
blind mans race. The course was down an
almost imperceptible descent, and at the foot, a
prccipice over this precipice some one of the
runners must certainly fall, and lose his life, as
the consequence of his folly. Twenty men
were found willing to brave the peril. They
were warned, beforehand, that some one or more
of them must perish. Which, or how many,
was unknown, but one would surely fall VIC
tim to his temerity. They needed nOt-they
were willing to take the risk--ther lives, they
said, were their own--they had the right to do
they pleased. They started, and, sure
enough, that young man, vigorous and active
the one who had been most confident of escape,
was taken up--a lifeless corsc.
Now, Rumseller, tell me, was that man JUS
titled, who advertised the race! Was he guilt
less, because the victim had the right to do as
he pleased Because he was told there was
death at the end! Rumseller, in what does the
reality of your business differ from my parable!
You are the owner Of the ground, and ycur Gus
toners are the runners. They are blinded by
IN appetite that shuts from their view the dan
gers which lie before them, as effectually as
though you had placed over their eyes bard-
age impenetrable to sight You know they
are unconscious of their condition-you know
that, self-deeeived, they are ignorant Of their
perilous situatlon-you know, that in spite of
your declaration, each individual believes that,
though others may perish, he will escape. Are
you an honest rumseller, and have you warned
your customers of the danger which lay in
their road How many of them have yoH
known to refuse the rum which, with yonl.
hand, you offered, whilst with your tongue you
warned them not to take it! Did you ever
know one! Did not your willingness to sell
quiet the apprehensions your remonstrance
was calculated to awaken! Did that man, who
persisted that you might thrive, believe you p
Did he realize that he could be in such extrem-
ity of danger, and that you would continue to
furnish him with that which would inevitably be
his destruction But what, though he did be-
lieve How could you be justified in speeding
him oaward to the precipice You told him Of
hisdaager! How much better are you for that
nay, how rauch worse You knowingly
started him on his road to ruin!
1t matters not that you had no fore-know
ledge of the individual who would fall victim
to your love Of gain. You knew, that as surel,
as You sold Intoxicating liquor, so surely would
one or more of your customers be inveigled t
their undoing; you knew that death has been
is and will be the natural and legitimate issut
OF tie rum-store. Nor is it any answer to sa,
that you are authorized by law to frafil
in the lives of men for your emolument.-
Whatever may be your legal exemption fron
punishment, no law can give you any mora
right thus to lure a fellow-being unto death
that you may live--no human enactment car
in any degree, impair the efficacy of chat highe
law which declares, that /" whatsoever ye woul
that men should do to you, do ye even SO
them"
Measuredby thisrule oftrue morality, youhny
no right to take the money of your neighbor
exchange for that which you know contribute
to his injury. You have no right to supply h
.vitiated appetite with that which aggravaf
and infames it, You have no right to gi,
him that which destroys his ability TO percei'
his danger, and when he is no longer capable
self-control to bId hun take care or he W
his consent. to gratify his passion for intoxie
4 ting drinks, and when you have gathered II
your till the inheritance which had descend
from his forefathers, 70 send him forth brok
and q bergared man. You have no right, at
|. percussion, 70 disti into your cofFers, drop