The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-03-15

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does not stop with the consideration Of The
expenses Of maintaining the victims of in-
temperance as paupers and criminals There
is lost to productive industry and the wealth
OF the community, the labor OF those who
! produce the elements for and manufacture
the liquor; the labor Of those engaged in
selling II /; the labor of those who abandon
their enployments and spend their time in
drinking there 10 also the loss of the grain
that is perverted from the purpose of food to
sustain life, to that Of drink to destroy life
There is the loss also, Of the labor of those
who cease from labor from impaired health,
| impaired resolution of character, and who
are un,imely out off by death. OF the extent
of the actual losses thus undoubtedly sus'
tanned, no statistics can be framed to give Us
the appalling results; and the imagination
could hardly oveueach the reality. On the
other hand how indefinitely benefcient would
be the results Of the labor thus lost, il we'll
ard simply directed to produce food, clothing
and education for the people, is equally be.
yond computation, and only 10 be realized
by hopeful imagination, enthusiastic for
the good of our fellow beines. Instead OF dis
order and waste, and damagius deprecia-
lion Of moral and phy hysical energy. producing
snervaiion, idIeness despair aud death, and
instead Of dragging down helpless depending
familiss into poverty and disgrace, the world
would witness perpetual onward progress
of hssl,hfuI aud cheerful industry, the accu-
mutation of the comforts OF life and of
wealth; aud iespec,sbility and prosperity
would crown the efforts of honest enterprise.
| If indeed, intemperance could be made to
cease, then would the world be rid of that
evil that more than any other prevents its
becoming that paradise which beneiicien.
Creator, lett for the sin of man, desired ii TO
be.
There 10 also political bearing in which
The subject is 10 be viewed. Tayens and
treating are rssourcs had for influencing
voters IN the political canvass. II is one that
all candidates canno. alike resort to, and the
less serupulous have thus an advantage over
those who are more conscientious, and the
| result cannot be Otherwise than detrimental
to the public welfare by elevating 10 Office
thoee men who are the least scupulous and
least likcly TO serve their constituents with
fidelity. While degree of social liberaiity
and good Fellowship is ID Us manifested, the
purify oil elections and freedom from all un-
| due bras therein. is apufpose too sacred and
dear TO the American citizen to be thus in-
vaded without deep apprehension by every
one who holds dear his country's welfare
and honor.
There is yet a further consideration of the
subject that should engage the attention OF
the phiisn,hropist and statesman. 1t 10 9
law of our nature, that the sins of the parent
in their consequences are visited upon tie
offspring. Our race is impaired and damaged
by intemperancs; aud we wickedly mar the
beautiful handiwork of the Almighty. The
most perfect of His creation. His last crown
ing work, with which we'll pleased, He pro-
nounced good we, by perverting His bless
ings, make bad and destroy. Him that God
made in his own image, erect and comely
and glowing with health, man makes besot-
ted ard bloated deformity, and takes from
him his glorious Intellect. And this degen-
sracy must be felt 10 impair our na.ioHsl
strength, ouf capacity for self-goverument
and ability for defence. The individual and
national character are impaired in virtue,
resolution and physical power, and the IN
cenlive 10 greet sacrifice or high achieve
meni is lost. The people OF Europe effect
to regret the degenerscy produced by our
climate. If this be the unavoidable cause
of such az effect, ii becomes of the greater
necessity for us to avoid adding to it the
certain degenerscy produced BY intsmper.
ance. One of your committse has had op.
penunily recently TO observe the deeply
damaging effect upon the people Of our
parent isles, by the vast amount Of, intem-
perancs to which they are addicted, and 10
have that observation confirmed by the ,esli-
mony taken, and report made by commits
tea OF the British Parliament. Intempsr-
ancs there, is eating into the vitals of the
people and with climate most favorable
10 health, 60 undefmines the constitution as
to bsfile the skill of the physician and sur
geon, while ii cannot be doubted, that the
military arm Of the government is sensibly
impaired by the damaging effects Of iutsIn.
perance. To estimate the aggravated ex.
tent Of The evil there, IT may be stated that
itwas testified before the Parliamentary Com
miase, thai the cost Of drink to the United
Kingdoms, per snnum, 10 from E7o. 900 600
10 csc, 900 sterling, and IN its conse-
qusnces in the cost OF poverty and crime al
as much more, together 15o,oo0,0oo OF
$50, 900 900 of dollarsi It becomes, there
lore, indeed, American statesmen TO reflect
upon and ayeri in time . waste of such :re-
mendous extent, and calamity 90 unmiti.
gated aud aggravated 10 iis consequences
j |. is true, public opinion mus. advances
with US to sustain the law, but The law should
not in a good cause fall behind public opin.
ion. They should keep pace with each 9th.
or, and favorably act and react one upon
the other, and advance together as lar as at.
.ainable in the right direction. But It 10 moi
alone ihestoppipg ofin!oxicatirg drinks eth
er by law or by public opinion, that should
ba attended In bv philnnthroniefa or anIioht.