Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-14
From Humanity in the City.
7 Il E LIGENsE SYSTEM,
The Tempter's Ally.
By REV. E. H. CHAPLIN.

sSuse 5yseem the system OF permitting
the sale of Intoxicating drinks in degree
and OF restricting them in degree. For,
ny this method, either moral wrong is
committed, or else civil one. IF these
drinks are an individual and public injury:
Il they distribute the seeds of disease, crime.
death, and every form of social misery:
ehen what right hpse we in any respect to
set npen them -fbeaaals-rss : :
lgysngft ,ssens scSd a sirs y Proyi.
dence, as some seem to think; why should
we hamper their circulation Why should
we allow one man the privilege of distribu-
ting such blessing, and forbid another
who, no doubt, is equally Jealous for the
public good
But this very system is a confession by
public opinion, in its most authentic form
of expression, that the sale of intoxicating
drinks is an evil. "Only," we are told,
" as it is a prevalent and deep-seated evil,
it must be regulated" But how can we
regulate an irregularity ? How can you
regulate an obstruction that is involved with
the springs of a machine, or the works Of
a clock The only possible method obvi-
Gus to common sense, would be to remove
the obstruction; and it would be thought
the most foolish speculation conceivable for
one to spend his ingenuity in contriving
some way to keep the obstruction where it
is, and yet to keep the clock going as it
ought. If it moved regularly, the matter
referred to would not be an obstruction
and if it did not, the contrivance to keep it
, there would be help to the obstruction.
Now, I consider this great vice of Intem-
perance decided obstruction in the clock
work Of an individual man, or the more
general mechanism of society. 1t trans
forms a great many faces into bad dial
plates, disturbs the pendulum of public Or
= = der, makes people go much too fast, and
l renders them liable to strike at all times.
Now, if man, or community, can be
r. :. made to go just as well with it as without
! ! it, we certainly need no legislation, for
: :, there IS no obstruction. On the other hand,
! if it is essentially an irregularity, the only
. rational method is to get rid of its accesso-
: ries altogether. To enact some way in
: which the irregularity shall work, is to con-
. firm and sanction the irregularity. And
the license-system-for I wish to be plain
: and specific here5- confirms and sanctions
u the agents of intemperance. 1t indicates 9
r-fr~a,y n r-hieh .hin irraar,lority may work
!, And not onlt is vice thus aided by the
= Law. The existence of such sanction en-
- genders either an error or moral wrong
L Fot it indicates that the sale of intoxica
ting drinks is public benefit, which il
;, false; or, on the other hand, that it is law
- full to uphold an evil The same princi
- pie carried out by individuals, would ex
y cuse almost any fault. The man VIII
~ y, steals a loaf of bread may contend that i
~ is necessary expedient; and he who fill
,or an empty purse at his neighbor's expense
O' only endeavors to regulate an irregularity
- But suppose we make the system stric
~ ~ one, what process should be employed ?
~ Probably you would say" break up a
:. :. these filthy and low haunts; all these pl;
-, s,c ces where the habitually Incorporate, th
"II 7 degraded, the wretchedly poor congregate
and let these beverages be sold only in RI
J. spectacle places and to respectable people.
-, But is this really the best plan? On th
" contrary, it seems quite reasonable to maiI
- tain that it is better to sell to the inteu
=. perate than to the sober-to the degrade
- than to the respectable-for the same re
- - son that it is better to burn up an old hui
: than to set fire to new and splendid shi
think it worse to put the first glass to
young mans lips, than to crown with ma
80 80 ness an old drunkard's lifelong alienation
- worse to wake the fierce appetite in Il
hon depths Of a generous and promising natur
- than to take the carrion of man, me
~, shell of imbecility, and soak it in fire
IN debauch Therefore, if were going to s
NJ n, where the License should be granted in {
oor der to show its efficacy, | would say-ta
,,;ts the worst sinks of intemperance in the Gil
hav give them the sanction of the Law, and
them run to overfowing But shut up t
b;s gilded apartments where youth takes
,ar, first draught, and responsibility just beg
to falter from its level. Close the am
: doors through which enters the long tri
of those who stumble to destruction a
) n reel into quick graves, and let the fc
thew ovcrwhelm only the MANNED and bate
nkee conscripts that remain. Besides, it is
ould ter to see vice as it really is, than as
the sometimes appears The danger of int
ivlde perance is when it assumes this very G
men of respectability, and sits in the radiant
| aaa 80 Gle of fashion attended by wit and bea
The and social delight. Letus see the Temp
,man not as he seems when he throws out
piece earliest lures, in festal garments and v
got roses around his brow; but as he 10
tail when fairly engaged in his work, show
1ar his genuine expression. Let us see
Sao ~ vice of intemperance in its results, as t
cnt TEEN and darken here in the midst of
outh. city life. Lay bare its channel-let US
to its very depths-where it flows over
wing wrecks of human happiness, and over d
went mems bones Lay bare its fostering ht
FAR of disease, its madness, its despair, its
TOW mestic desolation, its reckless sweep
mac. all order and sanctity; and thus, tracin
tacl $ from its sources under glittering chandc
mare and in fonts of crystal, we shall be adj
lbout say" this is the real element which e,
yoke, and does its work, by pablis eenniy;
nsap and with the sanction of Lawp
r. in If you ask me then, whether / think
statute of absolute prohibition would
ence,' this flowing curse, / reply that at lea
got on would put the influence of authority OF
IN the right side. 1t would lend it to the for
0e'N consistent endeavor. As it is, it Woul