The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-04
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND CON.
MERCIAL RUIN.

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND CON
MERCIAL RUIN.
Our readers have probably noticed Oh,
commotion now going on among the liquol
dealers oil New York. in view Of their neW
prohibitory law. They have banded togeth.
or for the sake Of moral courage and sup
port, and have subsidized the leading por
ton of the bar to fight their battles with
legal ordinance. A part Of tho press, too
and a part which had agitated for the law
as the Times and Herald-are swelling The
chorus OF complaint and dreadful apprehen
sions. Tho Herald, particularly, is eloquent
over the commercial ruin and distress which
must follow the enforcement Of tho lava
crisis, Il assures US, the like Of which va
have never yet encountered.
Well, accepting the BLACKLIST anticipation
Of tho Misunderstanding. virtually, that
| liquor selling Is como 10 DO the life. blood oil
trade, and its suppression Is the death Of our
present prosperity -what theni Why,
down with il now-let not O moment be
lost-every minute Il CONTINUES, II Is an as.
persion on tho morality and patriotism oil
our people, 1t is nm intolerable mockery on
every profession wo mako. That which new.
or profits On individual and causes nipe-tenths
Of our domestic misery, Transmitted into the
foundations Of national prosperity and tho
safeguard against commercial distress! The
mere statement evinces the absurdity Of such
doctrine-at that 1t has como TO be serious.
'ly enunciatsd, Is sharp proof that J, ought
to DO experimentally exploded In the abort.
est possible time. II darkness has become
our light, how great Is that darkness-how
imminent tho dangers Its tarrying.
As matter OF fact, Il may DO readily i'd
mitted, that tho sudden and complete en-.
lorcement Of the liquor law In New York,
would throw some hundreds Of men out oi
temporary employment. But In spite Of all
The endeavors Of the laws supporters. the
enforcement will DO neither sudden nor com.
plete-so that large portion Of liquor deal,
ers and clerks, between now and the period
when the stringency shall become efcctual
will have ample time TO look about them
and get into respectable business. The
mere cessation Of their traffic will create adj
ditional business enough 10 furnish then
all with good situations. But suppose the J
should have 10 60 through lille suffering
We certiin.y do not desire this Tor any por
ton OF our people-but these men could no
have the right 10 complain IL a small portion
Of the distress they have given TO others
should for a season, be melted back to them
But 10 the main quesiion-can ], be tina
tho liquor traffic has become indispensable,
TO our commercial prosperiiy-or even aux
Hilary 10 such degree that lis abolition
would cause us any business evil Why
The subject Of itself SO lies in every man,
mind, that il will not seem out OF place Il
begin with the question, what possible gooc
do all these liqnors do Us in a business
poin, Of viewl No man would think o
putting the conversation many Of The sriL
are as paIpable as the subject maiter-bu
tho good is thing 10 be sought aher.-
Does their use make any man brighter
more perseyering, moro cautious, more
frugal, mere devoted 10 his work, more in
genious in its management, moro rapid il
its execution Between two mechanics o.
whatever trade. would anybody select the
ons given 10 tho liquor bottle Between
two contractors 10 work demanding varied
skill and judgement, would the iippler eve
be taken and The sober man left VIZ
speak not here Of moral or physical consid
eraiions, but simply from the hard dollar
and-cent point Of Wow. And We challange
contradiction TO the assertion, that liquol
drinking is nowhere commercial gain
but wherever lis effects are al all percepti
BILE, they are always on the side OF loss and
ruin, True, the seller may profit - bu
against his gain in every case, we think ]
would be safe 10 undertake to find coun
ierbalancins loss among each one.,en'h hi
customers.
| Now iflhese be tho indivual results, b,
what mysterious process do they get chang
cd inio national blessingi There is n,
room for decepiion-ihat which dismantle,
The workshop, destroys the counting room
enervales labor, generates ideness, ensures
recklessness, is, and can be none other thar
a commercial drawback andl an industrial
curse. Take all The misspeni time which
sobrieiy would be sure TO redeem, all the
exertion Of mind and body which is now
para!yzed, all the money lost or Numbered
away through intemperance, all the proper
" run TO waste or destroyed by the care
less or criminal fiequniers of the rumshor
take all this, and what capital IL would
present 10 our common country! What an
impetus II would give 10 our durable pros.
periiy-what refreshing 10 every minute
branch ofindusiry! Not city, bu, would
DO visibly relieved from the burdens oil
taxation and incendiarism-no, an enier-
prise, but would increase in energy-not a
business establishment, but wonld find iis
profits enlarged.
We leave on, Of view The return Of bread
TO the starving, and Of JOY 10 the grief-laden
- the increase Of happy homes and all the
unnumSered pleasures Of sobrieiy. We
speak Of the commercial effects - and we
confidently leave the reader 10 his ewn re-
Elections upon the Janeied evils which are 10
follow The greatest Of The kind we certainly
have ever yet sutferd. We think he will
look upon the prospect with calm, per
chance, joyful mind. -