Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-24

liz an abomln8b4e monopoly, a vile anti
democratic features bene6tting the few and
depressing the many. Patrick O'Brien takes
cut license in the town, buys a barrel of
~fsh-berry whiskey and enjoys the exclusive
privilege of selling his liquid damnation,
destructive to body and soul, for FIVE cents a
swallow, and in the course of a few years
makes more hard cash, by his Tow employ
ment, than an honest man can make IN a
life time by q decent and useful occupation.
Men Of Kentucky, why is it that the license
system exists On what principle of JUS
tice, or right, or liberty is it based ? lslt
not in open violation of justice. all right,
and all liberty ? What right has any man,
in a country like ours, to purchase a mono
poly for makinga fortune, by means that
ruin morals, waste the substance and des
troy the physical and intellectual man ? We
contend that this very absurd license system
is an acknowledgement that the trade is all
wrong, and must he kept under a restraint.
If it is a hurtful business, it is a nuisance,
and must be put down; if it is a useful bust
ness, all restraint should be removed, and
every man allowed to engage in this very
honorable, useful, dignifed. manly, decent,
Christian employment ? How do you like
that How would you like to see twenty or
thirty grogshops in every village and town,
two or three at every cross roads? Wouldn'
you think " hell had broken loose for once
in sober earnest. For ourselves, we say
down with a@icense system-and then
down whit lefnal liquor traffic, now
bolstered mp by tie license system e Z
We copy3from the 80 South Kentuckian,'
of Aug. %, thoforegoing punsent and pOin.
ted remarks on the licensed liquor traffic.
The same law exists in this State, and il
subject to the same objections. We also ir
North Carolina are witnesses to the fact thai
the liquor dealers lead worse than unprofta
BILE lives, and yet grow independent by the
harm they infict upon society. They follow
a business which every candid man admits i
an evil-a grievious nuisance, protected b,
law though it be and yet the good peopl
of the State patiently bow their necks an
submit to the CALLING yoke. Let all sucl
read the following
LET US ALONE AND MIND YOUR OWL
BUSINESS.
In reply to this exhortation Of liquor dea'
ers, DIR. Burns, of England, says
! cannot let the traffic alone. I have neve
sold, bought, given, tasted, or recommended
or sanctioned it in one form or another. An
yet, sir, this traffic won't let me alone.
attacks my pocket Who pays the increase
9 taxation of drunkenness The sober an
the ~yirtuous. And it is a shame that tt
e whole community should be taxed for or
e class. I know some persons have said, "wh
don't you let our traffic alone? We don
interfere with. you; you may go on wi,
8 your teetotal speeches, only don't come O.
y in this prohibitory-law manner" l mig
say in reply. elf you had let me alone,
s. might be tempted to let you alone, but u
fortunately you won't" And where is Il
man in the country who has eyes to see, al
e ears to hear, and a heart to feel, and bowe
7 to yearn and sympathise with moral wretc
edness, that must not be disturbed beyol
n utterance every day at the ~calamities pl
s. duced by the strong drink traffic? 1t NOV
u me in every power of my mind. 1t d
h. tresses every emotion of my soul. Am
man, and can | see the manhood Of my f
. low creatures annihilated out of them ? A
ut / a Christian, and can / see the mouth
at hell gorged with drunken victims ? Is /
every man in the community my brothe
r. is not the drunkard my brother That
graded wife of his is my sister those
81. phans have a claim upon my ~symnathie
er and | do not deserve the name Of o man
IN should be put DOWN as a monster-if | W
his not shocked, and distressed, and grieved, 4
id panied, and martyred by this ira Gc. Tbs
fore, thought am Neeetot2ller, and have
IRE connection with the drinking habits Of
in country. l suffer in body, pocket, mind, +;
he conscience, and all the powers Of my 81
lie by this evil and destructive thing.