Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-09
Tumber 80.


AhulRluudl RESPONSIBILITY.
eff meat make my brother to offend. I
will eat no flesh whilst the world standeth,
lest makgmy brother to offend."-PAUL.
"All men are free agents-if my neighbor
commits sin through my influence it is his
offence, not mine. | make and sell intoxi-
Catipg liquors for q good purpose and If my
fellow citizens abuse themselves with it, they
are culpable while l am free from all guilt"
RuM-sELLER's CODE OF ETHICS.
A striking contrast is manifest when we
compare Paurs idea Of individual response
bility with that Of the modern rumseller.-
1t IS a we'll established axiom in moral phil
osophy that each segment in the great circle
Of humanity has o direct influence upon all
tho other segments-that each integral pOr-
tlon Of the genus Man is operated upon by
its surrounding integral atoms. Although
this is n truism beyond refutation, yet it is
lost sight Of when the glittering phantom of
gold aud silver rises up before degenerate
man in the pathway Of life. Then he tutors
his mind to believe the Infamous doctrine,
that he is not responsible for the actions OF
his neighbor, how vile socyer they be, tho
he Il conscious, ut the same time, that he is
daily spreading before him the elements OF
temptation by which he may offend" and,
finally, reap u reward of infamy. Then he
bows the great knee Of the soul and devoutly
embraces n code Of moral ethics, the purport
of which is that he is g%uiltess, though he
flood the land and nation with an ever flow
inc tide Of ruin. If he can only convince
himself that he made and sold intoxicating
liquors for u good purpose-with no desire
that his fellowmen should abuse either them
selves or the good creature Herewith, he
consoles himself with the reflection that no
degree Of moral turpitude stains his fair
character. And we feel assured that there
are many men engaged in the traffic who
have endear0red TO believe this doctrine until
they do Jciiere it most d~evoutly for they are
otherwise good, moral, reputable men and
seven fold thunders could scarce knock the
scales from their eyes that they might see
aright.
nm not responsible p and they bow
down to a worship Outright gold and ringing
silver, with eyes closed TO all except the
magic lustrc, and ears stopped to all except
It's thrilling ring. If they see the rum tide
rolling over the land like a seething, Kissing,
whitening, blackening, consuming lava tide,
sweeping away homes, hopes, lives, fortunes,
honors and wiping out all that stamps the
God image on the brow Of man if they see
the rum maddened murderer flying with reek-
ing blade from his scene of slaughter; II
they see a broken hearted mother wringing
her hands with a mothers agony over the
corpse Of Il suicide son if they see an orphan
group shiyering in the winter blast and cry
ing piteously for bread or if they see any
evidences of their unholy traffic, they are
ready to hold up hands in horror and exclaim,
aye men of Athens! why have ye inflicted
upon yourselves these g%rievous fortunes ?"
." am not responsible - aud he seees his
victims Keeling into the grave. 81 nm not
responsible :" and the startling fact is ever
presenting itself that he is accessory to {
thousand crimes Of the deepest dye. " an
not responsible r. and he washes his hand
and thanks God that they arc clean of all of
fence, but all Of Neptune's wealth of waite
will not wash out the incarnadine stain tina
marks them for time and eternity. The in
famous cthic-"I am not responsible ~ ma
do in life, but it will not suffice for a passpol
beyond the grave. IL am not responsible
and the grogseller goes on heaping up pile
Of bloodstained gold and silver against tn
day of wrath. Il am not responsible y say
the modern grogseller-" my ~neighbors al
free agents-if they see fit to abuse themselvt
with an article which ! make for a good pu
pose, It is no offence to me- am not r
sponsible"
The eminent st. Paul entertained diffe
ent views; at is good neither to eat flesI
nor drink wine, nor anything whereby tn
brother stumbleth, or is offended or is mac
weak"