Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-27

would seem, might reach the conscience of
all who are wantonly destroying Heavens
gifts, Can you, for little selfish gain,
persist in converting the bread Of multi
tudes into pestilential fire? How utterly
unlike the example of Him who, while fee
ding thousands by miracle, could still say,
]" Gather up the fragments which remain,
that nothing be lost"
/ 4. By continuing this destructive bust
ness, you greatly oB6nd the uirtssous and
respectaJfe part Of tie community. The
Temperance reformation has been commen-
ICED and prosecuted by enlightened men.
It is not the enterprise ofany political par
Fly or religious sect 1t has the general
support of ministers and Christians of diff
ferent denominations, Of statemen, judges,
lawyers, physicians, and hundreds of thou
sands in the walks Of private life. They
regard the enterprise as one, on the success
of which hang the liberties of our republic
and the happiness of future millions.
You cannot be surprised, then, that they
look with pain on operations directly adap-
ted to defeat their plans, and perpetuate
the dread evil they deplore. You cannot
suppose that their eye will light on the
/ fountains of this mighty evil but with in
expressible grief, disgust, and indignation.
And if you have the common magDani-
nifty Of our nature, you will surely cease to
outrage the feelings ofthe yirtuous through
out the nation.
5. You pursue pernicous calling, IN
opposition to great light. The time was
when good men extensively engaged in the
distilling business, and when few seemed
to be aware of its fearfully mischievous ten
dency. The matter had not been subject
of solemn and extensive discussion. The
sin was one of comparative ignorance. In
quiry has thrown upon the community a
food of hight. The evil of intemperance
has been exhibited in its complicated hor-
rors. Ardent spirit has been found to be
not only useless, but fearfully destructive !;
so that the guilt Of manufacturing it is now
enormously aggravated.
6. Perseverance in the business of dis
tilling mast necessarily be at the erpense OF
youy oaon reputation and that ofyour pos
terity. You are creating and sending out
the materials of discord, crime, proverty,
disease, and intellectual and moral degra-
dation. You are contributing to perpetu.
ate one OF the sorest scourges Of our world
And the scourge can never be removed til
those deadly fires you have kindled are al
put out. That public sentiment which is wor
"a thynf raspect calls upon you toaxtinsaisl
them. And the note of remonstranae vii
wax louder and louder till every smoking
distillery in the land is demolished \ fre
and enlightened people cannot quietly loci
on while an enemy is working his engine
and forging the instruments of nationa
bondage and death.
Without prophets vision, l foresee tn
day when the manufacture of intoxica
ting liquor, for common distribution, will b
classed with the arts of counterfeitine an,
forgery, and the maintenance Of houses fo
midnight revelry and corruption. Lik
these, the business will become a work onl
Of darkness, and be prosecuted only by tn
outlaw.
Weigh we'll, then, the bearing ofyour des
tructive employment on personal and famil
character. The employment may secure fo
you little gain, ard perhaps wealth. But
in day of increasing light and purity, yo
CttI never T1u biCdSuEeS, luuS dCuuiICu Oh
stigma, which will rendor him miserabl
poor who holds them. Upon the dwellin
you occupy, upon the fields you enclose, ur
on the spot that entombs your ashes, ther
will be fixed an indescribabIe gloom and cd
BUSINESS, to offend the eye and sicken tn
heart of a virtuous community, till you
memory shall perish. Quit, then, this vi
business, and spare your name, spare you
family, spare your children's children.such II
supportable shame and reproach.
Z. By prosecuting this business IN a dag
light and reform, you peculiarly offend Co
and leopard y0ur immortal interests.
g times Of ignorance" God, in sense, 'win1
ed att error But let the error be persste
in under full blaze of light, and it must
the occasion Of dread retribution from h
throne.
The circumstances of the distiller are no
entirely changed His sin was once sin
ignorance, but is such no longer. He knoa
he is taking bread from the hungry, and pc
: verting- the bounties of Providence. /
knoaos he is undermining the very pillars
; our republic He knows that, by distillir
: he confers no benefits upon mankind. |
knoaUs he is directly accessory to the temp
raj wretchedness and the endless wailing
multitudes. And knowing these things, al
: keeping on his way, he accumulates gu
2 which the Holy One cannot overlook.
: endless exclusion from heaven be the dru
r kard's doom, can he be held guiltless wi
+ deliberately prepared for him, and perha
placed in his hand, the cup OF death al
damnation This is not the decision eth
, of Scripture or of common sense. Wlful
persevering to furnish the sure means
i death, you carry to the judgement the MI
J, derer's character as clearly as the midnig
o. assassin.
. And now, what is the apology for proseC
ting a business so manifestly offensive to Gc
!. and ruinous to yourself, as we'll as others
| Do you say, 1t IS necessary as means OF 81
port2 But whence have you derived auth
S, ity to procure living at the sacrifice of CT
: science, character, and the dearest intere
Il of others? And is the maintenance of
% public nuisance really necessary to your 81
y port? In a country like this, the plea of
cessity for crime is glaringly lmpious. y
Il L nv and varied departments OF honest and h'
d, orable industry are before you, all promlsi
n a generous reward and, neglecting them
Of wicked and mischievous occupation, )
s must bear the odium of most sordid a
~ rice, or implacable malignity.
! You virtually, too, impeach the eharac
- ofGod. You proclaim that he has made y
40 comfort, and even subsistence, to depend
"a on the practice of inquity. 1t is an impt
he ton he must repel with abhorrence and wrs
at Nor is it situated by the conscience, reas
n or experience of any man.
ke But possibly you urge, in selfjustifcat
Others wiH manufacture spirits, # l do no
!, But remember, the guilt of one is no exc