Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-15
For the Spirit of the Age
Address on the effects of Ardent Spirits.

4n oui COuntI1s II great growing tfil, all
| are ready to admit. When we look abroad
r and examine into the state of society, we
ind the number of those who are in the
constant and habitual practice Of an ex-
E cessiye use of ardent spirits to be alarm
ing. We see the effects that they produce
among our friends and our neighbors, but
the evil is so common, and it is so fashion
able to drink, and had almost said, to
: drink to excess, that the sight of it has lost
half Its terror, and we look upon an intem-
perate man without those feelings of dis
! gast and adherence which his real situa-
ton and character are calculated to pro-
: ouce. This is the natural result. .6f things.
The mind becomes familiar with the con-
, temptation, the eye accustomed to the
sight; we pay but little attention to the
. oblect-he passes en-we laugh at the ex-
hlbltlon and grow callous and indifferent to
the guilt. Our pity is not excited, our
! hearts do not ache at the scenes of intoxi-
cation that are almost daily exhibited a.
round u.s. But if for a moment we seri-
Eousiy reflect upon the real situation of the
habitually intemperate; if we call to mind
what they have been-what they now are
lif We cast our eye 10 the future, and real
ize what, in few years they viii be; ifI
we will go further and examine into the
state of their families, of their wives and
their children, we shall discover a scene of
misery and wretchedness that will not long
suffer US to remain cold, and Indifferent,
J and unfeeling.
I 1hls examination we can all make for
ourselves. We can all call to mind the case
OF some individual whom we have known
for years, perhaps from his infancy, who is
, now poor, miserable drunkard. In ear
ly life his hopes and prospects were as fair
as ours. His family was respectable and
he received all those advantages which are
necessary, and which were calculated to
make him useful and respectable mem
Der of society.
Perhaps he was our school-fellow, and
our boyhood may have been passed in his
i company. We witnessed the first bud
q dings of his mental powers, and know that
t he possessed an active, enterprising mind
sle grew up into life with every prospect
e of usefulness. He entered into business,
y and, for awhile, did WELL His parents
: looked to him for support in old age, and
he was capable of affording it. He accu-
/ mulated property, and in a few years, with
n ordinary prudence and industry, would
; have been independent. He married aud
n became the head Of a family y apel +be sfatlAt1
e happy arodnd him. Had he continued as
he began, he would now have been com
4 fort to his friends, and an honorto the com
n munity.
But the scene quickly changed He
grew fond of ardent spirits. He was seen
at the store and the tavern. BY degrees
he became Incorporate. He neglected his
business, and his affairs went to gradual
'e decay. He is now drunkard, his proper.
Y ty is wasted, his parents have died Of bro
do ken hearts, his wife is pale and emaciated
q his children ragged, and squalid, and igno
- rant. He is the tenant of some little cab
~ in that poverty has erected to house hin
y from the storm and the tempest He i
e. useless, and worse than useless: he is
II 7, pest to all around him. All the feeling
oil of his nature are bunted he has lost al
Sc shame he procures his accustomed sup
ne ply Of the poison that consumes him b
NJ ssaggers through mud and through filth t
NJ his hut; he meets weeping wife an,
w starving children he abuses them, b
'fe tumbles into his straw, and he rolls an
lth aa;,, IT. Ill fon ,,.ono ,,,, /. ,,os3 e
en- the scene from time to time, and from da
III III to dav, till soon his nature faints and h
6h' becomes sober in death
ing Let US reflect that this guilty, wretche
ere creature had an immortal mind-he wa
the like us, of the same flesh and blood-E
Ter was our brother, destined to the same etc
'au nifty, created by, and accountable to, t!
ana same God !; and will, at last, stand at Il
cry same judgment-bar and who, amid SUI
Il Il reflections, will otweep at hisfate-who
anu eye can remain dry, and whose heart u
meved2
ave This is no picture of the imagination
.eiy 1t is common and sober reality. 1t is VIII
ClilS we see almost every day of our lives al
eS we live in the midst of such scenes and su
low events. With the addition or srbtracti'
w, we Of few circumstances, it is the ca
we Of every one of the common drunkar
ugn around us. They have not completed t
am drama-they are aive-but they are z
'rid- ing to death with rapid strides as their p
nted decessors have already gone. Anoth
ap- company of immortal minds are coming
Il to to fill their places as they have filed Of
urel' ers. The number is kept good and incre
stu ing. Shops as nurseries are established
rag every town and neighborhood, and drul
ards are raised up by the score. They
any made-they are fOrmed-for no man '
arta- ever born drunkard-and, | may say,
e on man was born with taste for ardent 81
is TO It's They are not the food which nat
Who' provided. The infant may cry for
mothers milk and for nourishing food,
wise. none was ever heard to cry for ard
spirits. The taste is created, and in SO
aus instances may be created SO young, t
a. = perhaps, many cannot remember the 4
Ine when they were not fond of them.
nuei But have not ardent spirits one Q
7Vere quality, one redeeming virtue! None.
'es- say, none. There is nothing, not the sh
Irong ow of virtue to rescue them from uni
every sal and everlasting execration But t
put are good as 4medicine" No, not
u the medicine. There is no physician that /
sucn not love them, that needs them in his p
!, I, anu tice. There is no disease that they
Nol'n or relieve, that cannot be cured or relic
we. without them. They add to no M