Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-27
who will take the Responsibilityw

-Eifo fotiowtrrS searching, direct appeal to
those engaged in the liquor tIaffc, we take
from the Petersburg Express of the 9th inst.
Its voice of warning should be needed bv the
municipal authorities and the magistracv. of
the whole country. who will take the re-
sponsibility" Of selling intoxicating liquor
even under a license, or who will bear the
accumulating load which presses upon the
heads Of those who grant the license:
'This question which must soon be deter
mined, is a matter Of immense importance
both morally and socially to this community.
and we earnestly beg those who are personal
ly interested to weigh well the probable
nay, inevitable results before they decide
First, we ask the Christian man. will Won
take the responsibility Of supplying your
%neighbors with the means of selfdestruction
-of bringing from his wife's heart the bit
terest tear a woman can shed-of blasting
the most cherished hopes for a promising
son-and so far as our means, influence and
exertions can go, bringing ruin, penury, So
cial and moral degradation upon all within
your reach. Again, we ask the Christian
man, will you take the responsibility ? If
not, then berare Of tie license for selling IN
t~oricdting drinks. Your conscience has been
i'll at ease upon this subject there was a day
/ of ignorance, when good and conscientious
men might do this thing and hardly be con-
demned, but that day has passed. The di-
rect, inevitable results of this immoral traffic
are too glarlng for any man to plead igno-
rance. Woe to him." says your God, 'who
putteth the bottle to his neighbours lip to
.,.1-n HIM Jr,,pl-o1 - a11 ONO, -, 80
abettor and participation in this sin, when YOU
supply that which brings this terrible curse
from Il Just God? Again, mo drunkard shall
inherit the kingdom of Heaven" If you will
fully and knowingly supply the means O
drunkenness, are you not ''pdrticepa Grim
mis-" No doubt you will make money b,
the business, but answer this question bcfor,
you act, will it pay for the responsibility 70,
assumed Do not attempt to shield yourscl
under the plea, if | do not others will
What says your God? 1T must needs be tha-
offences come; but woe to that man by whom
the offence cometh." We entreat You. Chris
tan man, ask Gods blessing on the results q
this traffic before you enter upon if. Oar
you attempt this act? If not, 6erare. beray
Of tie icenSe to sell ardeat spirits: It ma,
bring you money, probably wifi, but can mon
ey quiet your conscience, appease an offende
God, or save you from his Just and threaten
ed Indignation? Christian man, again W
ask, will you take this responsibility? Blu
if the Christian man will not-and may Heay
en- protect him from so daring an act-thel
who will take that responsibility: VIII tn
moral man-thc good citizen-thc well-wish
er of his race2 First answer us-can none,
buy your principles, blind you to the true in
terests of your fellow man; Look well TO In
consequences. Can you justly sustain YOU
character for morality, usefulness, and phi
lanthropy, while you are by wholesale scat
tering through the land this instigator O
crime, immortality and disregard Of obliga
tons, moral and social, poverty, Degradation
and death. Is this language too strong? Doe
not intemperance so surely bring about thes
results, that they may be considered its nat
ural consequences. And is not the whole
sale dealer the true manufacturer of drunk
ards Cut off the fountain and the stream
must dry up; destroy the root and the branch
es must wither stop the supply and the cor
sumption must cease; abandon the wholesal
and the retail must in a great measure be dis
continued. Remember you are responsible
for the acts of your agents, and the retailer
but your distributing agent, and you are q
least equally culpable. We most earnestl
beg you to consider we'll before you pay 70
a legal right, which can only convey a mors
and social wrong. VIII the good citizen the
take the responsibility? If not, who will
we repeat, who will?