Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-04-07
Temperance Matter.
From the Indian Land Chronicle.
rs THE DRUNKARD A SAFE MAN

No. "a, Sons or IenlPeTohce' T'ee'V
Eycning. February IS, 1859, By Rer'
l.. Wood.
Before proceeding with this enquiry it is
we'll to observe that the epithet, Drunkard,
is often eluded by those who have legltl'
mate right to receive it. Webster says
drunkard is "on'e given to ebriety, or an ex'
cessive use of strong liquor; a person who
habitualy or frequently is drunk" It's dit
fcult to determine when the term may tx
with propriety under the latter, which is the
qualifying clause, and persons who deserve
it according to the former, often go un"hlp'
of public opinion, by reason of the privacy
of their indulgence Allowing, however,
the appellation to apply, whether its truth be
publicly known or not, we may prosecute ouT
investigation without lodging an objection to
this defnition-premising, with emphasis,
that we do not for moment call in question
the moral honesty and upright integrity Of
any individual falling under this character
and, to avoid imputation Of this kind, the
morality of drunkenness will be left out oi
the present essay. The safety of the drunk
ard, in business point of view, is the ques
tion at issue for the present.
Suppose we consider his qualities then
first, with view to his copartnership with
us in business, everything being equal in
other respects. Do but consider the confu
sion of mind, the impairment of memory,
the reckless impulses, his perversion of feel
ing and opinion, and the intense animal ex'
citemeut under which he labors while in
state of intoxication, and you have faint
picture of one who is entirely disqualified to
transact business with prudence and success
Imagining himself rich, he is liable to en-
bark in wild speculations; or, thinking him
self the victim of some base design, he rush
es furiously into an alteration with one who,
till that moment, might have been with safe
ty numbered among his most substantial
friends; and thus imperils all the interests
of the concern at once. When sober retec'
ton ensues, the remorse consequent upon
some former indiscretion may lead to the
perpetration of clandestine scheme to re-
trieve his wounded character or re-estab.lsh
his waning business, the detection of which
would eternally disgrace him, and its con-
cealment only confirm him in course Of
dissipation and rascality; in'-either case the
partner is liable to suffer too. Add to these
considerations the fact that no man is COM
petent to keep books correctly or handle
money with safety, while in state of etrle
ty; and and that every such person will
squander more or less time in neglect of bu'
siness, and it is clear as a mathematical de-
monstration that no drunkard is safe as q
partner in business, however otherwise un'
impeachable.
Our second enquiry shall relate to his
safety as husband and here wide field
appears before US; bat a few general facts
and observations will lay the ground open to
an impartial gaze A drunkard, it is we'll
known, will spend much time with his bot
tie or in his cups, that ought to be devoted to
his wife. To supply his exhausted demijohn,
he will squander money to which his wife
has equal right with himself And that
which should be boarded for the education
and future establishment of his children in
busin, ,ess is spent for liquor. Liquor is his
god-to it he bows-beneath it he falls. 1t
has won his heart from the wife of his early
VOWS, and the children Of their plighted
love. He loves his bottle more than them
all-it must be filed. though they 60 half
naked to work and hungry to bed. And as
drunkenness is continually progressing evil,
he advances from neglect, to personal abuse of
his family, till the smitteu wife sinks with a
broken heart to the grave, and the children
wander as refugees from home to find no
sympathy from men, nor a home on earth
for the fathers degradation descends by in
hcrtance to them, and they follow his habits
till death cuts them off as it did him. No
woman ever yet married drunkard and did
not afterwards weep over the ruin to which
she had bound herself and her offspring.
Is the drunkard safe as a member Of the
community-to be entrusted with duties in
which his fellows are interested? Safe Not
when under the influence of ardent liquor.
Yet that is the hour when he is most con-
scious of his own suficiency for any work in
his line, and he is most ready to undertake
whatever is called for Consider, then, how
unwilling you would be when suffering from
disease known to be of fatal tendency, to take
the prescription of an intoxicated physician,
or to permit Il drunken dentist to operate
with his instruments in your mouth. Such
is the character, too, of the feelings with
which one entrusts piece of work to
drunken mechanic, or undertakes to trade
with any drunken man in any way. How
can one be safely trusted with the perform
ance of important duty when his mind is de-
ranged and his muscular system all uuhin-
ged?
Is the drunkard safe as member Of Gov
ernmeut? If in the Legislature, he is likely
to make speech for glorifcation, and pay
mure attention to his choice liquor than to
the interests of his constituents G? As pri-
vate citizen he is liable to be controlled by
the most liberal treats, or to commit himself
to a party or individual while drunk 50 that,
to be consistent, he cannot change his posi-
tion when sober Therefore, he will vote in
violation of his conscience and better judg-
ment; and is not, therefore,, safe as voter.