Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-09-26
What Sustains the Liquor Traffic

The following extract is from a discourse
delivered by Rev.. G. L. Foster, pastor of
the Presbyterian church, in Ypsilanti, Mich
igan, occasioned by the murder of a wife by
her husband while under the maddening in
fuence of strong drink. After vivid pre-
sentation of the enormous burdens entailed
upon society by this fruitful cause of immor-
tality, poverty and crime, he very properly
inquiries. Who is responsible for the exist
ence of the traffic in any community?
81 have reached the inevitable conviction
that what sustans the liquor traffic here,
and what hinders the successful enforcement
of law for its suppression, more than any
thing else, is the general understanding that
the traffic has the support, the countenance-
at least the leaUe to be, eta conaparatiUe teo
Of our most respectable and ia1iuentiGt cati-
Gems, among whom are included, to their
shame, or glory, too many of the members of
the legal profession. Those to whom | allude
are not distinguished generally for their in
telectuality nor yet for their moral power,
else they would not be willing to stand SO
near the tide of non -committaliSm In respect
to moral evil nevertheless they have great
| influence. Some of them have considerable
| social and momentary influence. Some OF
them came here for the sole purpose ofma-
| king money, and they have cared Intensely
for nothing else, not seeing how intimately
connected moral worth is to all other worths.
Some of them have commendable spirit of
enterprise in some directions. They are
generally, of quiet, mind-their-own bust.
ness stamp-so much so that they seem to
be perpetually saying: IAN | my brothers
keeper p Some of them have become so re-
lated to this traffic in securing official posi-
tions, that they can in no manner oppose
what has been one of their chief supporters.
Now, such as these, are the cause of the
existence of this krafnc here and hence the
cause of its evils. Their course encourages
those engaged in the traffic, and discourages
those desiring and seeking it's overthrow
This audience knows very well that ifit were
proper [ could name about a score of men,
who, coming cordially and decided to the
hel3 of others, could quickly drive this enc
my of all good from among us. Whether
they shall continue to occupy their pres
ent position, remains. to be seen. But il
they do, | will most deliberately and public
ly charge upon them the chief responsibility
of sustaining among US business that brings
forth poverty, pauperism, sorrow, adultery,
and murder, as ITS legitimate fruits. If any
shall be offended at this plainness, they shall
be responsible for that. Am become their
: enemy beause tell them the truth? Nay
; indeed land if anysof you are, in doubt
! whether you stand among these condemned
} ones-you may be sure that you are inclu
f ed,-for to stand where you are in doub
J is to stand where you are condemnable. Oh
r if the day shall ever come when some o
/ these quiet, mind-their-own business sort o
: men shall wake up to the fact that their Owl
sons have been ruined by that about which
S they have sought to be so non committal
j they will greatly wonder how they coult
e have been SO indifferent; how could the,
i have dreamed along so careless of influence
e that have blasted their brightest hopes an
t disappointed their most confident expeeta
e tions. If the day shall come when some c
i these shall learn that their daughters ar
: afficianced to young men whose habits hav
e been formed under the influence of saloon
y and billiard rooms and if they shall be com