2. _Has this been testified to the owner?_ Are the makers and venders aware of its effects? The effects are manifest, and they have eyes, ears, and understandings, as well as others. They know that whatever profit they make is at the expense of human life or comfort; and that the tide which is swelled by their unhallowed merchandise sweeps ten thousand yearly to temporal and eternal ruin. But this is not all. The attention of the public has been strongly turned to this subject. The minds of men have been enlightened, and their responsibility pressed home upon them. The subject has been presented to them in a new light, and men cannot but see the absurdity of reprobating the tempted, while the tempter is honored--of blaming drunkards, and holding in reputation those whose business it is to make drunkards.
But are the makers of intoxicating liquor aware of its effects? Look at the neighborhood of a distillery--an influence goes forth from that spot which reaches miles around--a kind of constraining influence, that brings in the poor, and wretched, and thirsty, and vicious. Those who have money bring it--those who have none, bring corn--those who have neither, bring household furniture--those who have nothing, bring themselves and pay in labor. Now the maker knows all these men, and knows their temperament, and probably knows their families. He can calculate effects, and he sends them off, one to die by the way, another to abuse his family, and another just ready for any deed of wickedness.
Will he say that he is not responsible, and like Cain ask, "Am I my brother"s keeper?" He knew what might be the result, and for a mere pittance of gain was willing to risk it. Whether this man should abuse his family, or that man die by the way, so his purpose was answered, he did not care. The ox was wont to push with his horn, and he knew it; and for a little paltry gain he let him loose, and G.o.d will support his law by holding him responsible for the consequences.
But a common excuse is, that "very little of our manufacture is used in the neighborhood; we send it off." And are its effects any less deadly?
In this way you avoid _seeing_ the effects, and poison strangers instead of neighbors. What would you say to a man who traded in clothes infected with the smallpox, and who would say by way of apology, that he sent them off--he did not sell any in the neighborhood? Good man! he is willing to send disease and death all abroad; but he is too kind-hearted to expose his neighbors. Would you not say to him, you may send them off, but you cannot send off the responsibility? The eye of G.o.d goes with them, and all the misery which they cause will be charged to you.
So we say to the man who sends off his intoxicating liquor.
"But if I do not make it and traffic in it, somebody else will." What sin or crime cannot be excused in this way? I know of a plot to rob my neighbor; if I do not plunder him, somebody else will. Is it a privilege to bear the responsibility of sending abroad pestilence and misery and death? "Our cause is going down," thought Judas, "and a price is set upon the head of our Master, and if I do not betray him somebody else will. And why may not I as well pocket the money as another?" If you consider it a privilege to pocket the wages of unrighteousness, do so.
But do not pretend to be the friend of G.o.d or man while you count it a privilege to insult the one and ruin the other?
Says another, "I wish it were banished from the earth. But then what can I do?" What can you do? You can keep one man clear; you can wash your own hands of this wretched business. And if you are not willing to do that, very little reliance can be placed on your good wishes. He that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. I can hardly conceive any thing more inconsistent with every generous feeling, every n.o.ble principle, than the traffic in intoxicating liquor at the present day.
The days of ignorance on this subject have pa.s.sed by; every man acts with his eyes open.
Look at the shop and company of the retailer. There he stands in the midst of dissipation, surrounded by the most degraded and filthy of human beings, in the last stages of earthly wretchedness. His business is to kindle strife, to encourage profanity, to excite every evil pa.s.sion, to destroy all salutary fears, to remove every restraint, and to produce a recklessness that regards neither G.o.d nor man. And how often in the providence of G.o.d is he given over to drink his own poison, and to become the most wretched of this wretched company. Who can behold an instance of this kind without feeling that G.o.d is just. "He sunk down into the pit which he made; in the net which he hid is his own foot taken."
Another will say, "I neither make nor traffic in it." But you drink it occasionally, and your example goes to support the use of it. You see its tremendous effects, and yet you receive it into your house and bid it G.o.d speed. As far as your influence supports it and gives it currency, so far are you a partaker of its evil deeds. If you lend your influence to make the path of ruin respectable, or will not help to affix disgrace to that path, G.o.d will not hold you guiltless. You cannot innocently stand aside and do nothing.
A deadly poison is circulating over the land, carrying disease and desolation and death in its course. The alarm has been given. Its deadly effects have been described, seen, and felt. Its victims are of every cla.s.s; and however wide the difference in fortune, education, intellect, it brings them to the same dead level. An effort has been made to stay the plague, and a success surpa.s.sing all expectation has crowned the effort. Still, the plague rages to an immense extent. What will every good citizen do? Will he not clear his house, his shop, his premises of it? Will he not take every precaution to defend himself against it, and use his influence and his exertions to diminish its circulation and thus diminish human misery? If he fears G.o.d or regards man, can he stop short of this? Can he, in his recklessness and selfishness say, "Let others take care of themselves? I"ll make no promises--I"ll not be bound--I am in no danger?" If he can speak and act thus, and stands aloof, and continues to drink, is he not guilty, and with the distiller and vender accountable to G.o.d for the perpetuation of these mighty evils, which but for his cooperation and agency must soon cease to exist? "I speak as unto wise men; judge ye what I say."