Page:The social and moral elevation of our working classes.pdf/6

 speak too much in general terms, and omit to point out particular evils, and to enforce the necessity of their abandonment by all.

There is one practice almost universal amongst us, which, more than any other evil habit that prevails, impedes the social and moral elevation of our people. It is a habit which does more to degrade men, and keep them low on the ladder of life, than any other, or perhaps than all other bad habits put together, and yet few preachers and few writers condemn it in their teachings or ministrations. It is a habit destructive of comfort and virtue; its injurious effects are patent to all men; and yet all, as if by common consent, avoid all allusion to it, even when they seem most earnest to improve the condition and elevate the character of their fellow men. This habit is the use of alcohol, which alike endangers the peer and peasant, the monarch and her subjects through all grades, down to the poorest wretch who ekes out a miserable existence from the most sordid occupations of humanity. All, all alike, are enveloped in the meshes of this destroyer, who "smiles, and smiles, and murders while he smiles." When I say all, it is of course understood that I except that zealous band of teetotalers who are continually pointing out to men their folly with the voice of unanswerable truth, by the warnings of hoary experience, and from the unerring lights of science. All of which proclaim in language not to be gainsaid, that alcohol is the undying enemy of man. This being the case, it is clear that we must remove this destroyer out of the way (and this can only be done effectually by legislative prohibition of its manufacture for sale,) before we can hope to succeed in securing the social and moral improvement of our working classes, or even in making any near approach to this desirable consummation of our labours. The wealthy and intelligent are called on, in an especial manner, to relinquish their drinking habits, as the poor and uneducated look up to them for advice, and are guided in their moral habits by their example.

That the physical comforts of the working classes are greatly increased by the lessened consumption of alcoholic liquors, is proved by the fact, that in the years 1809, 1810, 1813, and 1814, which were seasons of apprehended famine in Ireland, and when distillation from grain was prevented, as compared with the years 1811, 1812, 1815 and 1817, which were seasons of abundance, and when distillation was permitted, the imports of the comforts of life into our country, such as haberdashery, drapery, hardware, blankets, cotton goods, tea, and sugar, exhibited an excess of over two millions of pounds sterling in value, in favour of the former periods; showing clearly that the absence of the comforts of life arises solely from our mad and thoughtless expenditure on strong drinks.

No actual deficiency of food for support of our population has ever occurred; more grain being destroyed in our distilleries and