There  is  another  view  of  this  subject  which  is  becoming  com-
mon, viz.  That  the  traffic  in  ardent  spirit  is  a  business  which  is
unjust  toward  the  community.  Here,  for  instance,  is  a  county
which  has  in  it  a  thousand  drunkards ;  a  great  portion  of  them
paupers,  of  course ;  and  are,  or  soon  will  be,  with  their  children,


*  Seoond  Report  of  th«  New  Yorii  State  Tempenoee  Soeielj,  p.  Ml


I37J  riPTH  REPORT. — 1832,  27

thrown  as  a  burden  upon  the  public.    The  profit  of  making  these
paupers  is  enjoyed  by  a  few  grocers,  but  tlie  burden  of  supporting
them  comes  ou  the  whole  community.     By  what  theory  of  politi-
cal economy,  or  what  principle  of  correct  legislation,  can  it  be
shown  that  there  is  not,  in  this,  horrible  injustice.     Do  the  mea
who  carry  on  the  business  say,  that  they  pay  a  bonus  to  the  govern-
mem,  and  by  it  increase  the  revenue  of  the  State,  and  tlius  in  some
measure  compensate  the  community  for  the  miifchief  which  tliej
do  to  it?    Let  us  examine  this  plea.     Here  is  a  town  of  a  thou-
sand people.    In  it  is  a  retailer  who  sells  ardent  spirit  to  all  who
win  buy ;  and  thus  causes  a  great  portion  of  ail  the  pauperism
and  wretchedness  in  the  place.     And  what  does  he  pay  for  thus
burdening  the  community  w^ith  taxes,  and  bringing  upon  it  a  host
of  other  evils?    The  paltry  sum  of  one    dollar.*      And  are  the
cotnrounity  to  be  told  that  therefore  this  business  is  not  unjust  ?
that  as  he  pays  four  dollars,  it  is  just  that  he  should  increase  more
than  four-fold  their  paupers  and  their  criminals ;  augment  greatly
their  diseases,  expose  their  children  to  drunkenness  and  ruin  r    On
what  principle  of^righteousn^ss  can  it  be  shown  to  be  just  for  him,.
