4. Upon national industry, too, the effects of intemperance are manifest and mischievous. The results of national industry depend on the amount of well-directed intellectual and physical energy. But intemperance paralyzes and destroys both these springs of action. In the inventory of national loss by intemperance, may be set down the labor prevented by indolence, by debility, by sickness, by quarrels and litigation, by gaming, by mistakes and misdirected efforts, by improvidence and wastefulness, and by the diminished length of human life and activity. Little wastes in great establishments, constantly occurring, may impair or destroy the productiveness of a very large capital. But, where the intellectual and muscular energies are raised to the working point daily by ardent spirits, until the agriculture, and commerce, and arts of a nation move on by the power of artificial stimulants, that moral power cannot be maintained, which will guaranty industry and integrity, and that physical power cannot be preserved and well directed, which will insure national prosperity.

5. The effects of intemperance upon civil liberty ought not to pass unnoticed. It is admitted that intelligence and virtue are the pillars of republican institutions, and that the illumination of schools, and the moral power of religious institutions, are indispensable to secure this intelligence and virtue. But who are found so uniformly in the ranks of irreligion as the intemperate ? Who like these violate the sacredness of Sunday, and set their mouths against the heavens, neglecting the education of their children, and corrupting their morals? Much the larger part of national ignorance and crime, is the offspring of intemperance. Throughout the land, the intemperate are hewing down the pillars, and undermining the foundations, of our national edifice.

IV. The remedy of intemperance. By what means can the evil of intemperance be stayed?

1. There should be extended through the country an allpervading sense of the danger of falling into this sin. Intemperance is a disease, as well as a crime; and, were any other disease equally contagious, equally well marked in its symptoms, and equally mortal, to pervade the land, it would create universal consternation. Much is said of "the prudent use" of spirituous liquors; but there is no prudent use of them, except when they

CHAP. III.]

are used only as a medicine. All who receive them into the system, it is true, are not destroyed by them. But if any vegetable were poisonous to as many, as the use of ardent spirits proves destructive to, it would be banished from the table; it would not be considered prudent to use it at all. The effect of attempting to use ardent spirits prudently is to multitudes so destructive, as to preclude the possibility of prudence in the use of them. And, when we consider the deceitful nature of this sin, and its almost irresistible power when it has obtained an ascendency, no man can use spirituous liquors prudently, or, without mocking his Maker, can pray while he uses them, "Lead us not

into temptation.”

drunkenness.

2. A vivid recollection should be habitually maintained, that a person may be guilty of great intemperance without actual So long as men suppose, that there is neither crime nor danger in drinking, short of what they denominate drunkenness, they will cast off fear and move onward to ruin by a silent, certain course, until destruction comes upon them, and they cannot escape. It should be known, therefore, and admitted, that, to drink daily, at stated times, any quantity of spirituous liquors, is intemperance; or to drink periodically, as often as days, and times, and seasons may furnish temptation and opportunity, is intemperance. It is violence done to the system, and the beginning of a habit which cannot fail to generate disease, and will not be pursued by one hundred men, without producing many drunkards.

In respect to the reformation of those over whom the habit of intemperance has obtained an ascendency, there is but one alternative; they must resolve upon immediate and entire abstinence. Many a man is equal to practising entire abstinence, who is unequal to the practice of temperance. Some have recommended, and many have attempted, a gradual discontinuance. But no man's prudence and fortitude are equal to the task of reformation in this way. If the patient were in close confinement, where he could not help himself, he might be dealt with in this manner; but it would be cruelly protracting a course of suffering through months, which might be ended in a few days. But no man, at liberty, will reform by gradual retrenchment.

3. With respect to the general reformation of intemperance, there is but one universal, natural, and national remedy, on which we can absolutely rely; and that is, the banishment of spirituous liquors, not only from the family and from social meetings and festive entertainments of whatever kind, but also from commerce and merchandise, by raising up a correct and effective public sentiment on the subject.

To this end, the pulpit, "in the sober use of its legitimate powers," may do much, much more than it has yet done. The press might soon accomplish the object, by its own immense resources, if it could be earnestly and universally enlisted. Voluntary associations, formed to use the press for the purpose of raising up such a public sentiment, and of giving it strength and efficiency, have done much, very much. Magistrates, especially the mayors and councils of our cities might do much to check intemperance by a firm and moderate use of the means placed at their disposal; and some of them have honorably distinguished themselves in this way. Finally, every man may give to this cause the benefit of his own example; every father of a family may bring up those specially intrusted to his care, in habits of abstinence from spirituous liquors; many may influence their neighbours, and unite themselves with temperance associations; and all may implore for it the Divine blessing.*

*This chapter principally consists of an abridgment of the language, and a condensation of the sentiments, of Dr. Beecher's "Six Sermons on Intemperance." It will be perceived, too, that the author has confined himself, in this discussion, to the use and sale of distilled liquors. The question respecting the use of wine, beer, &c., he considers beyond the "Elements of Moral Philosophy," to which he proposes to limit himself.

CHAPTER IV.

GAMING, INCLUDING AN EXAMINATION OF THE MORAL TENDENCY AND INFLUENCE OF THE LOTTERY SYSTEM.

GAMING, in the usual sense of the term, will not be noticed by me any further than as a convenient introduction to the examination of an extensive system not known by name as gaming, but fraught with most, if not all, of the mischiefs of the worst species and degrees of ordinary gaming. I refer to the lottery system. Gaming is an offence prohibited by law, well known to all as the acknowledged road to the ruin of body, mind, and estate, and resorted to only by men, who would seem to be beyond the reach of any motives and remonstrances which can be urged by the moral philosopher; while the lottery system is still, in a considerable measure, upheld and sanctioned by law, and sustained by the countenance, and even the occasional participation, of the respectable and the influential. Assuredly, when ordinary gaming is universally denounced by the wise and the good, the lottery system can only be permitted to exist among us, because the country has not reflected on the subject, and the public mind has not been enlightened in regard to its evils and pernicious consequences.

The lottery was known to the Romans; but it was not until comparatively late times, that the republic of Genoa first suggested the plan of resorting to it as a measure of finance. From Italy, about the year 1580, it found its way into France. The first lottery mentioned in English history was established in 1567. A few years after, lotteries had become numerous, and divers statutes were enacted to assuage, by restrictions and penalties, the malignity of their influence. But it is a part of the history of the lottery system, that all checks, guards, and restrictions have been but temporary alleviations, which, like most remedies of that nature, have produced the effect of giving false security to the patient, rather than of really counteracting the disease.*

* The last state lottery in England was drawn on the 18th of October,

From England, the system came into this country, and the second lottery ever granted by Parliament was authorized in the reign of James I., for carrying on the colonization of Virginia. The effects of the system, too, were early felt in the Eastern colonies; for, in 1699, "the ministers met at Boston" felt themselves called upon to denounce "the lottery as a fraud, and its agents as pillagers of the people." But, notwithstanding this early denunciation of the system, it gradually struck deep root in the soil of this country, and has shot its noxious branches into many portions of the American Union. Legislative sanction has been given to this fraud, under the various pretences of excavating canals, building bridges, endowing colleges, and even erecting churches. So liable are men, without reflection, to be led astray by the sophism of making the end sanctify the means by which it is attained.

Every principle of calculation is against the system; yet the bare possibility of obtaining a great sum for a small advance is so strong an inducement with the lower orders of society, and the ingenuity and profits of the persons whose interest it is to excite and keep alive in them the spirit of gaming are so great, that they will adventure, to their ruin, notwithstanding the results of calculation make against them with all the evidence of the light of noon-day. For instance, in a modern scheme containing 45,760 tickets, there may probably be, besides smaller prizes, twenty prizes of $1000 each, one prize of $5000, and one of $20,000. Now the great majority of adventurers have their eyes fixed on the high prizes. And what are their chances of obtaining them? The chance of the holder of a single ticket to obtain one of the prizes of $1000 is shown, by calculation, to be as one to 2080. His chance of drawing the prize of $5000, is as one to 22,880, and his chance of securing the capital prize of $20,000, is in the ratio of one to the aggregate number of tickets in the scheme, that is, of one to 45,760. How remote the prospect of success in securing any of the high prizes, which appear so dazzling to the eyes of the adventurers. Again, were an indi

1826. France has just announced her intention to follow the example of England in abolishing the lottery system. National Gazette, 11th of March, 1837.