58 VEGETABLE INTOXICATING DRINKS. 



the population of Ireland is also justly attributable to the extended 

 cultivation of the potato. 



It need not be argued in this place, that in this country, the great 

 abundance of both vegetable and animal food is the chief cause of its 

 prosperity, its rapidly increasing population, and the comparative 

 health and energy of the people. Our country, under these circum- 

 stances, in connection with its free institutions, cannot be otherwise 

 than prosperous and powerful, if the rapid developement of this power 

 and prosperity does not itself disturb the clear current and check the 

 steadily onward tide of their progress. This, we are free to say, is 

 mostly to be apprehended from the mingled population flooding our 

 shores from all countries, and in general consisting of those little 

 qualified from previous habits, prejudices and ignorance of letters and 

 of our institutions, which are prematurely pressed under their con- 

 trol ; to appreciate and perpetuate the purity and variety of our na- 

 tural, political, civil and religious blessings. Whilst this is desirable 

 in the extension of the advantages we enjoy, of health, freedom and 

 happiness ; in the additions to our numerical strength and in the more 

 rapid developement of our resources ; yet the influence of political 

 power made to accompany the advantages thus afforded, necessarily 

 hazards the purity and prosperity of those blessings, as time has al- 

 ready revealed and will hereafter reveal in demonstrations not to be 

 mistaken by the most reckless political demagogue. 



INTOXICATING VEGETABLE JUICES. 



As intoxicating drinks of all kinds are the products of vegetables 

 and essentially connected with our subject, we may be expected to 

 make some general remarks, in addition to what has been heretofore 

 incidently said on this important subject important from the con- 

 trolling influence it exerts on society, on the happiness, the intellectu- 

 al and the moral condition of mankind. These products are chiefly 

 from the cereal grains, which, as we have just seen and as all must 

 well know, are the most valuable of the vegetable world. The sin- 

 gular anomaly is therefore presented of their being at once the greatest 

 blessing and the greatest curse of mankind. No fact can be present- 

 ed to the mind, therefore, so fully illustrative of what we have before 

 said and what we wish could be more deeply impressed on every mind 

 that it is the abuse of the blessings of nature which is the great 

 source of evil and crime in the world. 



But it should be understood that alcohol does not exist as an ele- 

 ment in vegetable substances. It does not exist in the sugar or the 

 starch of the grains nor in the grapes, when whole ; it is the result of 

 the act of fermentation and of the arts of men that the elements are 

 changed and spirits are produced. Nor will the juices ferment if kept 

 from the air. Starch is free from any thing like alcohol, but kept moist 



