The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-06-14
Report 10 the Temperance Convention.

report 10 the Temperance convention.
The following report was made to the
Temperance Convention held at Chesa-
peake city, on Wednesday, June 4th inst,
by a committee previously appointed for
that purpose.
To the Cecil County Temperance Con-
renttsn:-1our Committee appointed under
resolution of the eleventh session of this
convention, to collect as far as practicable
the statistics of intemperance in our coun-
ty, would now report that we have given
the subject our careful attention, have cor
responded with such of our County officers
as would be likely to be able to give us the
benefit of the official account of the crimi-
nal expenses of our county and the proper
ton of expense caused directly by the
liquor traffic, and also the cost of pauper-
ism attributable to the same cause.
We have asked of our sheriff state
ment of the number of persons of intern
perate habits who are now confined in our
county Jail, or who may have been brought
there, either directly or indirectly, by the
use of strong drink, and the cost of their
maintenance to the county.
Some of these gentlemen have favored
us with explicit answers giving all the
information of which they were in posses
! sion and from some we have not heard.
We have also in our possession an Off
cial copy of the license list as filed in Elk
ton, and the amount paid from all sources
for licenses.
From these sources the following figures
and facts are gathered. The expenses of
our poor-house, with it's 60 inmates, is
about $4,000, counting in the value of the
farm products. There are outside paupers
or outpensioners, who are partially sup
ported by the county, at cost of 81, 800;
6 inmates of the Maryland Hospital, at an
expense of $1,000 and funeral expenses of
paupers 5000. Two thirds of this is the
result of intemperance; the estimate in
some other counties where liquor is sold is
much higher, in lister county, n. Y, it is
placed at 60 per cent.
Comparing the above figures with those
of two years ago, we find an increase of
about $500 in the cost of our poor.
Of the proportionate expense of our
criminal court to be charged to the liquor
trade we have been unable to obtain any
definite information, but any enc who has
ever been in attendance at Elkton during its
sessions, or on juries to try cases growing
out Of even "lttle sprees, knows by per-
sonal experience of the cost of this kind
of litigation. Some single cases have cost
the county g., 900, where whisky was the
only cause of trouble.
Our new Jail was made necessary by rea-
son of the crimes of men committed under
the influence of drink. In many counties
that can be mentioned, the jjails are empty
and there are no licensed grog- shops. For
gerry and burglary are almost the only
offenses that are not largely confined to
men of drinking habits. So multifold are
the crimes committed by men while under
the influence of drink, that it has been
well said that intemperance is an egg from
which all the crimes in the decalogue can
be Matched.
With the above evil, we as citizens, can
only deal in collective capacity to remove,
in so far as relates to its connection with
our public interests, or the amount of our
taxes and crimes.
We have now given a glimpse of the ex-
pense of crime and pauperism caused by
drink. Let us now see what is paid to the
State for the privilege of entaling this ex-
pense on the county. Fortunately we have
the exact figures here.
There was paid into our State treasury
until May list, 1878, the sum of 81, 240,
from Al hotels; the sum Of 81, 194.S6,
from 25 restaurants or oyster-houses; and
the further sum of $40 for 25 traders
license. Making a sum total of $2,S74.S6
derived from all sources for permits from
the State to sell all sorts of drinks to the
people. The rental value of hotel property
in our county, as appears by the sworn
statements of those taking out the licenses,
is Sc, 100.
The "stock in trade" of those having
traders license, is $4,000. OF the stock
in trade of those having oyster-house
license, we have no estimate.
These facts will give the approximate
value of property and the amount of CAPT.
tai now engaged in the retail liquor bust
ness.
What return do we derive from this in
vestment of capital? Is the material or
moral welfare of the community in any
way increased by it? Does it add anything
yearly to the value of our real estate or
taxable property? Let US look into this
question, as it affects our political econo-
my.
The moneys spent by private individuals
for drink, are not only sums withdrawn
from the capital of the community, for
which they receive no adequate equivalent,
but the parties themselves, are in the ma
jority of cases rendered less able to carry
on productive industry. No one drinks
with the idea that it is substitute for food,
or if they do, they are to be pittied for
their ignorance, rather than blamed for
their folly.
Baron Liebig, the late German chemist
of high authority, affirms that as much
flour or meal as would lie in teaspoon is
more nutritious than nine quarts Of the
best Bavarian beer. Distilled liquors con-
tain not trace of life sustaining princi-
pie. But we do not propose to try to
enlghten you On this point, but only men,
ton this TO show the absolute waste of the
gifts of the Creator, that is going on in
our midst.
Can this waste be stopped and this food
and money turned to its proper uses? We
prohibitionists claim that it can, or SO
nearly so as to astonish, if not to convince
its enemies, Of the practicability of the
undertaking.
In proof of the above assertion, we have
only to cite the instances of places where
it has been tried, or is now in successful
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