The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-23

bility for the sentiments expressed and
merely giving all classes OF our readers an
opportunity to be heard
Legitimacy OF the Saloon Business
How can Temperance best be FL
fecied.
Editors Of the Register.
The hostile attitude to the saloon
keeping business, whicE is assumed by
the wouldhe reiormers OF Incorporate
habits, seems to imply that they con-
slider our business illegitimate. How
is this the case? 1t is not only well
known fact that with the exception OF
the revenue derived from direct taxation
in this city, no other source yields
nearly 80 much as the saloon business
gives, but it is equally well known that
he national government mainly de-
pends upon the revenue, which the
tax on liquors affords. for the pay
ment oil its current expenses, and the
extinguishmeat Of the national debt
As the United States derived, as ap-
appears by a late Internal
Revenue return, in one year,
the enormous sum Of Sl67, 80, lO7 from
the tax on spirits; as OF this Ohio paid
$l0,627,979, when at the same time her
peopls paid TO her own treasury tax
of 500, 2,73S,322; when the land Cultiyat-
el rs vineyards in the United States,
produced 20,000,000 gallons Of wine
7Een the product OF the soil made into
i.cr and wines yields an untold quanti'
" which is drank at home, and is the
drink and part Of the daily food OF mill
lions, what real good will result if the
few saloons that dispense such drinks
were shut up? The fact that we cons
tribute so largely to the support OF our
city, our State, and our National gov
ernmeut, and that we are engaged in a
legitimate business renders that business
respectable. Are the crusaders prepar-
ed to extend their prohibitory action to
all those who contribute to the produC-
ton OF liquors? Will they discourage
the cultivation OF grain by re-
etricting the uses for which it
may be sold, or will they
discountenance the occupation Of the
thrifty grape growers who have turned
our surrounding hills to such valuable
account, nd thereby added SO much to
the material wealth or our city, IL
not after all the proper way, to effect
their end, to decrease the demand Tor
intoxicating liquors?
| have had several years eXperiCnct
as a saloon keeper and have never yet
met a man who became a drunkard
through the use Of ,gins or Ter. These
satisfy the desire for stimulants and
produce none OF the injurious effects thai
arise from the excessive use OF spirits.
They do not create that irritation and
that nervous excitement which follow
the abuse OF distilled liquors, and whose
reaction on the system Of the drunkard
induces continued craving for more,
Let them try 10 dissuade those who
make whisky their beverage, from its
use, to that OF beer and wine, but not
TO heap their abuse on those who simp-
" supply a want that human nature
everywhere feels. Many a woman has
by her reckless extravaganza and
love OF self qualification been the
means oil bringing her husband into
poverty and want, but that would not
Justify an attack or q or rusade upon dry
goods stores and millinery establish
mcnts. Many persous have endeayored
10 show that tie tenor OF Scripture
teaching is opposed to the use OF slim
ulants. But ilthese superficial wise
acres were 10 examine the matter
more closely, they would see that by no
means other than a wil!ul peryersOn
OF its text, can any passage be so con-
strued as to apply TO the simple moder-
ate use OF liquors 1t is against the
abuse aud not the u.;, that people are
therein cautioned, and challenge any
one 10 cite a single passage which eIth>
er directly or indirectly hints at the
i'm propriety OF selling liquor. Over in
diligence in eating is very reprehensi'
bic, yet no one OF sane mind would
dream of closing up hotels, restaurants
or eating houses, for that
reason. Deprive men who have be-
come accustomed to the use o. stImu-
lsnts, and to whom habit has rendered
them necessary, Of the means OF in
dulging in light wines or harmless
beer, and they will resort to pernicious
drugs. Opium and hasheesh are large
ly consumed in communities where TO-
tai prohibition prevaiIs, and 70 one
who has ever reflected on the saHject
will deny that this ia an evil tar greater
than in.emperance from LIQUOR. The
moral 10 be drawn from all THE, IT,
think, that moderation should be the
aim Of every one. Physicians all agree
that q moderate stimulus is beneficial
both to mind and body, and it is my be-
lief that if moderation in counsel OBJ
tains among those 10 whose considers'
tion | address my views. that tar more
permanent good will result, than could
possibly come out OF violent measures
ADAM kALBFLElsCH.
The Temperance war-An Appeal 10