Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-12
PRAYFw.s vs. GIkZElNC.

age. Would you ask for specifica-
tons? | present them in these
horrible statistics: The traffic pro-
duces annually 100000 paupers for
our aim houses sends 10000 men
and women annually to drunkards
graves; reduces 100000 Children
annually to want; fills our prisons
at an annual cost to the people of
90 million dollars. Add, the fact
that intemperance undermines the
constitution of the drinker, makes
him scottish in mind and body, and
crowds grief and sorrow upon the
inmatCs of thousands of happy
homes Let these frightful facts
speak. They tell us that the traffic
in strong drink is a business
thoroughly corrupt; debasing the
very demon of dcmons--the great
master iniquity of this great cen
fury. therefore arraign it before
the bar of reason and conscience on
the following indictments
In filling oar poor houses with
100000 panpars, the liquor traffic
is crime against the well-being of
the community.
la carrying 100000 persons an
nually TO dlunliards' graves, the
liquor traffic is the destroyer of
human life--a crime against man,
sin against God, murder in the sight
of the higher law.
In reducing 100000 Children to
want, the liquor traffic is a crime
against childhood-it is robbery.
In feeding the flame of lust and
passion, the traffic breeds crime,
and must therefore be the crime of
crimes against the State.
In uniting thousands of mep for
the performances Of their duties as
husbands and fathers, this traffic is
a crime against the family.
In bringing misery upon tens of
thousands of homes, this traffic is a
crime against society.
In that, intemperance unde1mines
the constitution, the traffic in strong
drinks IS a crime against the inG-
vidual.
In that intemperance destroys the
very life forces of our being, and
makes man scottish i'll body and
mind, this traffic is crime against
nature.
Behold in it mans greed of gain
the hydra headed monster of
ancient story--coming forth from
the marshes of sel1ishness to ravage
the human race. Shall not all good
people rally, and cry this traffic
down as Il crime, curse too henious
20 be borne by the progressive spirit
our century!
Should you still halt between two
opinions, let me help you to de-
cision with few more death dealing
facts: There are $4,000 persons out
of apopulation of 80 millions, engage
ed III this business-one out of every
~ OF the men, woman and Children,
are scattering Wretchedness and
poverty into the happy homes of
this free land 100000 men-400,-
ooo more than all the Teachers,
Priests and Clergymen This nation
pays into the hands of these men
Tor strong drink, about one and
a half billion dollars-a sum three
lines as large as it pays for flour
and meat. A sum nearly twice the
amount paid for the clothing, cot
ton and wooden goods, boots and
shoes, and the flour of the nation
Tor the same time. These facts
prove an alarming condition of
things. The amount of evil brought
to the individual, the family, the
State, is tealfully great. But polit-
zeal economists argue that in these
hard times we must tolerate this
gigantic evil for the sake Of the
revenue of so million dollars, which
The traffic brings into the Treasury
OF the nation. Never was argu-
ment more false. Say that the l40,-
wv licensed saloons at 500 each,
Yield revenue Of II millions. But
what does that business produce !
lat, ask the prison statistics, and
they will tell you that this business
furnishes nineteen out of every
twenty criminals, nineteen twentieths
- me prison expenses of this ma
non Is traced to the saloons-about
- million dollars. We pay out s.
millions to take care of the criminals |
made from u business from which