The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-05-04
The Mathematics of tho Liquor Frsaae.

LII England, as well as in this country,
unusual attention is being directed tow.
ard the fearful increase Of ofintemperanoe
and the awfully significant results
which the statistics of the liquor traffic
exhibit. In recent sermon delivered
at Westminster Abbey during the past
month, the Archbishop of York took I'D
the subject oftemperance, and denounc-
ed in terms of the deepest indignation
and sorrow that startling increase of in
temperance in England, where f140,
OOO,OO0 are spent annually in drink,
against something like fl 900, 900 spent
annually for missions! Ten years ago,
the amount spent in drink was only
flO5 1000, 900, SO that it had increased
more than one-quarter in so short q
space of time. 1t was eating out tho VI
tality of the nation, and had made the
Anglo-Saxon name by-word among
the nations. The nation could not
hope to hold the sceptre over such q
mighty empire in hands that were rap
Idly growing feeble from indulgence.
The Archbishop went further, and said
there was a deep reason to fear that an
opinion was sweeping over the minds
of the educated classes that there wa
no other world but this, or at any rate
if there were, we should have no con-
scious share in 1t, and that this life was
the be all and end all of mans existence;
and he concluded with q solid prayer
that God would turn tho hearts Of the
people and save the nation.
II the archbishop could come to this
country he would find the progress of
the liquor traffic equally appalling.
And he might conclude not only that
"an opinion was sweeping over the
minds of the educated classes that therv
was no other world but this" but an
investigation of the drinking habits of
the people would suggest to him that
part ofour American people have con-
concluded that the only way to enjoy
even the earthly life ia to drink and ca
rouse,-as II the ssnds of time were to
be gathered as eecily as the sGnde on the
sesshore; 90 If life, like the waters ofa
perennial fountcip, vers 10 dow On for
ever!
When we oors TO lSok Ct the static
tics Of the liquor trsfnc in this country.
ths result is appalling. In 1874 there
were consumed ia tAs United Ststes
SS7 lis, 100 gallons of distilled spirits
and fernented liquors, costing 97l5, 100,
600, While ira t0t9i amount raiaed from
all soI.c5s for homo Anl fcreiI, mis-
1ions in l.. Unit 9f'tes fer tie same
y3sr, I'ss -, Gee ,snd tS9 total benev.
Client cSa.ribv ioas, including olurch
buildinr. Il 30 charity, @nd pahli-
c1tion o. rat Qua wo.ts, were less
than : 2,Go0,C Cool Tbs annusl expendi-
lures -cr Ii ;ac-s has increased till 1t
now res 1Lea s725,C00,co0 Annu. ilY,
vhiis - - &C. Is oI misscn ry boS7ds
ers po,r stTr i,rr urasr deb.I Add
70 all this the 81 y thousand deNihs
nom irtcu ne~suce in this county
e-ery yesr - rstv,'- aTS Ti~ca 81 ~
i've OF gu. ri AM sorrow, diselse
and 1sath, which cln only bs p-' -lellsd
by tie horrors OF tie nethe, world.
And still the devil, work Iourifhes:
still the Lords work langnishes. Ca
any christian man OF woman doubt
where tney org.t to stand on this mo-
c. ast-onf
There is 40 lining so difficult 70 under
stand a. the pi. ise presented by tbs LIZ.
nor traf..c. low . christian people,
Pro -sssia5 he doctsf1es "a Cnrist, pro-
Tossing TO De measurably ilnitators Of
His life and mis- exemple-and such Q
life and example--how such q people
can wink and blink at the liquor traffic,
with its 60,00o victims annually, passes
comprehension. The thief Of few PEN
MES is sent to Jail, and deservedly.
The man who strikes or otherwise as
sails another is punished by the strona
arm Of the law. And yet christian
people allows its citizens to deal out
that which reduces thousands to begga-
ry, which steals the brains, which dis
which nurtures and fosters
crime, which demoralizes society aud
ruins souls. Liquor to the right of ne,
liquor to the left Of US; drunk at the
corner grocery, drunk at the public bar,
drunk In our hotels, and at our centen-
nial exposition. And we are q christian
people, and this 10 the ninstssnth csntu-
'y!-rNsw York Christian at Work.