Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-01-19
THE HARD TIMES.

the expenditure Tor intoxicating drinks
in the United States was six hundred
millions year. Now it has always been
an axiom among temperance men that
for every dollar spent in strong drinks
another dollar is lost and wasted by lost
time, misdirected industry, and by the
thousand modes of strip and waste by
drinking men.
Twelve hundred millions of dollars
divided among forty millions Of people
will give thirty dollars to each; and that
sum may fairly be regarded as lost and
wasted to the country through the Ii
auor traffic, because the article received
in exchange for the money is of no val
ue whatever, at the same time it entails
upon the community vast expenditure
in the way of poverty, pauperlSm' insan-
ity and crime Is it any marvel that the
NATION reels and staggers under this
enormous burden?
Hon. Neal Dow, discussing in the
New York Independent, the political
Economy of the Maine Law" makes use
of the above figures, in order to prevent,
in contrast, the comparatively happy ex-
emption from these evils of the people
of the State of Maine. Trade has been
dull in Maine, he admits, as it has been
in other parts of the world; but there
have been by far fewer failures there
among bushes men, in proportion to
their numbers, than in other States, and
the masses of the people have suffered
less from lack of employment than the
same class in other parts of the country.
There must be cause for this compar-
alive exemption from the common lot.
This cause, Mr.. Dow finds in the fol
lowing facts: Maine has about seven
hundred Thousand people, and inthe old
rum time there was as much liquor con-
sumed in the State in proportion to the
population as in any other part OF the
country. Now the proportion Of expen-
diture for Maihe-of the twelve hun
dred millions-would be twenty.one
millions of dollars. But in fact there is
not a tenth part of that sum expended
for strong drinks in the State, and the
difference between the twenty-one mil
lions and the two or three millions we
have, he says, in our pockets and in our
business and in accumulated capital.
In other words, the Maine law saves
the people of the Pine Tree State an an
nual burden of from seventeen to eigh-
teen millions OF dollars. No wonder
that her business men are all agreed that
that State has suffered less during this
financial crisis than any other part of
the country. The evidences Of prosper
ity, Mr.. Dow asserts, are to be seen all
over the State, in improved farms, and
in nice and tidy farm-buildings, in place
of the shabby and neglected ones which
were 10 be seen everywhere in the old
rum time. The suppression Of the Ii
quor traffic has been TO llowed by stea-
dy and constant improvement in the
condition of the people in every part of
the State. Pretty country churches and
nea: country schoolhouses have taken
the place oftbe poor and shabby ones
of the old rum time; aud old hats and
old pet,icoats are no longer seen sup
plying the lack of glass in the windows
of the ruinous old dwellings. And far
mers and workingnen 10 longer gather
at the country grocery, spending their
time, money, and health; because these
groceries everywhere through the State
are now free from the pollution and
curse of the liquor traffic. No one who
knew what Maine was in the old rum
time and knows what it has been since,
and down to this day can fail to see the
wonderful change for the better which
has taken place in the condition of the
people. Everywhere throu G III the State
the evidences OF this are obvious and
innumerable.
In concluding these statements, the
Apostle OF Prohibition gives the follow
ing suggestive incidents:
Sometime since ! saw two neat dwell
ling houses in one block going up.
passed the place often, and noticed the
progress of the work. BY and by the
roof was in place and the plasters had
finished their task. Ono day, as was
going by, saw carpenter busy about
the place, one whom l formerly knew
as a drinking man. l supposed he was
employed about the work; and asked
him whose the houses were?
"They arc mine" said he. "Won't
YOU come and look at them?'
did so gladly, and with evident
pride he showed Inc all over one of
them, from cellar to attic, and explained
to me the way in which be was to ar
range it for himself TO live in. The 9TH
err he was to sell or let.
"And SO these are your's'" / said.
Eyes, and all paid for. / shall not
owe dollar upon them"
"Ahl you couldn't have done this if
you snent yonr money for rum