Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-11-20

duccd by it 30, one can Aave any
adequate CONCEPTION, No aritlI-,
metician has been able to ex-
press by figures, no angelic pow
er could compute the. cost to the
nation of the blasted homes and
lives, the wasted affections ard
paralyzed energies, debased man
hood and Womanhood, the, mar
rowed education, defied religious
instruction, bankruptcy, Iessened
industry, and alI tie long train
ofpeisonal and social evils which
drink occasions.
The direct cost for liquors, as
far as reported to the govern
mert, in 1872 (and much is sold
that is not reported) was $685.
720,058; this is an enormous "a
mount Of wasted money, and
that is not all. The products OF
our flour and grist mills in 1870
amounted to $44L,95S,143, OF, a
little more than half as much
as our reported drink bill. Bill
for moIasses and sugar the same
year $119,325,2 79, or about one
seventh as much as our drink bill.
Cost of cotton goods $117,489,
759, about One-seyenth as much
as our whiskey bill. Cost Of
wooden goods $155, 405,655 OF
about Cne-fifth as much as our
whiskey bill. Cost Of boots and
shoes S14G,704,G65, almost one
sixth Of orr liquor bill. In 9th
er words, in one year, this social
ed Christian nation spends lor
strong drink alone, almost as
much as we spend for flour, SUI
gar and molasses, for cotton
goods, WOODEN goods and boots
and shoes; and still mther man.
iiest our consistency by praying
loudly on the sabbath for the
success Of the temperance cause,
and sending missionaries to Chi
ma and drunken Senators and
1 G onoreSsmen to WASHINGTON.
The aggregate of wages paid by
all the manufacturing establish
mcnts Of the country was $775,-
4S4,303. Our drink bill there
for equals all the wages paid me-
chanics and skilled labor for the
same year. Is it surprising that
labor and capital is at a vari-
ance? The total receipts of all
the railroads in the United States
for 1873 was $526,419,955, al
most two-thirds as much as, was
! squandeFcd IN Strong drink save
the money, thus sqqapdered to
pay the men employed BY these
roads, there viii be no more occa7
sion for strikes. The income,of
schools, public and private, for
1870, was 500, 402,725, not one
seventh Of what we pay for
strong drink, and vet we boast
of our liberaIity for educational
| purposes. All our printing and
publishing Of books, newspapers,
etc, was SOS, 1868, AZ, almost one
twelfth of our bill for intoxicat-
ing drinks. All the Libraries in
the country, both public and pri-
vatc, were worth $91, 05T, $40,
saving our drinking bill one year
would increase our libraries eight
times, and what a blessing it
would be to the boys and girls
of our land if this were done.
The total value Of our church
property was $354,4 S3, 581, a six
months drink bill would replace
it all lift should burn. As much
is spent for our stomachs in one
year as would twice pay for all
churches. In the year 1879 there
was contributed for benevolent
objects and church purposes, by
all denominations, S4T636, 495;
in the same year almost eighteen
times as much was contributed
for strong drink. All the State,
county and municipal taxes iii
1873, excluding u. S. taxes, were
only$200, 591 ,52L,not much more
than one-third of ourliquor waste,
a large proportion Of the taxes
were paid because Of liquor, and
would otherwise have been saw
! ed. All the State, county and
city debts were $S6S,676,75S.
Stop liquor drinking one year
and we could pay off all these
debts. These are alarming facts
for our ovcrburdened Taxpayers
to consider. What so threatens
the welfare Of the people to-day
as this whiskey interest? Will
You help us to prevent such a
waste of life and prosperity
Commonwealth.
m N. IL ~. h.ln-l-