Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-03-06
To the Editor Of the Cincinnati qasetts:

NN'-~~ie-~Nr- NiN-~SssNr
In the semi-Weekly Gazette, of January I
2sth, you publish an article under this /
caption: saThe Liquors We Consume l
aud the Saloons We Support In said I
article. you present startling array of
facts and figures in reference to the 1iq-
uor traffic in Hamilton county. 1t is not
necessary to reproduce your figures, but
1 would invite attention to some of the
facts which YOU present. After saying
there are 2, 800 public drinking places in
Cincinnati, you state that Gin these pau
perism and crime, to very large extent,
have their origin.'' ''There is, besides, a
political power that can rule, and virtu-
ally does rule, the city government"
Again you say the amount paid by the
people for liquor exceeds the expendi-
lures for bread, groceries and meat"
eFWomen and children are robbed to make
up the liquor revenue.'' - To use your own
words, these facts and figures are start
ling, "but unfortunately they are true"
After having made these statements, |
you pertinently inquire of the citizens
Hwhat they propose to do about it."
1t is well that this inquiry was institu-
ted. These facts are alarming, and al
though the writer of this article is not
resident of Hamilton county, it is an un-
deniable fact that the condition in Gin
cinnati is duplicated in a greater or less
degree throughout our State. How to
solve the drink problem is question of
paramount public Importance. In its So
luton lies the destiny of unborn millions.
1t is not too much to say that the fate of
the nation rests upon its decision. You
suggest that ''under judieious license
SYSTEM two-thirds of the drinking places
''could be properly CONTROLLED while
the other third would be wiped out alto
gether, and THAT the city might derive
revenue of $500, 900 per annum by taxing
the remaining saloons 5000 each yer year.
I do not understand your figures, but I
would inquire whether this revenue,
whateves it might amount to, would COM
pensate for the evils resulting from the
trade. Would it defray the costs of the
criminal prosecutions which are its legit-
innate fruits, or would it support the pau
: pers it makes? Would it indemnify the
+ widow of the murdered husband, or the
|, parents of a ruined SON? Would it rein
:, vigorate with hope and joy the withered
!; and blighted heart of that wife who be-
= gan her welded life with buoyant pros
y poets of the future, but has seen every
5, earthly hope vanish? Would it reanimate
l. with life the multitudes whom it is yearly
sending to premature graves? In short,
would it pGg to license the traficP Per
haps you will say that liquor will be sold
anyhow, and that it might as we'll pay 8
it part of the expense it causes, and that 'ss
Il certain class of people regard it as essen
Sc tial to solid comfort and enjoyment al
e bread or meat or clothing. If the latter
proposition be true, certainly the trade ir
alcohol should not be taxed. You would
not tax the farmer 5000 per year for pro
ducing the solid comforts of life in the
shape,of bread and meat, nor the proYis-
ion dealer for vending these useful arti.
t cles. 1t is to the public interest that the
<. legitimate ca1lings which, really minister
y to the public wants be not taxed in order
that any citizen may engage in them
as thus producing healthy competition.
The only questionis this: Is the sale
of alcoholic liquors as beverage a legit
innate business? 1 unhesitatingly an
> swer, no. We do not permit the butche
to sell tainted meat. And when epidem
les prevail, the gardner may not sell greer
lie corn and other vegetables. And why
m Because these articles are injurious t.
ses the public health.
eg- But some one will say that alcohol
he drinks, taken in moderation, are not del
fns rimental to health Other .poisons coul
cPl q also be taken in minute quantities viii
he out producing any perceptible effect o.
i've the health of those who might use then
5ie. 5e. and yet these. would not be. productive {
mp Hsolid comfort and enjoyment" an
might profftably and properly be di
pensed with. So may alcoholic beVel
4 ages. When the consumers of stron
Ee drink are contrasted with total abstaine
as to health and longevity, it is invariabl
disparaging to the custom of drinking
ter ter But wish to say here that the drink ira
'm- fc has been denounced on, the floor of Il
American Senate as the. Gigantic erin
n of crimes" The dram seller is license
l 3 for what?
S in -ssIicensed to make the strong man weak; 9
lost Licensed to lay the wise man low; .=ss--l-f
any Licensed a Wifes fond heart to break, e.3f
hen And make her children's tears to flow,