The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-21
a Solid Argument for Prohibition.

MEssRs. ErIroRs Some timo ago Won
were Kind enough to publish at INV sup-
gestion all extract on the moral phase of
the temperance question, showing that
eighty-four per cent. OF crime in ono OF
the United States was traceable, directly
or indirectly, 70 the use of ardent spirits.
J now request that you publish the fol-
lowing. that shows us the causes OF tho
heavy fares we have TO pay. No words of
mine arc necessary; these statenients
and figures speak for themselves. Let
us, as taxpayers, read and ponder them
. W. II. S.
complain (and with good reason) that
their taxes arc SO burdensome. Now. It
Is asserted by tho highest judicial author
ity Of this country land the assertion is
founded upon their experience on tho
bench) that eiglt-tenths OF all the crime,
criminal arrests and prosecutions, nov.
erty and wretchc,lncss in tho land is
traceablc TO the liquor traffic as its cause
This being so, then this traffic is the cause
OF eight ht-tcnths of all the costs of tho
criminal arrests. incarcerations and PROS
ecutiOnS.
"And inasinuch ,.s at least onc.half of
All The state, county and municipal eS-
pcnscs Is caused by such arrests, incarco.
rations and prosecutions. therefore the
State, county and municipal taxes are
Just double what they would be but for Inc
ti9u0y traffic.
Yes, taxpayers, your taxes arc just
double every year by this damnablo
traffic in intoxicating liuuors-a traffic
that brings no good but II hell of woe TO
the people.
IF farmers State and county taxes
for the year are SO, then SlO Of that
amount lie is compelled to pay TO secure
tho punishment Of the crimes produced
by the sale of whskey and beer: and if
prohibition wore enacted and enforced
his taxes would soon be cut down ono
hall. II the owner of town property paws
annually In State, county and municipal
taxes $50. then So of that amount tho
payers, think OF these :nlisputablo facts,
and II you are tired of paving heavy
t'<cs rotc l,,'ohiLitior
The State, county and municipal taxes
III Maine are not half rs high now az they
were before that State enacted and on
lorceu prohibition. There arrests for
drunkenness and assault and battery are
almost unknown, and the jails, pemitcn-
tlarleS and alnShousrS are almost cmpty,
les, FARMERS and property owners, if
you wish low taxes vote and help to en-
force prohibition, and thereby aid in de-
stroylng the expensive, detestablc, ruin
Gus, DesOttlng, impOvcrishing, wife beat
.ng, children starving, soul -damninr
liquor traffic
During the year 1872 there was cx.
pended in the United States for intoXica-
tive beverages S735, 72U04S. This is al
most as much rs was spent during the
same year by the people of this country
Tor Hour, sugar, mulasscs, cotton and
woolcn goods, and boots and shoes.
This drink bill equals all the wages paid
all the mechanics and skilled labor du-
ring the same time. 1t is two million
dollars more than all the money earned
during the same year by all the railroads
i'll the United States. 1t is eight times as
much as we pay per year for all the sup
port of all our schools and colleges 1t is
Twelve times rs much as tho cost of our
printing newspapers, periodicals and
books. 1t Is eight times the estimate
value Of all The public libraries liz this
country Is twice the value of all the
church property i'll this country 1t is
eighteen times as much as was contrbu-
ted III the same year by all tho people of
the linitcd States for the support of the
Gospel and all missionary and benevo-
lent enterprises. All the State county
and city debts Of this country in 1872
were 9SGS,676,75S. Stop liquor drinking
one year and wc could pay Off all thcso
debts.
Let all who dcploro heavy taxes and
all Christians and philanthropists rally
for the complete prohibition OF the man
ufacturc and sale of intoxicating liquors,
and thereby cut short this terrible waste,
the unnitigated curse.
I'VE often lose our mercies by loving
them too well, rs tho ball of snow is
melted by the warmth of the hand that
holds it, or rose is spoiled by pressing
1t too tightly"