Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-05-19
The WAY We WASTE.

During the year 1870 in the state of New
York, there were expended by consumers,
for liquor, more than one hundred and
six millions of dollars, sum which amount
ed TO nearly two.thirds of all the wages
pa id to laborers in agriculture and manu-
factories and to nearly twice as much as
the receipts of all the railroads in the
State, the sum Of the latter being between
sixty-eight and sixty-nine millions.
The money of our people goes across
the bar all the time faster than il is crowd
ed into the wickets of all the railroad
OF Manifestations and where does it 60 :?
Whatisthe return for it? Diseased stom-
achs, aching heads, discouraged and slatern-
ly homes, id'eness, gout, t,crime, degradation
and death. These in various measures,
are exactly what we get for it. We gain
of that which is good, nothing-no nplift
in morality, no increase of industry, no
accession to health, no growth of prosperi-
| ty. The State is full OF tramps and every
one is drunkard. There is demoraliza-
tion everywhere, in consequence of this
wasteful stream OF fiery fluid that con-
stantly flows down the open gulet OF the
State. ~
The liquor bill Of Pennsylvania during
1870 was more then sixty-fve millions of
dollars, sum equal TO one-third OF the
entire agricultural product of the State.
Illinois paid more than forty Two millions,
and Ohio more than hfty-eight millions.
Massachusetts paid more than twenty five
millions, a sum equal to five xths of her
agricultural products while the liquor
bill of Maine was only about four millions
and quarter. l 'o ia
With an annual expenditure of $780,
100000 for liquors in the United States
and all the figures we give are based upon
official sialislcs--it is not TO he wondered
at that the times are hard and people
poor. Not onl, this vast sum is wasted; not
only the capital is diverted from good
uses, and all the industry involved in
production taken from benefcent pursuits,
hut health, morality, respectability, indus
try, and life are destroyed. Sixty lhous-
and people in America annually lie down
in n druGkard's grave. 1t were better to
bring into the field and slioot down sixty
thousand of our young men every year,
th"h W nave tHSHi Eo WIG pio
cesses of disease, degradalion,. crime and
despair through which they must inevIta--
bly, pass. .r
With six hundred millions of dollars
saved to the country annually, how long
would it take to make these United States
rich not only, but able to meet, without
disturbance and distress, the revulsions in
business to which all nations are liable
Here is question for the statesman and
politician. Twenty-Five years of absolute
abstinence from the consumption of nse'
less and worse than useless liquors. would
save to the country fifteen billions of dol.
lars, and make us the richest nation ON the
face of the globe Not only this sum
beyond the imagination to comprehend
would be saved, but all the abominable
consequences Of misery, disease, disgrace,
crime and death, that would flow from
the consumption Of such an enormous
amount OF poisonous fluids, wsuld be
saved. And yet temperance men are
looked upon a. disiurbers and fanatics
And we are adjnrcd not to bring temper.
ance into poliiicsi And this great tran
cendent question Of economy, gets the go
by, while We hug our little issues for the
sake of party and Of oilicel Do we moi
deserve advers!tyY fts
=, N .p Dir. J. G. HOLLAND.