Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-02-10
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY EVEG, FEB. 10, 1882.


It will surprise nobody that the
Oregcaian cordially approves of the
proposition made in the Logan bill,
now before the United States
Senate, to appropriate all the money
raised from the tax on liquors to
school purposes. That journal is
too jealous champion of that great
leverage of political power, the rum
:. fife, to lose an opportunity Of
showing its good will at time when
it demands the support Of those who
expects to receive its rewards. The
intent of the bill is to dispose of a
revenue amounting to about $780,
100000 year, on per capita ratio.
throughout every State in the Union.
Nobody who has the cause Of the
people at heart will take issue with
the Oregonian on its 5 atement Of
facts connected with pop, lar educa-
ton, nor its line of argument by
which the conclusion is reached that
national aid would equalize the
benefits and result in much good.
It is true that tho Southern States
are and have been at a disadvantage
so far as the means necessary to pro-
mote general education have been
concerned, and the same has been
true with reference to some of the
Western States. Any scheme which
would secure the objects of the bill,
without making it the prop of a
traffic which results in nine-tenths
of the crime and misery to which
humanity is subjected, would meet
with a hearty support from all
classes and conditions of men. 1t
is shame that such a magnificent
scheme should be hampered by such
a infamous association. The end
sought would not in any way justify
the means. It would tend, just as
the Oregonian desires that it should
to make dissipation respectable, by
silencing the still small voice of
conscience, and enlisting in the
legions of rum the thousands who
have long been hating between
the promptings Of inclination and
those of duty.
The Oregonian places much stress
on the assertion that tho consump-
ton of liquors is fact, and being
an ever-present reality we must for
ever regard it as such and not attempt
to circumscrite its devastating infu-
ence. Slavery was just as much of
a fact thirty years age, and appar-
emily just as troublesome one TO
deal with, but that did not restrain
the founders of the Republican
party from determined effort to
crush it out of existence nor length
en- the time in which the object was
accomplished. It was a political
power as we'll as this and under the
peculiar views entertained by the
masses of the people at that time,
any interference with the divine
institution was resented with quite
much zeal, and could command
quite as plausible arguments as are
now advanced against so-called
sumptuary legislation. Put it went
down when the people fully realized
the essential fact that it was an
enemy that would destroy if it was
nj at once summarily crushed out
of existence. Popular opinion is
rapidly drifting to the same Con-
clusion with reference to tie rum
traffic. The 10000 victims who
yearly fall beneath its power, whose
ranks are recruited from every ham,
let in the land, afford a mute pro.
test which is beginning to pave the
way for its removal as an ulcer i:
cut from the body of the patient,
that he may be restored to perfect
health. This is why the whisky
traffic demands compliance with
the terms of the implied contract,
and betrays the promptings which
influence leading political journals.
Few there are that dare to refus c
q compliance with this demand.
Prohibition in Kansas, and popular
expressions of a growing sentiment
hostile to the liquor traffic in several
other States, has aroused those who
have their millions invested in spirits
to the necessity for mighty effort
to check the current of popular
thought, and divert it if possible in
a new direction. Millions of dol
lars are available for this purpose
and associations have been formed
to see that it is placed, in Republi-
can parlance, where it will do the
most good" Party journals are in
the main controlled by the aid they
expect from the dram-shops; Con-
gresham are directed by that con-
sideration which promise the long
est lease of power, and the devil, true
to the policy adopted by him ON the
mount, declares, "All this will l
give, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me-"