Smyrna times., 1882-10-11
A Word 10 the People.

Mr.. EDITOR Before me lies two /
papers. From the first l have just +.
read letter from the New York Tri-
bune, setting forth the enormity of
crime and millions of dollars spent
consequent to the traffic in intoxicat-
ing liquors in the United States, as set
forth by the last census, being a sum
total of eight hundred millions, by
which expenditure eighty-four per
cent. of all the crime and misery is
endured; and after estimating prorata,
l find that of the fifty millions, we in
Delaware, though small as we may ap-
pear, spend annually two hundred and
fifty thousand, a sum greater than all the
taxes, State, county, poor and school
combined, besides the amount of mis-
cry and suffering consequent thereto.
To me this is appalling, aside from the
amount Of pleasure and sustenancc it
would afford if applied to the suffer
ing. And sir, | see in the same paper
an application for the licensing of a
hotel by one of the men now running
for legislative honors, supported or
recommended by twelve men, stating
that he is an honorable man. He must
be. for they so make it known to the
public. This is not the Cnly man look
ing to that high position who is direct
ly or indirectly identified with the OBJ
noXious traffic. But there seems to be
a fixed purpose on the part of thC
dealers to force upon the morals o
churches and well thinking people
holding them up in derisiOn before tn,
youth as hypOcrites and prOscribin!
them for their morals and eXemplar,
life openly and by secret organization
and threats, and by secret intrigue
shutting up the eyes of many homes
men to the facts of party spirit. Thi
is hard to endure. In another paper
the Kent Ne,rs of September Both,
find in letter from one of our leadin
statesmen. well known to Delaware
ans. to a delegation from Cincinnati
an extract reading thus: "The spasn
of prohibition which are observable a
over the country cannot last, for the
are not founded on reason or philOs
ply, and will only lead in a few cas-
to the enactment of laws SO inQuisit
rial and invasive of personal freedo
and liberty of conscience and actiC
that they will be found impossible
execution, and if enacted will speedi
be repealed" And in the same issu
the great Alexander H. Stephens, stO
ping in speech in Macon, Ga, al
. producing phial, asked his hearers
excuse his weakness in taking lit
, "pure Jeffersonian Democracy a
the uproarious applause that follow
showed this to be the most telling poi
of his speech. Do these assertions c.
~ out the facts, and are they the ch;
i to govern our institutions as intend
n by their founders? Let us read a +
s admOnitiOns of the founders of our e
ernment. We find in the farewell {
II dress of the great George WashingtC
"Of the dispositions and habits Il
- lead to political prosperity, relig
y and morality are Indispensable s
y ports. In vain would that man cli
the tribute of patriotism who sh0
labor to subvert these great pillars
human happiness-these trmest pr
of the duties of men and citizens.
10 mere politician, equally with the pi
man, ought to respect and chez
them, for where is the security
property, for reputation, for life, if
sense of religious obligations de
the oath?" 1t is substantially
that virtue or morality is neces'
spring of popular government.
mote them as an object of primary
portance, institutions of knowlt
proportional to the force Of pr
kinds opinion, that it may be enlighte
Adams expressed it as his duty to
- n "veneration for religion and ms
- as the best recommendation for p'
'~' service" And we find jefferson, il
LeAS inaugural, urging enlightenment
.,,n benign religion professed and praeI
,UUR, by various forms, yet all of then
in this Guiding honesty, truth, temper
hyI7.ly and gratitude to make us a happy
- prosperous people" These, sir
&C, 81. the observations forced upon p
q Sc' Sii Sn opinion, and cherished by the mot