Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-10-17

hol stands as the chief cause" Ninety
per cent of crime is traceable to the use
of strong drink. Investigations were set
on foot in Boston in 1879-8O to ascertain
| the source of crime and it was found that
out of 16, 997 arrests only 1853 were of
strictly sober people.
This country should know no poverty
No land is 50 highly favored as ours in
all that makes a nation prosperous.
There is excuse for poverty in Europe.
Alcohol is the cause Of poverty here, with
! very few exceptions. If we would have
| all our people prosperous, make them
temperate. We have seen settlements in
this state that were impoverished, bore
the marks of shiftlessness and want. 1t
was because the people drank liquor. We
have seen these same settlements three
years later, and they bore evidence of
thrift, cleanliness and plenty. Why :?
Because they had ceased to drink All
were noblemen and freemen. In ten
years, the liquor bills of the United States
real estate for 1870. nine billions of dol
lars. Six months of it would purchase all
the church property in the United States.
1913, 600 is the sum paid in Austin for
strong drink annually.
Are we American citizens, living in all
the light and liberty of the 10Th century,
and tolerate such state of affairs Do
we suffer ourselves thus to be impover-
ishcd, and our men falling about us j.,
But we are told we must have saloons
in order that business may prosper. They
say farmers who come to town and drink
are more free to trade. 1t may be so for
a short time, but soon their money is
gone. and the power to purchase goes
with it, The $4,000 wasted in Austin
for strong drink should be kept on the
farm, or expended for goods and pro-
visions, thus enriching the merchants.
"A prosperous community makes prosper
Gus business.
We boast that we have ''free country"
and a government, which, if adopted in
prosperous. Very we'll If things keep
on as they have been going of late we will
soon have no country. In Monarchy a
few clear heads can guide affairs, but
Republic must have sober people.
Farewell to the Republic if the caucus
is held IN the saloon. Farewell to the
Republic if the slate is made up on the
table where sets the beer-mug. The Re-
public cannot last when we cease to be a
temperate people.
Last of all, intemperance IS a great
evil before God. Temporal suffering is
as nothing compared with the evil of sin.
Temporal evil IS nothing as compared
with punishment of sin. Intemperance
is an evil that closes the gates of heaven
against the soul. Intemperance is a
hydra headed sin, and promotes all sins.
1t is like the demon mentioned in the
holy book who sent back to hell for seven
other devils. Now what are we doing
al, 90 l,- o
How great the obstacle which confronts
us. How great the influence exerted by
this traffic. 1t has many defenders and
advocates. They threaten you, and say
you shall not be elected to any office if
you do not honor them. To the merchant
they say, we will not trade with you I'M
less you honor us. 1t defies law. Are
we free people to be cowed down by
lawless men? There are various ways
proposed to abate the evil, and two of
them are prohibition and high license.
First Of all, let us enforce the laws we
now have. We must enforce our laws.
If we allow them to be broken with i'm
punity the pillars Of the state will be
shaken. We should be law abiding
people. We should enforce the Sunday
law. If the grocer and the merchant
shut up their places of business, why
should not the salOOn-keeper Why
should he be exempt? Let the law against
the selling of liquor to minors and inebri-
ates be enforced. What more cruel than
to send the promising boy home to his
mother poisoned with alcohol, or to give
liquor to the husband to go home and
beat his wife, and curse, with murderous
maledictions, his children. For the honor
of your state enforce her laws.
| will suggest a practical measure l
think we all can agree upon. I would
that every saloon could be blotted out
from our land. Until that time comes,
let US do what we can to diminish its
evils. Let us all labor together to secure
a law from our next legislature fixing
uniform license throughout the state of
$500. By this means we can close two
thirds of the saloons and thus the centres
of temptation are diminished in number.
Then, when any saloon-keeper violates
the law, revoke his license. believe we
can carry this measure through the next
legislature. 1t will be glorious day for
Minnesota when thrce-fourths of her sa-
looms are closed, and her laws are enforced.
Then shall we save our young men, our
homes, our country, and bring down from
heaven the blessings of the Omnipotent.