The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-06-13
MarshaIing their Forces.

The United States Brewers Associa-
tion has lately held IFS annual conven-
ton at Rochester. 1t decided to estab-
fish Literary Bureau, and to offer or
gained resistance to the High License
and other Temperance measures in agi-
tation. The advocates of Temperance
were assailed in a set of resolutions as
hypocrites, "selfish." " fanatics,
and so forth. These resolutions further
contained statement which does not
appear to be true. 1t is to the effect
that the ratio of insanity in this coun-
try is only z per cent. We do not
know where these figures were OBJ
tanned, but we do know that Mulhalrs
Dictionary of Statistics puts the ratio
of dipsomania in the United States at
26 per cent. and makes this country
second in the list, Scotland alone ex-
eeeding us, with a record of % per
cent. The same authority gives the
mean average of dipsomaniacs for
! England, France, Denmark and the
United States at IA per cent. Now, if
the percentage for this country alone is
26, instead of z, as asserted by tho
Brewers Association, it makes a great
difference. Mulhall puts the whole
number of insane in the United States
at $500. This would give about 3d.
600 as the aggregate of dipsomaniacs in
our asylum.
Surely this army of human beings
whose humanity has been killed by
drink offers sufficiently somber sub
ject for thought. Surely those who
think it duty to agitate for whatever
measures may prevent the increase of
this army of lost souls deserve some
what better treatment than to be called
''hypocrites, - selfish and 'fanat-
ics." Is it fanatical to desire to save
the perlShing? Is it selfish TO wish that
men should be prevented from drinking
themselves into the asylum or the
grave? 1t is hypocritieal to point to.
the facts of the situation, to show the
enormous evils which drink produces in
modern society, and to demand that
the reform of this gigantic and strong
4 ly-intrenched abuse shall be under
/ taken?
The Brewers Association represents
a great deal of capital and energy and
determination. Let it be frankly adj
mitted that the brewers who belong to-
/ it may be men of humane and generous
| instincts, and honest believers in the,
innocence of the business they are en-
gagged in. Nevertheless, they will have
to meet the popular sentiment which is
growing on the subject of intemperance
by more serious methods than Yitu-
peration or the putting forth of bogus
statistics. The friends of Temperance
are too well-informed to be caught by
such tricks, and the facts of the situa-
ton are too serious to be thrust out of
sight. or to be dealt with in any other
than candid and honest way.
The evils of drink are assuredly not.
imaginary evils, and those who are in
terested in holding up the drink traffic
are not acting sensibly in trying to
make it appear so. Every man with
common intelligence can see for him
self the real and widespread harm that
drink is doing continually. Who is
there, on the other hand, that has ever
succeeded in showing per contra fit to
be put in the balance against this mis-
chiefP Yet that is what the drink traf-
fic is called on to do, and if it can not
do this, if it can not justify itself before
the Nation, those WHO are fighting most
stubbornly for it may as well recognize
the handwriting on the wall, and make
up their minds that though conviction
may not be instantly followed by sem
tence, the judgment Of the country is
certain to be carried out eventually in
the interests of progress and civiiiza-
tion.-M. Y. Tribune.