The Portland daily press., 1884-04-17
The remperanoe Ca11se.

The st. Louis Republican says: The returns
of the results of the high-license law in that
State are very meagre, but they indicate, as
far as they go, an increased revenue, dimin-
isned number OF drinking places, and gener-
al satisfaction of the public with the new law.
"Menl" said Mrs. Foster, in recent ad-
dress, "Menl" there are hundred thousand
of us women, and most all of us have boy,
ana some OF have two or three. Can you
think what it means for the next generation to
have hundred thousand men, sons OF w. O..
T. q. womeni"
We need nothing now, in this country, to OBJ
tain entire emancipation from the horrors of
the liquor curse but little fidelity on the part
Of the church to Christian duty. The liqusr
traffic is the one great obstacle in the way of
the progress of the gospel, and it seems to me
the church should help with all its might to re-
move it.-Neal Dow.
This is an important period in the history of
the city. Tits about to enter upon an extraor-
binary experiment. The State liquor prohibi-
ton which failed 80 deplorably and oorruptly
years ago was nothing compared to the prohi-
bitten which is to go into effect here within
fortnight There are few of the advocates of
license as means of restricting the sale of
liquor who would not gladly become prohibi-
tionists il they believed that method practical
BILE. Any one who witnesses the tremendous
evil of drinking must often long for the power
TO sweep alcohol in every form from the face
OF the earth.-Springfeld (Mass.) Republican.
T. d. Crothers, M. D., Secretary of the
American Association for tine Cure of Inebri-
ates. says "Inebriety in America is more i'm
pulsiye and precipitate than in other countries,
the period of moderate drinking is less Marked
and the average life of the inebriate is shorter.
Among the many reasons for this are the tre-
mendous activity and competition in the ordi-
nary work OF life, the intensity of living, the
calling out every energy. putting them in
constant strain, followed by want of rest, neg
lect of the healthy functions of the body, etc.
Add to this the constant practice of using the
strongest alcohols at all times and occasions
and it will be readily seen that the average
American must OF necessity possess less resist
ing power, and will fall a victim more readily
to the action of alcohol"
Between the public schools and the saloons
there is conflict as irrepressible as that which
historical in politics. The saloon does all in
its power to unteach what the schools endeav-
or to teach. The school teaches the children
to be prompt, punctual, efficient; the saloon
teaches them to dswdle and loaf, and takes all
the snap out of them. The school urges them
to be Industrious; the saloon trains them to be
shiftless and thriftless The school would in
spire them with reverence for law; the saloon
trains them to trample upon all law, human
and divine. The school inculcates the princi-
pies Oh gru6 Oitl1ouSulp, Inc SaIOOn luCutcat0b
the lowest demsgogism. The school teaches
them love to man and love to God; the saloon
teaches them to despise the one and hate the
other.-Mary Allen West.
The high license law is regarded by the
Women's Christian Temperance Union, first.
as unjust, because tending to create monopo-
ly in liquor selling-to build up the powerful
dealers who already do the most harm, and to
crush out the weak ones who do the least; Sec
ondly, as at,asoise financially, because if the
dealer pays $500 instead of 500, for his per-
init to engage in the business, he must GER
tainly prosecute his trade more vigorously to
win back the extra $500 which has gone into
the city's Golfers, thus producing more misery,
poverty and crime; thirdly, as at7saoise morally,
since it lends responsibility and tone to the
dealers who can afford the tax, and increases
their ability to lure .'the weak brother" and
the SONS of respectable homes and parentage;
fourthly, as ura-christiGn because it is like all
license laws, recognition and permission of 9
traffic which is crime against Divine govern
ment. 1t Is also such recognition and in
dorsement as tends to perpetuste rather than
weaken or overthrow the system.-Mary B.
Willard.