Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-05
AN aepEH LETTER.
70 1e Editor IF tie Eagle.

~ We Fott" ~ hS EdyN.
kINGMAN, June 9, 1884.
After Columbus discovered the pathway
TO the new worlds eastern shores, there
were many enyious courtiers and servitors
who, filed with envy and dissatisfaction
that they had no. made the discovery, said
ANY one could do what Columbus has
done; 1t is easily accomplished" But they
had not thought Of 1t first. So complacent.
SO. b." after being harangued with nu-
m erous articles OF the IF. LIZ ilk, waits
till some one gives few hints to act on,
few statistics to deal with. then rushes
into print, aud points out an. l.. So "glsr-
ing illiberalities, and hasty misstatements''
by using the same weapons, almost the
same language confronted them with; but
doubtless his self-compIacency deludes him
into the belief that the ammunition is his
own. But, says &C. b., s'the other
writer commits even worse mistakes, al
though her cause is just one. The best
plan is to do one thing at time III God
meant he says, for us TO fight only one
at a time He would have given them to us
that way" oh, most potent reasoner
most consistent theologian, let me refer
you to the first book OF Genesis. How many
evils did God give our first parents to deal
with! just one. Away back in the twi-
light of time God said "Thou shalt not eat
OF the fruit OF this tree; the day thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely de- Had they
conquered this one evil. its attendant hosts
Of sin and death would not have deluged
the world, SO by the same process of reason
ing il we conquer the demon Of intemper-
ance, its attendant hordes OF evil that fol-
low in its wake will down also. We will
not necessarily shave TO go back and fight
the rest" AS to intemperance being the
cause OF crime, this is another popular fall
lacy" There is an old saying; "There
are none so blind as those who will not
see." That evil inclinations and evil inn
pulses lie dormant in every human breast,
none will gainsay. | will go further and say
that perhaps the only difference between"G.
b. ''or scores OF Others who are respected and
the convicted criminal Is ten cents worth
OF bad whisky. Allowing Sc. b." to select
facts and figures thus obtained, he will. if
possessed OF ordinary Intelligence, see that
once the liquor traffic is entirely suppressed
there is no inevitable and memorable ,isap- |
pointment awaiting the temperance people |
sc. b." evidently believes in u personal |
devil "hoofs, horns aud hide for he says, |
even fthe dram shops are closed it will |
not Kill the devil, nor even tie him." Well, |
even In the light Of the nine.
ieehth century. that such an indyid- 1
nal exists outside of our own evil |
passions, the suppression of Intoxicating
drinks, will so effectually muzzle the old
fellow as to render him comparatively 1
'Arithmetic will not iie:'' tits
1ne of the few truthful witnesses that can
not commit perjury even under the skillful
of a county attorney.
The income of the country from all sources
including agriculture. manufactures. CON-
neree, railroads, mines and fisheries. is. in
'ound numbers, seven hundred millions of
loilars per annum. l. that data enough;
The amount of liquor sold in the United
states per annum is estimated from reliable
tatistics at six hundred millions of dol.
airs, an amount greater than the cost Of all
he food, and nearly twice as
,reat the amount expended for
lothing. The cost to consumers in ten
ears is given as six thousand seven nun
red and eighty millions, or about three
lines the natiouai debt. Now. sc. b -
s you would have US believe you are an
xpert with figures and data, will you esti- +
nate the cost TO the country caused by the I
he use of alcoholic drink. and add to the
ctual amount paid therefor the value of
he grain destroyed by Its manufacture just
he same as il it were. destroyed by drouth
r grasshoppers. This will give.you better
than trying to remain on "the
eDce." Come over bravely one side or the
Their. There are sins of omission as well
: commission. Mrs. NJ. +. LEASE.