The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1884-03-27
PROHIBITION.
An Essay Read at the Russelville
Temperance Union, March IL.
BY BERNIE sMADE.

Published by Request OF the Society.
lntemperance as we all know is a
VICE. Perhaps the greatest one that
has ever interested our country. 1t is
like crooked tree deeply rooted in the
earth. Temperance societies. three
mile laws and high liscense, came out
and cut off branches, but the roots are
still deeply buried in the earth and the
tree will continue to sprout and grow
until it is dug up by the roots. All
these different societies and laws have
put back the growth of the tree little.
The friends Of high license say it will
put the whiskey business into the hands
of respectable men. This seems TO be
measuring mans responsibility by his
money. But do you think drunkard's
wife cares where her husband gets
drunk? Isn't the crime the same
whether he gets his poison from gild-
ed saloon, beer garden or arum hole ?
Cannot man reach q drunkards grave
just as we'll through a parlor as grog
shop? Then they will tell you If a man
has to pay high liscense, THAT will
bring the price Of whiskey up, and only
RESPECTABLE citizens can afford to drink
it, it will be beyond the reach of the
poor mischief making drunkard. But
/ do not think this is so. II saloon
keeper pays a high llscense, he will to
get his money back, make an Impure
mixture which he will sell for ordinary
whiskey. High license takes out about
two fifths Of the saloons and the licens-
ed saloons get so many more customers.
So you see drunkenness Is not pre-
vented very much by high license.
| The three mile law has done our coun-
ty great deal of good, but some peo-
Pile will pay a double price (and any
price is double what it ought to be) and
still have their whiskey. And what Ii
the result? Broken bottles and jugs,
and broken constitutions. Some CON-
plain OF hard times and do you think il
is any wonder, when 1t Is estimated
that several thousand dollars have been
sent from our town and county fol
whisky since the three mile law has
been i'm operation. Perhaps some wills
key lover will say If we had not put out
saloons we might have that money In
circulation here now. do not think We
would, our merchants might have a
small percent of 1t and the rest of II
would go to the wholesale merchants
for more liquor, and then think o.
thoncrime. The only murder we have
had In our county since the three mile
law was passed, was done through thu
influence of whiskey. The day is no
far distant when there will be but tive
parties viz. Prohibition and Whiskey
and the persons who are now afraid L
show their colors will be obliged tt
cease floating down the middle of thu
stream, and land on one side or the 9th
| to In az mt ia
people must use to kill out the roots o
the mighty tree of intemperance In GU
country, and while we stand ar0unt
with our hands In our pockets and So.
lit isn't time for Prohibition, and WI
must not rush things we might run then
into the ground, the tree keeps OF
growing larger and larger, and strenge
aud stronger. Now Is the time to xii
this great evil so let us work with re
doubled energy aud let our motto b
s.Prohibition."