The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-04-04
FROM THE TEMPERANCE GAZETTE.
ARE THESE THINGS SO?

FROM THE TEMPERANCE GAZETTE.
ARE THESE THINGS SO?
Editor Of the Gazette The following
statistics, facts and figures are taken from
the Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Re
porter, March LIST, 1880 reputable medi-
cal journal of extensive circulation. These
statistics and views therein expressed are Of
much importance, painfully showing that the
c07asNzapts0n of alcohol is increasing rather
than diminishing, as some of our temperance
advocates would have us believe. The asser-
ton this journal makes in reference to the
Wselessness of much of the temperance work
now being done is also of much importance
and worthy of consideration. These views
entirely agree with my often expressed dec
laration, that the temperance cause does not
prosper as it should in proportion to the
great amount of work continually being DONE
because I think much labor and money is
thrown away in misdirected efforts. Here in
Jersey City we have often been visited by
many temperance evangelists," both male
and female, who have carried on temperance
revivals for period of six weeks or two
months at a time with apparently beneficial
results, indeed according to reports, having
from 5000 to IL, 900 signers to the pledge
during single revival, yet after the excite
ment subsidized, in less than two months there
was no perceptible diminution in the number
of drunkards. And how could it be other
wise when not one of these educdti01a0l i1asti-
tutt0nS-dram shops-were closed on account
of these efforts? Hence it is the vast column
of the devotees of alcohol, according to these
statistics, are increasing, marching on to
greater and more solemn victory. Moreover,
we have had, and now have continually at
work the churches and six or eight temper
1,,,k hat do
set over against our !, 100 dram shops, which
we have in this city in full blast night and
day, Sundays included? Comparatively
nothing.
The fact is plainly to be seen that the
churches and all the temperance organiza-
tions combined are in no sense match for
the rum power under our existing license
laws For, while the churches, Women's
Christian Temperance Unions, &C., &c, are
rescuing one man from intemperance the l., 100
dram shops induce and educate ten men in
the habits of debauchery. Now, Mr.. Editor,
it seems to me that the whole plan Off the
temperance work can be said to have plan,
of which there may be some doubt wants to
be revolutionized, our U0tes must be more in
harmony with on, prayers; prayer alone aotH
not do: faith acitt0ut soOrks is dead. The
Lord does not vote, he has left that for us,
and votes must be the power to be applied to
this rum curse, this destructive gigantic
power of alcohol if it is to be overthrown.
1t is plain principle of political economy as
we'll as of common sense, that if you wish to
make things scarce you must stop their man
ufacture or production. Hence if we wish to
stop intemperance and destroy drunkenness,
we must stop electing men to our legislature
who enact such laws as favor the license sys-
tenn, which erect manufacturing establish
ments dram shops whose only purpose is
that of producing drttaakards. 1t is sad to wit
ness that SO many of the temperance people
still persist in clinging to the drunken skirts
of the popular political parties, and thereby
dissolve the pearl of their votes in the vine
gar of either Republican or Democratic par
tisanship Herein lies all the difficulty; this
all must be changed, Fiat j1stitia ruat
c9zum!" which might, without much vio-
lence be paraphrased, Let justice be done
though the political parties shall fall.
''Some rather startling figures have lately
been published by the Bureau of Statistics,
showing the consumption within the United
States of proof spirits, wine, and malt liquors.
The following table exhibits the total guam
tity of each consumed and the per capita con-
sumption: