The Indianapolis journal., 1884-05-12
SUPPRESSION OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
Discourse by Rev. Gilbert De La Matyr, at
Roberts Park Church Last Evening.

Discourse by Rev. Gilbert De La Matyr, at
Roberts Park Church Last Evening.
Rev. Gilbert De La Matyr, formerly of this
city, now occupying a pulpit in Denver Col,
spoke last night at Roberts Park Church The
church was filed, every seat on the main floor
and in the galleries being occupied, and the
speaker received the closest attention through
out his discourse. He said that his text was the
whole Bible, but that the title of it the sup
preston of the rum traffic and manufacture by
law. He had had no faith in the movement in
that direction until recently but now he firmly
believed in it Our work has been one of educa-
ton, and the Womans Christian Temperance
Union has done more than anybody or any
thing else to educate public sentiment
to the position it now holds. The speaker be-
leved the time is now come for the suppression
of this traffic by law. Until recently there has
been a sentiment that property rights and in6i-
vidual rights should be respected. But society
has the right to protect itself and to protect
those who are incapable of protecting them
selves, and the prohibition of this traffic is de
manded. The serious results of this dreadful
traffic demand attention. OF course, the gov
ernment ought not to interfere with property
rights or individual freedom except upon careful
consideration. 1t is the greatest good of the
greatest number that demands the obliteration
made. bankrupt by it; it fills our
work houses, our iails and penitentiaries;
it is the source of nearly all the crime and nearly
all the poverty of the land. 1t is the blight of
manhood, the desolation of the fireside 1t is the
duty of law to protect the weak from the en-
croachments made upon their individual rights
by the strong and wicked. And this is not only
justifable, but it is an imperative duty of the
government and the rights of the many injured
by this wicked and iniqutous traffic immeasur
ably overba]anees all the rights of capital and
all the so-called considerations of personal free
dom. The magnitude of the curse makes such
action necessary against this, the greatest of
evils
Beyond controversy, drunkenness is the most
overwhelming, hideous and destructive of all the
forces of sin 1t eclipses all other calamities
under which suffer. These are broad and
sweeping assertions not made reeklessly, but
after serious investigation
The amount expended annually by liquor
drinkers in this country is over $500 000. 600
We drink up the value of all our railroads in SIX
and quarter years: of all our farms in twelve
wears; of all our cattle in two and a half years
of all our manufacturers in eight and a half
years; of all our furniture in six and half years
of all our mines and canals in six and half years
of all our shipping in less than nine months; of
the whole country, with all it accumulation in
sixty-two years
Dr. De La Matyr then proceeded to give figures
as to what might be done with the money that
should be saved from this waste. That in a year
enough could be saved to build a railroad from
New York to San Francisco; another from Chi
cago to New Orleans; houses could be provided
for the widows and orphans in every State and
Territory; to build the Tehuantenec canal and
have 4@2a559 900 900 left to apply on the national
debt, etc.
This is the actual cost to consumers, but the
smuggled liquor and the money stolen by saloon
keepers is not taken into account enormous as
the figures here given are they must at least, if
all the money expended for them is taken into
account, be doubled Rum costs nine-tenths of
all our municipal expense and burdens us with
taxes. Danish liquor and ninetenths of the po-
lice, the lawyers and the justices Of the peace
would be free to engage in business as producers.
Ninety per cent. of the crime, Of the insanity,
of the disease of this country is directly attrib-
utable to liquor
That the use of liquors as beverage is of the
slightest use no reasonable man viii
now dare to say or to defend its use.
1t is the ruin of souls. More than 10000 are
killed outright each year by the use Of intoxi-
cants. Think of battlefield with 10000 slain
upon it! What sickening spectacle it would
present Imagine such field covered with the