The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-11

houses would have to close 1t is a fact, tnat |
just as the saloon Is patronized, all other |
branches of business suffer. Tommy cannot |
eat his cake and have it; neither can his father |
spend his money for drains and buy Tommy a
new coat or Tommy's mother new dress, or his
sister shaw, replace the dooress and
grlddle cracked stove with new one. There is
not man here engaged in honest trade whose
business is not interfered with by the saloon
keeper.
We are not generally aware of the amount of
money consumed in liquors, the larger part of
which would and ought to be invested In the
necessaries and comforts of life. In one year
the wages paid in all the manufacturing indus
tries of this nation amounted to $775, 800 O00 In
that same year the drink bin of the people was
$6l9 100000 In that year the average value OF
food and food preparations, allowing % per cent
for profits of Dealers was 800 for each family in
the nation. while the average drink bill was S19.
The labor devoted to the making and selling OF
liquors, viewed IL its true light, is unproductiv
material employed in manufacture is an
article which adds nothing to the
health strength, lfe or abilities of the people;
the other hand, it leaves The State poorer just
in proportion as it succeeds.
THE REVENUE AND IT'S BENEFITS
1t is said that the liquor traffic pays large
portion of the national revenue, and of State
and city taxes. Howe By robbing Peter to pay
Paula AS it produces nothing, it pays nothing
Whatever it seems to pay, it takes out of some
body's pocket. If it pays any part of the rev O.
nue., it creates the demand for more revenue by
far than it provides for. wish to raise sum
of money say to my boys, ''Take my books
and writing desks into the back yard and burn
them all; be careful to save all the ashes" They
ask with surprise what am trying to do. ! tell
them wish to raise revenue; l going to
sell the ashes and get some money. You would
call that insanity Insanity" is the only word
proper to use.
What then shall we call this method pursued
year after year by the government of permitting
men to burn down palaces then gioating over
the revenue from the ash-heap-licensing men
to carry on a business which makes paupers and
criminals, and paralyzes industry and fattens
on the products of honest toll, then points COM
placently at the s'revenue!" the staxm
In 1879 the entire revenue OF the general gov
eminent was $113, 600, 900 in round numbers;
the revenue from distilled and fermented liquors
was $685. 600 00O or more than half the entire
amount. Set, if you will, so much to the credit
Of the liquor traffic. But now do not forget to
ask: What did the traffic add to the muscle,
the brain, the productive industry of the land to
produce that $63, 900, 000s What has it added to
the value of the farm, to the hand of the me-
chanic to the eye of the artist to the skill of the
physician, to the ability of the lawyer to the
value of literature, to the morals OF
ana people Who aues i 50 d yapaSs
tell me why it is that merchants will not employ
clerks who drink, if they can avoid it; that the
railroads are compelling the disuse.of LIQUOR
among their employees; that life insurance com
panies do not wish to take risks on drinkers9 Why
is il that in the wine-celars of central New York
a bonus is offered to the men who refrain from
drinking during the year2 Set down this $63.
000,O write in large figures Then set
down the value of the labor subtracted from
shop, field and factory; under this set the ex
pense of providing for paupers, the insane and
criminals, and you will have figures which are
appallingl Can this government afford to derive
$685. 000, 900 at such cost2 the State or
city any proportion of the same9 Twenty seven
million dollars for pauperism; $S7, 900, 900 for
crime 500 100000 for litigation, mostly
caused by this traffic; army
of 10000 dwelling idiots and raw
ing maniacs; procession of 100, 600 criminals;
sad and bighted array of 200, 900 orphans a
reeling. staggering, ]eering army of drinkers
which, placed in single file, would reach for near
II $50 miles while at nearly every mile there
would be a murder, and at less than every mile
a suicide. And should this grim procession be
able to march past all the places where liquors
sold in this land placed in continuous
line, it would pass 100 miles along this cnancel
of perdtion
This cry of revenue" reveals the rotteness
of the whole business. There is not an argu-
ment that can be advanced for this accursed
traffic that does not originate in the stomach or
in the money drawer The brains and hearts of
men revolt against it.
If we had no liquor in the land-heaven's
angels speed the day when this vision shall be
seen--if we had no liquor in the land and were
called upon to vote on it's introduction,
how far would the revenue" argument COZ
THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
This is Christian land, and any man in his
senses knows that no republic can stand with
out the supports of religion. We have a right,
not only as Christians, but as citizens, to con-
slider the moral bearings of license
H. IL.
of England are suggestive here:
Pass where we NAV, through city or through town
Village or hamlet of this merry land
Though lean and beggar d--every twentieth pace
Conducts the unguarded nose to such Whit
OF stale debauch-forth issuing from the styes
That law has licensed-as makes temperance reel
The excise is fattened with the rich result
OF all this riot The ten thousand casks,
Forever dribbling out their base contents, I
Touched by the Midas fingers of the state,
Bleed gold for Parliament to vote away.
Drink and be mad, then; tbs your country bids;
Glorously drunk--obey, the important call;
Her cause demands the assistance of your threats
Ye all can swallow-and she asks no more.
We cannot license the liquor traffic consistent
with any sound principle of political economy or
morals. There are only two methods, really, of
dealing with this traffic by law--we must either
have the principle of license or else, prohibitory
legislation. Prohibition is all that is left. 1t is
the only thing that, consistently with national
well being and the great law of right can be
aimed at. This is being felt and seen never
before The people are beginning to realize it.
States are waking up to it. Churches are taking
this stand.
am aware that objections are urged against
prohibition. 1t is said that prohibition inerferes
with the liberty and rights of the liquor traffic.
In the first place, it may be seriously doubted
whether it can be shown that the liquor traffic
has the right to exist But grant that, abstractly,
it is right to carry the liquor traffic, the
question comes whether other rights dc not
overbalance this to demand its entire abey
ancel And this is what we claim. The enor
nous and continuous injuries inflicted by the
use of Intoxicating liquors, and the danger to
which it exposes society, suggest that other
people have rights well as the rum-seller.
Every mother has the right to know that her
son is not in jeopardy every hour; and every
G. k,, - l.. Il. =