The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-06-25
The Time to Work,

The Time to Work,
The time has come for the oppo
nents of that organized infernalism,
the liquor traffic, to do something
more than mere talking and writ
ing. Sentiment is an excellent
thing at one stage of a reform, but
it must be followed by something
more or it is worthless. tits neces-
sary IS preliminary to arouse the
public conscience against any evil,
but of what avail is it if the arous-
ing is not followed by che work to
make it count something IN a prac-
tical way.
In a majority of the states this
fall members of the legislature are
to be elected, and the legislatures of
the states have everything to do
with the question of prohibition.
The legislatures enact legislation
touching the liquor business in the
state houses are taken the first
steps toward crushing the internal
ism, therefore the legislatures must
be captured, for these bodies have
the first work to do.
This is the most favorable time
the temperance voters of the coun
try will ever have to put the great
reform into something like a practi-
cal shape. There is but little of a
political nature before the people
for consideration. There is no
president to elect this fall and no
congressman. The democracy have
the president and the lower house,
and the republicans the senate. The
questions of a purely national char
acter cannot be affected by the cleo
tions for state officers, this fall, at
all. In some of the states the leg
islatures selected will elect United
States senators, but that is all and
the fight upon prohibition cannot
materially affect that.
Prohibition is of the first impor-
lance now. 1t demands considers
ton, and other interests must give
way to it.
1t needs to be borne in mind that
the Rum traffic costs the people of
the United States $93,0O0,000, an
nually, in cash paid across bars for
the poison.
It costs the people twice that
amount in loss OF IL IL her OF those VINO
are ruined by it.
1t costs the people as much more
to support the paupers it makes, land
to care for the criminals whose
crimes are chargable to it.
1t is the cause of ninety per cent.
of the corruption in politics, and
the decentralization that threatens
the life of the republic.
To Rum may be charged the ldi-
ocy and criminality that is increas-
ing with rapidly.
Rum is the one demoralizing in
duence, the one great dIsturber that
is making the country and its iosti-
buttons unsafe and insecure.
1t is Rum that is filling the poor
houses, insane asylums, jails and
penitentiaries.
1t is Rum that is cursing a mil
ion homes and fitting many mil
ions of the youth of the country
'or criminal and pauper lives here
after.
Rum has its one hand upon the
present generation and its other up
IN the next. 1t is engaged in a
'till-hunt after the youth of the
The victims it most de
fires are the boys of the country, for
hey have longer lives to drain than
hose whom it has used. A colt
must grow three years before there
S profit in 1.-THE boy who falls in
% the hands of the Rumseller yields
profit from the beginning.
Rum is the one giant curse of this
Ige, the one curse that has no miti-
eating circumstances, the one I'M
mixed evil of our times.
There is no question, there can
De meme of sufficient Importance in
to elbow it out of the
way. The brewers and distillers of
he country, controlling millions of
capital and an army of voters, are
organized in a league for the protec-
ion of their Internal traffic, and
here is but one way to fight them.
The friends of law, order and NOR
llity must organize against them.
The fight against this evil must be
made at the ballot box and there is
10 time to commence work so favor
.ble as now. The decks are clear;
here are no questions of import !
lnce before the people to divide the
temperance voters, and enough has
been done in the way of arouslng
he people to the Importance of the
work to insure success. The signs
If the times are all right, and a
if made in the right way, .
.annot but be crowned with the
most glorious success.
The work has commenced splen-
Idly in Ohio and all other states
hould follow in the path it has
marked out.
Organization for the election of
legislatures this fall is {
be way to
Pulverize the Rum POwer.-Toledo 8
blade.