The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-28
Special Contributors.
A LAUDABLE AMBITION OF THE
PROTECTIVE LIQUOR DEALERS.
BY HATTIE TYING GRISwOLD.
Columbus, Wis.,

A new departure is about to be made
upon the subject of temperance. The
present unsatisfactory condition of
things is to be remedied, and new
order established upon the ruins of the
old. Many people will be glad to hear
this, as the old order can scarcely be
said to have been satisfactory to any
portion of the community, and there is
always some hope in a change of al
most any kind. The present change is
to be brought about by the "Protective
Liquor Dealers Association" and is to
consist, in part, in making {" the liquor
business such as it is in Europe, as in
nations of that continent the liquor
men are at the head and front of soci-
ETY., having the full confidence of their
fellow-men and the respect of all classes
of the community" No one can fail 10
see, from the latter part of this state
ment, that the change proposed is really
a sweeping one, and that the Liquor
Dealers Association is taking a large
contract. Yet who would not desire to
see such a change effected as would
give the present liquor sellers through
out the land "the full confidence of
their fellow-men and the respect of ali
classes of the community" So eX-
tremely revolutionary, however, is the
proposal that if it came from the tenn
perance fanatics it would be consid-
cred almost as a death blow to the
present incumbents. But if the Liquor
Dealers Association propose to take
this long step toward bringing in the
millennium on their own responsibility,
we do not think they will meet with
any opposition from the outside, but
with hearty G0d-speed from all classes
and conditions of men. The new deal
ers in intoXicants will probably be Sc
lected from the chuTches-from the
most truly orthodox and evangelical
churches s;-deacons having the prefer
ence, and neXt in order, leaders of
Young Mems Christian Associations !;
next, we'll known ref0rmers, leaders in
benevolent projects, students of social
science, heads of colleges and other ed
ucational institutions, aud i'll some
cases doubtless ministers themselves
will be called upon. Only in this way
can this forlorn hope be carried. We
must have the very best men in the
community if they are to command
'the full confidence of their fellOw-men
and the respect of all classes of the
community" These liquor dealers are
not speaking iron ically, are they?
What do they propose to do with the
present innumerable company who are in
possession of the bu siness to-day Do
they propose to get Rev. Sam Jones to
hold one monster meeting and convert
the whole fraternity at one fell swoop?
Or will they get a special decree from
above, whereby a mans nature can be
instantaneOusly changed and ne become
g worthy of the full confidence of his
fellow men " at a moments notice
The problem looks little dark to the
outside world, how this proposed change
is to be effected, but that the liquor
dealers are in earnest we can scarcely
doubt, as they are going to tax them
selves heavily, and at once, for this
purpose. There is no test of sincerity
like taxation, aud these liquor dealers
propose to get $3.50, 900 from Massachu-
setts alone where the great mi!lenial
scheme originates. On every barrel OF
ale there is to be a tax of three cents ;
Gu every barrel of whisky, ten cents
from the distiller and seven cents from
the wholesale dealer The twenty-five
thousand employees are to pay ten cents
a week and the dealers themselves fifty
cents a week. Even drummers are to
pay twenty-five cents week; and nc
one connected with the business in any
capacity IS 10 De allowed to escape.
What missionary movement of recent
times eau compare with this? And the
best part Of it is that the money is not
to be sent abroad to convert aliens and
strangers IJotteutots and South Sea
Islanders-buL IS to be expended right
here at home, i'm converting the very
class which tbe sufrages Of the com
munjty would vote to be most in neeC
Of it, perhaps, If any one class in tht
land The wonder grows when w