The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-14
PROHIBITION IN RHODE ISLAND.
A Months Experience Under the New Law
Good Results Already Recognized-An Ex-
ample to Follow.
FROM REV. G.. s. WEAVER, D. D.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R. t., AUGUST !, 1886.
AS The UNIyERsALIsT circulatee in so
many States and has so many readers in
terested In temperance and prohibition.
coming to be the great topics in all civil
lied communities, 1 beg for space enough
to speak little of Rhode Islands first
months experience Of prohibition.
This State has for years been a rum
ridden State, as much dominated by
liquor as any of the larger States. It is
more largely composed of cities than any
other State. On the 7th of April last, it
voted to amend the constitution SO as to
prohibit the manufacture and sale of in
toxicating beverages by majority of
about 1000 over three-ffths. The amend
ment went into operation the first day OF
July, and at once the open manufacture
and sale Of intoxicants ceased. We have
now had a months prohibition which pro-
hibite. The result is marvellous. The COM
muuity is revolutionized in its habits and
conduct. What the chief OF the police of
Newport says of that city Is probably
true of the whole State, that not one
tenth as much liquor is drank as before.
The arrests for drunkenness are not more
than one-tenth what they formerly were
In this town of 5000, there has been but
one, and he was sailor who landed at
Fall River, Mass, got full of whisky and
took the cars and came here to get more
not knowing of prohibition, and got ar
rested.
The coughs" of our State go to Fall
River, across the bay, to have their
sprees. Eighteen of them spent the
night OF the 18th of July, in the lookup
of that city. Sobriesy and quiet pre-
vail 10 this State. Business thriyes;
new dispensation has come to stay.
Rhode Islanders have voted themselves
men and rot brutes. The change from
the old to the new is SO great, that a
Providence policeman says, "This city,
compared with what it was. is like Sec
ton of paradise" 1t was estimated by
the Morning Star of Providence that the
saving to the drinking men Of that city
was at least $4,000, in the first three
days.
No wonder the merchants had great
ly advanced trade the first Saturday
night in July, which has been increasing
ever since. Such items as these one
hears every day, coming from business
men: = an expressman running three
teams, doing much carting for the sa-
looms, expected great loss of business,
but now has had to put on another team,
and is oyer-worked in carrying general
merchandise; baker who used to take
$40 or $12 over his counter Saturday
nights, now takes over $40 and is increas-
ing; another baker whose wagon on a
route through poor and drinking part
of the city, used to take 81 or SIS day,
now takes from SIS to $40; a woman who
had long traded with grocer in very
small way, now takes her husband with
her, buys large bill and whispers to the
grocer, that che brings all his money
home now and they have all they want
another grocer, formerly in the midst OF
saloons, is surprised at his greatly In
creased trade. So it is eli round; thrift
follows sobriety. All the world will do
we'll to follow Rhode Islands grand ex-
ample.