The Monitor., 1886-02-19

An essay written by l.. l.. Eavenson, of the
Friends Central school, 18th and Race streets,
Philadelphia, Penna
The greatest vice on the face of this
earth is intempcrance, The largest nnm-
Der Of crimes in cities are reported from
the slums and places were saloons abound
The horrors caused by intempcrance in this
city and all over the country can never be
known
1t is argued by some that wliskcy is a
benefit to the Government because of the
large revenue received from it. What is
that in comparison with the amount it
takes to support jals, extra police and
magistrates ?
The nine hundred millions of dollars
that are spent in this country annually for
strong drink, wonld put into every individ-
uars pocket the sum of eighteen dollars
Just think This large sum of money is
spent to send sixty thousand souls to des-
truction.
A young man starts out early in COM
canter on the sideboard. He is tempted to
take a drink, he Is half afraid at first, but
when his friends get around him and say
he is foolish fof not accepting this little
token of hospitality, he tastes the fatal
cup. He thinks it agreeable, and later on
in life he partakes freely. Finally, he is un-
able to attend to business. and must give
up his situation. He goes ON from bad to
worse till he fills drunkard's grave, and
he was once the brightest and best of boys.
Now what are the lives of these boys
worth Are they not worth more than the
revenue derived from this traffic in one
year-yes, in a hundred or a thousand
years?
Ex-Governor st. John, of Kansas. sent
to thirty or forty of the principal pcnitcn-
tiaries throughout the United States
asking what per cent. of the convicts in
those institutions Were sent there through
the influence of strong drink The answer
was eighty-fve per cent
Two theories have been advanced for the
settlement of this great question; one is
high license, but the greatest objection to
this, is, if it is wrong to sell liquor at all,
the law has no right to try and force the
traffic on the people; then, if it is right to
sell liquor there should be no license on it,
The other method is entire Prohibition,
but some say it is impracticable. 1t does
not seem so by the great Successes attend
ing Prohibition wherever it has been given
a fair trial. This last named method ap-
pears to be the only one of the two methods
likely to succeed, as it is based on princi-
pies of right and justice.
The people of Georgia must think Pro-
hibition is practicable as one of its largest
cities, Atlanta, was carried for Prohibition.
Pennsylvania New York, New Jersey.
Ohio, Massachusetts and several more of
the states voted on the measure.
SO this great question has caused the for
nation of new political power, "rhe Pro-
hibition Party" formed under like circum-
stances to the Free Soil or Republican party.
This latterparty was formed in 1910, during
the presidential campaign, and James G.
Birney ran as its first candidate for the
p-SSiuCiNJJ iNCtifiis5 oiily d iittic ofci
six thousand votes; but in 1914 Birncy
ran again and received few votes over
fifty-eight thousand. Four more presi-
dental elections succeeded, and Abra-
ham Lincoln was made President, and be-
fore another election rolled round no slave
breathed upon American soil.
The Prohibition question is advancing
still faster. At the last presidential cleo
ton, st. John, (Prohibition), received a lit
tie over nincty-scven thousand votes, and
last year, QSS5) the Prohibtionists pollcd
vote of over one hundred and fifty thous-
and.