The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-11-17
THE FATHER OF WOE.

What Psnish neut u Too Great for ne
saloon Keeper When Ills Patrons Are
Treated - CriminHisf
It isnot the temperate and occasional
drinkers who sustain the gros geries
and support the rum-sellers. bn' the
habitual drinkers and the drunk srds.
Their wicked squsndering of their
earnings; their reckless gratifc ation
Of morbid appetite; their sscrih g OF
every thing for drink this Is what the
saloon keeper counts on for SUCCESS in
his business. The more drunkards the
faster he gets rich. These drunkards
are not obliged to drink any more than
the thief is obliged to steal. or the
murderer to kill They do so at first
Of their own free will. They patronize
the bar as responsible moral agents.
after seeing hundreds who began by
drinking little 60 on until they went
down to the drunkard's gutter and the
drunkard's grave. They know how
fearfully vicious habits grows by in
diligence. They start with their eyes
wide open in this age of Temperance
meetings and Temperance literature.
They start on stream that Is strewn all
along with wrecks They start because
they are wicked. and the farther they
go the more wicked they become.
They sin against their own natures and
against society. They know it all the
time. They know, too, that they can
stop If they will. and that hundreds
are anxious to help them. And yet
they 60 on in spite Of warning and en-.
treaty, scorching their bodies with
liquid fire, beggaring their families
and soaking their brains to idiocy or
kindling them to frenzy and perilihg
the interests of their souls. Are such
men to be pitiedp Yes, as all sinners
are to be pitied. But they are to be
punished. too. And we say again. our
Government ought to make habitual
drunkenness crime Of so high grade
that he who is guilty Of it would be i'm
prisoned for years, and If need be for
life. .t
But If drunkenness Is SO great a
crime, how shall we estimate the guilt
of the drunkard-maker. He is what
the law calls an accessory before the
fact He sells men that which he
knows will not only make then.
paupers. and thus burden upon So
ciety. but IN many cases make them
criminals. An eminent English judge,
Mr.. Justice Hawkins, said at a recent
assize in Durham: -.
When Icome to look through the calendar.
and when I see the number Of cases which
have been committed under the influence of
drink, can not help saying . word or two on
tina. subject. Every day I live the more
come to the CONCLUSION that the root OF al.
most all crime is drink. that revolving tyrant
which affects the people OF all ages. and 81
both sexes: young, mddle-ayed aud old;
father and son. husband and W fe. all in turn
become its victims. 1t 10 drink which, for
the most part, 10 the immediate and direct
cause of those fearful Quarrels In the public
streets at night which terminate In serious
misch ef. or some other outrage, 1t is drink
which for the most part 10 the incentive to
Grimes OF dishonesty. II 10 drink which
causes home TO be Impoverished. and traces
of the misery which II causes are to be fou nd
In many cottage denuded Of the commones'
articles of comfort and necessity, which have
gone to the pawnshOp simply to provide fol
that hideous tyrant, drink I believe, know
ing what do. and having BY experience had
my attention drawn to 1t that nine -tenths OF
tho crime In this country is engendered Inside
the doors of public houses
| What is true. in this respect, in En-.
gland is equally true in this country.
Is it any wonder then that true patriots
and true Christians cry. with united
voice: "The saloon must go"-In.
| terror.