The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-03-27
THE WEALTHY GLASS.

has in its constitution provisions which
debar any man, no matter who he be,
from membership therein, who obtains
any profit, in any way, from the sale of
liquor, or who is in any manner con-
cerned in the Internal traffic; and if a
man, already member, engages in it
in any way, he is compelled to drop
his membership. This is a grand step
in advance, and we hail it as an omen
of what the future will bring forth
when these mighty labor organizations
all set their faces against the rum
power, and enter upon an offensive
campaign.
So far, it will be noted, the hostility
to this overshadowing evil is merely
passive, not active. 1t prevents
men who sell whisky from join
ing the organization, but it allows
the work of running, debauching
and enslaving the members to 90
on unchecked. These minions of
rum, these agents of evil may not join
the order themselves, but they may 90
on running those who are Knights, and
making them their slaves, their besot-
ted creatures, who, for the sake of rum,
will do their bidding. Another step
should be taken; it must be taken, if
the intent of that provision of the con-
stitution of the order is to be carried
out. This passive opposition must be
changed into active, uncompromising
relentless war upon the monster evil of
rum. The order must protect its mem
berShip from the aggressions of these
agents OF the rum power. 1t must COM
pei those who enjoy the privileges of
the order to abstain from drink; it
should deny membership to drunkards,
and it should boycott every man who
deals in the internal poisons, and who
everis in the slightest degree interested
in the traffic in rum.
We have received q number of letters
from members of the order, heartily
indorsing what we have said concern
ing the evils of the drink habit among
working-men. Two or three of them
have, however, asked why we speak
only of worling-men, and say nothing
of this evil to other classes of the com
munity The answer is self-eyident.
To rouse a man to action, you must
bring your argument directly home to
him and others in the same environ
ment. To do this with all classes of
people at one time is impossible. That
we brought in order the reasons why
organized labor should array itself I'M
compromisingly in hostility to the rum
power, and begin battle to the death
against it, by no means signifies that
others should not do the same thing.
The possession of wealth gives to a
man much power, either for good or
evil Money, in one sense, is the lever
that moves the world; and those
who possess it possess the power
of becoming potent factors in the
progress of humanity, either up
ward or downward. A man may
only the means of his accomplishing
his ruin more swiftly than otherwise.
The rum power by no means neglects
the moneyed class of people. 1t as
pires to make all classes and condi-
lions of men its victims. 1t has its out
posts, the low beer shops and rum
noles in the poorer quarters of every
city and town of the land, in order that
It may lay in its clutches upon laboring
men and women, and make them paw
.ribute; while the principal streets are
lined with gorgeous saloons, resplen-
dent with mirrors, paintings, cut glass
and elaborate display of all kinds, to
induce those who may be Weather to
take the downward path. Instead of
stale beer, the patrons of these palaces
of ruin have fine wines; in place of vile
whisky, they drank fancy brands of
brandy and other liquors connections
dignified with high-sounding names,
out sure and swift poisons for all that.
There is as much dragging and doctor
ing and adulteration of the so-called
'tine" liquors and wines as there is of
cheap whisky and gin,
Gointo these brilliantly lighted gaudi-
ly-decorated hell-holes at night, and
you will find them filled with represent
atives of all classes. The proprietors
are indulgent. They want gold, and
any man that has money to spend is
made welcome. Businessmen, profess
sional-men, drummers, young men
about town, who have contracted the
habit of drinking, or are doing so, may
be found here. Especially do these
saloons profit from the sons of the
wealthy, young men who never knew
the value of money because they never
had to toll for it. They throw it away
for drink with reckless prodigality,
wasting their patrimony, and setting
their steps in the path which surely
leads to ruin, moral, physical and finan-
cial.
One of the strongest bulwarks of the
rum power in our land comes from the
allegiance of wealthy men. Money is a
power, and rum seeks to keep its clutch
es upon the wealthy portion of our
people.
Wealth has its privileges and also its
obligations. The power of fashion is
great; not merely fashion in dress, but
in social customs and observances. The
wealthy class is the governing class in
this respect. So long as the fashiona-
BILE world sets the example of having
wine at table, of encouraging social
drinking, so long will thousands and
tens of thousands of families follow its
deplorable example, and reap the re-
ward in after years of seeing their
children become drunkards, spend
thrifts and debauchees. The force of
J example is tremendous. Society, So