Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-24
THE WAR ON RUM.
The Rising Tide Of Prohibition-Per.
plexity Of Political Leaders.
[From the Toledo Blade. ]

from the Toledo Blade.
The tide of Prohibition is rising all over
the land. The pressure of public senti-
ment IN this direction is so great that the
demand can no longer be ignored. 1t will
no longer do to assume that the Prohibi-
tlonisis are set of narrow-m minded fanat-
les, set of impracticables, only worthy of
the contempt of all sensible men. There
was time, and that not SO very long ago,
when its adherents were few, and they nos
slbly among the ultra religious class. But
this is SO no longer. To-day The very best
men of every community are Prohibition
lists in principle, and only wait an oppor
tunity to cast their votes in it's favor. There
were, for example, 100000 Prohibitionists
in Ohio in 1883-almost one-half the vot-
ing population of the State. To-day, were
vote to be taken, there would be a very
large majority in its favor. And yet Ohio
is far behind many of her sister States as
regards the rapid growth of Prohibition.
This gigantic growth all over the coun-
try alarms and perplexes the political lead
ers. They do not know what to make of
1t, how to account for it. The explanation
is simple. The people have grown tired of
the rum wrought by rum. They are weary
OF paying the tribute of human souls ex-
acted by this monster, more pitiless, more
ravenous than the Minotaur of Greek fable.
They see that the monster must be de-
stroyed if the payment of that tribute is
ever to be stopped. 1t can not be curbed,
1t will not be controlled; it must be exter-
minated!
The few voices crying in the wilderness
1or the destruction of rum have multiplied
into thousands and hundreds of thousands,
and the mighty throng is increasing daily.
The long suffering people are changing the
petitions they sent up for years to the Leg
lslatures OF the States, praying for the
enactment of .prohibitory laws, into stern
lied. They are weary of inaction, sick
unto death of having the subject ignored,
and will ere long compel compliance with
their demand.
The Rum Power is fastening to its final
downfall, itself urging on the movement
that will destroy it. 1t has refused to be
controlled. 1t has Knocked at law, at reli-
gion, at morality. 1t has set to every Grim
NAL in the land the example of open, fla
grant violation Of every statute that would
interfere with it. 1t has attempted the de-
struction of the Sabbath, and set the ex-
ample of continuing labor through the en-
tire seven days of the week. 1t has fur
nished places of resort for the vicious and
depraved classes, and refuge for the GRIM
inal.
The Rum Power lays its hand upon
Labor, and levies upon the working classes
tax far heavier than any government evel
dared impose. 1t condemns an uncounted
thousands, when their working days are
over, into the poorhouse to spend their old
age. 1t increases taxation upon every kind
OF property, in order to support the police
force of every city and town, the courts
their officers, and to erect jails and peni.
tehtiaries, rendered necessary largely
through its accursed instrumentallty.
The rum power is an unmitigated curse
to the nation. The traffic has not one re.
lieving feature, and the men who are in.
terested in it resist 10 the last any law which
endeavors to impose o tax upon their un'
holy occupation, in order that it may hell
to support the enormous burdens upon tn,
State which it renders necessary. The run
| power practically assumes that the nation
exists only to become it's own prey. 1t re
sists all efforts to shake off its yoke. ant
| hesitates not to appeal to the law, of which
vested right to ruin and destroy may not b.
hampered in the smallest degree.
| Need any one wonder that the peopl.
whose eyes are opened to the enormity O
the evils of rum are demanding the ute
destruction of the traffic? Is it not rather
surprising thing that the long suffering
| people have not risen in their might to de-
stroy by the strong hand the cause Of sncl
fearful woes as follow in the train of rum
to lift by violence from their necks thu
| yoke of SO unholy and tyrannical
| monster?
There is very large element among tn
people that is opposed to Rum, yet which
has never entered actively upon the effor
for it's destruction. But the time of awak
ening has come. This passive host is being
aroused. The sleeping millions are awak
ening to sense of their duty. The friend
of Prohibition are rising in arms, an,
getting in readiness to take up active war
fare against the monster evil. The min
ions Of Rum never sleep. Day and nigh
the saloons, those mouths of hell, are ope,
to recruit the mighty array of victims t
Rum. The hosts Of Prohibition must b
equally vigilaut. The hour of final battl
is coming, and all good men and tru
must be in line to-Pulverize the Ran
POrer.