The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-01-12
From Seneca Township.

Ed. SPIRIT: l want TO cay teW woroe
to the readers OF your paper on the sub
ject Of Prohibition. lntemperance is no
slight. non-transient evil. 1t is the great
besettine sin Of the human family-the
sin that underlies most other sins. These
facts history proves. England's greatest
Gladstone, says: '.Gseater
cslamities are inflicted on mankind by
than by the three great his.
torical scourges, war, pest'lence ana
famine" There are in the Uaited States
more than $4,000 places where intoxi-
eating liquors are sold, and at low es-
innate 10000 men and 10000 women
annually die from the effects OF strong
drink. In this Christian country, out OF
all the criminals that annually crowd our
prisons and acaffolds, this infamous bu-
siness furnishes IS per cent. 1t is q
blight upon all the prospects OF this life
and the life to come. 1t robs labor OF
the. fruit Of its toll, burdens property
with taxes and corrupts morals and foe
ters crime to an alarming extent. II
would be utterly Impossible to estimate
the waste and loss occasioned by intem-
perapce. Health, character, property.
are ruined by IL; and above all, the soul
ia lost. Some would say: "Whst are
you going 10 do about it2 Have you
any plan which, IL put in operation, would
arrest this work OF death and ruin -
We are vitality concerned in this 9ues.
ton. 1t cannot be, it must not be. that
this beritage of woe shalt he transmitted
to our children. Some say there is no
remedy, men have drank to excess In
the past aui always will. Well, from
human standpoint, 1t looks little dark
when, in the the face Of all the horrors oil
intempera1ce. the question comes before
the people. "Shall It stop or shall it DC
per pe, uated ?" only 33 men are found In
Monroe County that dare to cast theiI
votes for it's overthrow. But our. God
| ia all powerful and right will triumph.
First, we want intelligence on this sub
ject instead of ignorance. People mus
he educated up to the point that the,
shall see and feel that the use and sale o
alcoholic drinks. as beverage, ara al
much q violation of Gods Law as thief
or murder.
The liquor traffic is creature OF law
It is fos cred and protected by it, and VI
see no other wav BY which II can he de
Estroyed but by Law. Moral suasion ha
been tried and failed; regulation bs
borne only the bitter fruit OF disappoin'
ment. We cannot consistently advocat
or encourage the high license scheme. 4
Eorder to suppress the evil. because
sanctions it by law. No one should b
invested with the privilege 10 perpetual
a crime against the morals OF the cour
try. and high or low license is an offens
! acainst the highest public interest and
crime against heaven. Neither will v
t support any political party that make
!. license the basis OF Legislation on th
s subject.
Prohibition aims by constitutional Ia
: to destroy this accursed trsffic. root an
!. brsnch; and so we cay 10 the lIqnor ira
&c: Thou shalt not continue to debaut
h and destroy our people witnout weet'r
, active and persistent opposition. Their
i. fore We will aim to make this business
e infamous a. God has made 1t wron
:, Let rs show ourselves men In the face
! such q foe. But prhIbition means la'
law means legislation; legislation nsea
% legislators; legislators means vote
rs votes in sufficient numbers to secure I
u triumph, by enactment aud enforcemeI
e of any great political principle. and 81
political organization in the interest
m that principle The Prohibition party
Is a fact. We rejoice in 1t and bid II q
n speed, go far IS it's means and its met
0. ures are pure, and not only give 1t o
ID best wishes and prayers but our vot'
ID Az Christian men let us not he delud
,e with the plea that we must keep religi
is snd politics separate. The idea OF kee
ut ing religion and the greatest morsl qn'
re ton OF the age out Of politics is dew
at of the devil to silence she voice OF CO
ii science and Christianity ct the poi
ve For God, and home, and native land,