Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-30
"PULvERIZE THE RUM POWER. "
The Rum Power and Political Differ
encea of Opinion.

The Rum Power and Political Differ
ences OF Opinion.
Aside from those who deliberately array
themselves as life long imbibers Of Rum, and
the men who make money out OF the Internal
traffic, there is no intelligent person In the
land who does not deplore the ruin wrought
by Rum. There Is not city, village
hamlet not even a rural neighborhoOd, where
the magn influence Of Rum Is not felt. IL IL
a vengeful demon which not only destroys It's
hapless victims, body and soul. but breaks
down and trsmples in the mire the most sa-
cred family ties, ali the higher and holer so
cial relations and drags down TO poverty and
degradation the helpless ones dependent upon
its victims
The Rum habit IL not only a vice In iSelf,
but 1t is the parent Of all other vices. 1t Is
one of the chief promoters Of poverty and
paupersm, the cause OF insanity, a perennial
fountain Of debaucherY and an incentive 10
crime. Given Rum and Il Weak-wiled man,
and YOU have the factors which will make
pauper, a lunatic, a thief, libertine, or
murderer. Every Rum hole is training
school ia vice, a KINDER arten for or mnals.
And, as was remarked IN the commencement,
all thinking men aside from two classes-tne
slaves Of Rum aud those who make money by
dealing IN it-are aware Of the evils OF the
traffic There is no Il ference of opinion
among men as TO this. though there are wide
EMERGENCIES Of opinion as 10 the best method
OF combating these evils.
Yet, after all, these diyerge ncies are more
seeming than real. Given the con vlctlon IN
the minds of the people that the Rum tr attic
is a curse, aud these q lerlug opinions mean
but tie different steps OF Advancement on the
road 10 the conviction that there Is but one
remedy that is really eHectve--its entire and
utter crushing out As in the Middle Ages all
roads led TO Rome, SO in this warfare all
methods, all opinions inevitably 30 mt % the
one remedy OF tOtal Prohibition Of the manu-
facture aud sale Of Rum. Taxation and high
license crush out the lower class of Rum-holes,
and bring the keepers Of others TO strlctcr
accountability tO good order. Local option
destroys the Traffic I'm communities when the
general public uphOis the stringent enforce
ment Of Prohibition; but they are all but
means 10 one eud-aud that end the total ex-
tinction OF this great curse OF the nation.
All men who real re the fearful array Of
ev Is that springs up as the result Of the traffic
In Rum, favor some reYedy, and IL Is hope
ful sign that public opinion all over the United
; ates IS advan ing on line that Will bring 10
10 the support OF Prohibition az the real and
only thoroughly efficient method Those who
are awakened 10 he magnitude OF the cause
OF KUN are unit Ina The opinion that II is the
duty OF the state 10 DO something in the wav
OF self protection. This is matter on which
intelligent men do not differ. But II Is not so
with the great political questions Of the day.
Men differ widely on each Of them, and they
are thoroughly sincere and earnest In their
beliefs. Oue man IL an active advocate Of
protection. while his next ne ghbOr is quite as
strong a supporter Of free trade. Both are
sincere both believe they are right vet they
advocate Numerically opposing views.
The same NAV be said OF The question Of
national aid to education On the one side,
men recognise the great danger 10 free
government from an ignorant voting pOpua-
ton and feel that 1t Is proper thing for the
national government 20 take steps 10 conserve
its own safety bv using OF its abundant
means 10 eXtnguish il eteracy, by educating
the ris ing generation. ON the other side,
there are men who, while admitting the evil
OF ignorance believe that the work Of educa-
tou belongs 10 the state alone, and see IN the
measure for national aid 10 education an I'M
constitutional and unwise Interference by the
federal government with The reserved rights Of
the states. Both classes oil men are perfectly
honest in their convictions. Both bel eve they
are right. The question is political one, and
only 10 de settled il settled al all, 10y the de-
cision OF a majority.
But there Is no such sincere aud honest
difference Of opinion a. 20 the evils Of Rum.
All good men are agreed on this. All believe
that some restrictive measures are necessary.
The question is not political. The effort TO
make IL so is unwise. because years OF exper-
fence have proved that majority OF voters
vii. mot abandon their prcscnt pOlItica aflilia-
tOus TO join new party on this issue. Though
they may he in sympathy with prohibition, vet
they will fight the separate political Prohibit
ton party that antsgouizes the one with
which they are affiliated.
The true method IS 70 devote the time the
energies the money Of those who believe that
Prohibition is the true remedy for the curse Of
Rum to educating intelligent public opinion
everywhere up 10 the standard. You cannot
convince a man by opposing him You can
not convert him by knocking him down. You
can not bring him over 10 your belief on one
subject bv bitterly opposing him in others.
The true rule is to keep the liquor question
out OF politics, aud hence TO unite all opposed
to Rum IN solid phslsnX 10
Puluerize ~. Rum POWcr. - Toefo Blade.