The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-03-09

ter things and, to our shame be it said,
VIC are ever ready to supply the victims to
the utmost, driving them deeper and deep
er into the slough of depravity, running
them body and soul The time has surely
come when, in the interests of our National
honor, more energetic efforts should be
made to suppress the diabolical traffic.
There can be no excuse for its continuance,
and it is blot on Christian civilization"
In Northern Africa, Mohammedanism is,
20 some extent, a check to the evils at
tendant upon the drink habit, for Moham-
mechanism forbids its followers to drink;
but even Mohammedanism cannot with
stand the wrongs introduced by Christian
civilization. The dark races, by universal
testimony, are demoralized more rapidly
and hopelessly degraded by the habit Of
drink than European nations, and the utter
determination of natives must eventually
follow the introduction OF intoxicants
among them.
In Southern Africa, where not even Mo
liammedanism exists to protect the people,
the Hottentots and Kaffirs, who were once
strong and tlourishiDg peoples, are being
degraded and debauched by the introduc-
ton of gin, rum, and brandy. Traders
give in return for cattle and the valuable
products of the country, not their com
mercial value in necessary and useful ar
tices, but the vilesf, most poisonous
brandy that can be produced.
In 1888 it is reported that in TWO
months, one hundred and six natives were
killed by brandy drinking. Besides these,
how many unknown and unreported per-
ished from the same cGrse! And yet the
murderous work goes on, and is unnoticed
and unnamed. Not native king or chief
in all the country who has been asked but
unhesitatingly and emphatically condemns
and deplores the commerce which brings
the curse to his shores.
In Western Africa, the figures them
selves are appalling. In 1S945, Great
Britain sent to the west coast of Africa
6O2, 1928 gallons of Intoxicating liquors.
America sent--think Of iti-921 ,412 gal
Ions. Germany sent enough more to make
over 5000, 600 gallons of this soul.destroy-
ing stuff What could the sixty.fye mis-
sionary societies Of America send to conn.,
terbalance this enormous wrong?
Let statistics speak again. Into the
small island of Lagos, with population
of thirty-sevep Thousand, over 900, 600
gallons of spirits are imported yearly from
the British Government alone, and fifty
shops sell the poison to the natives.
But there is another side to this evil. 1t
is foe to the very commerce in whose in
terest it is assumed to be carried on. For
palm-oil, nuts, and the many products of
the country, we give them, not cloth, nor
any of the useful and civilizing products
of our own country, bat drink. The ma
tives do no trading that does not involve
this curse; and when once supplied with
this, they are too drunk to desire and too
degraded to appreciate the better things.
And here is some testimony of New Eng
lands efforts to help the cause along.
Says missionary to Western Africa:
s'The vilest liquors imaginable are being
poured into Africa in shiploads from al
most every quarter of the civilized world.
On one small vessel, in which myself and
wife were the only passengers, there were
in the hold over 100, 900 gallons of New
England rum, which sold on the coast for
81 gallon in exchange for palm oil, rub
Der, camwood, and other products common
to the country. have seen landed from
one steamer at a single port 10, 600 cases of
gin, each containing twelve three-piut
bottles"
On the 10th day of August, 1887, it was
explained in the House of Lords. England,
and has not been disputed, that England
and Germany had agreed to give the
strength of their influence to stop the
drink traffic in the Western Pacific Islands,
because of the terrible ravages there
wrought, but that the United States Gov
eminent prevented the contamination Of
that purpose. Thus among the govern
ments of the earth our country stands as
the especial champion of the international
rum traffic.
We have to deal with our own Govern
ment Upon it, it would seem, rests
double responsibility, for she has not only
sent the drink to curse the nations, buthas
refused, even when appealed to by her sis
ter governments, in the name Of common
humanity, to aid in an effort to stop the
tide of death and woe resulting from it,
Only the Government itself can stop the
expectation Of these drinks, and SO long as
Government sanction is obtained, avarice
and greed are not wanting to pursue the
trade.
If the individuals were only protected in
their villainy by our Government it would
be bad enough; but when that Government
itself realizes an immense revenue and
grows rich By the traffic, it becomes
National SIN Of such gigantic proportions
as to appsll it's citizens. The weaker aud
semi-eivilized nations justly lock to us for
enlightenment and protection, and We give
them only degradation and thraldom of
soul.
But if our own Government is RESPONSE
bic, aud refuses to do its duty, who, then.