The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-09-14

The London Star describes Mr.. Demon
est as San American ~tcetotal missionary
who would make Lawson and Mains mod
~erate.'' Those who know Mr.. Demorcst's
fiery enthusiasm will not be surprised at
such a description. Dur ardent friend
does not allow his pen to rust while in Eu-
rope. The following is published in the
Star, and bears all the Demorest charac-
teristics:
The people, by giving a license to the
liquor traffic, virtually lcgalized the most
prolific source of crime and debauehery.
To p~alliate and cover up the horrible
crimes committed through its influence,
they build prisons, poorhouses, orphan
asylums and hospitals to take care of its
numerous victims, often with the blood
money derived from the traffic. How cas-
lily are we duped by our passions! How
effectually personal interests blind judg-
ment and stifle conscience! That alcohol
which carries in it's train so much death
should be coddled and justified by
law is the most fragrant inconsistency of
our time. The recent decision of the Uni
ted States supreme court very clearly de-
nounces this fallaey. No legislature can
bargain away the public health or the pub
lie morals. The people themselves cannot
do it, much less their servants. Govern
ment is organized with a view to their
preservation, and cannot divest itself of
the W to provide for them" The offer
of a license to legalize any evil in the COM
munity is the most efficient way to demon
alize and debauch the public conscience.
To offer the people a premium on vice, and
then to mislead them by an %insidious, fall
lacious incentive to their selfishness IN a
pretext for it's restriction, as is done so
effectively in the license which legalizes
and therefore fully justifies the crime of
rum selling, is both a political blunder and
an awfully dangerous and a cruel decep-
ton. Anything short of the entire prohi-
bition of the liquor traffic tends to cstab-
fish and perpetuate the evil. Besides,
through this license system the constantly
llClCdStu COliSuihG tipi u bulo iNlJ l'Choi
has produced a fearful accumulation of
crimes ana pauperism, and is now putting
in jeopardy every phase of our boosted
civilization. This matter ought to be SO
plain, and the consequences SO evident,
that all should see its. logic at a glance,
but human nature is so pcrverse and so
strongly e~ntrenched in the interests, habits
and prejudices of the people that this great
Red sea of difficulty is to be crossed with
other formidable barriers to be overcome
before the conscience is sufficiently aroused
and the people fully persuaded to do their
whole DUTY in regard to this horrible, in
human and demoralizing traffic.
Certainly, this justifying the crime of
rum selling for a money consideration
reaches the climax of pernicious legislation,
and is the most vile, insidious and danger
Gus fallacy of this century. Unless the
people throw off this tendency to selfish
expediency and moral cowardice, nothing
short of the destruction of all that is good
in our present civilization will follow.
Dur country's best interests must go down
in the gloom of moral death with all the
CHASTITY horrors of a degraded and de-
bauched manhood that will surely follow
in its train.