Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-12-13
Shall the Condemned Liquor Trafac BE
Reprieved?


liquor traffic, which has been decreed to
extinguishment by the righteous verdict of
q long suffering people, ask an extension
of time? 1t cannot repent and its guilt is
proven.
When st. George had vanquished the
dragon, would the champion have meckly
yielded up the fruits of his hard won VIC
tory by magnanimously granting to the
destroyer OF men the right to live and de-
YOUR the innocent for six months longer?
Neither will our people who have won
this victory consent to give to this enemy
OF the home and state new lease of life.
Inc only argument have heard ad-
yanced against the early enforcement of
the prohibition law is the pecuniary loss it
would 1ntiict upon the men engaged in the
business of selling liquor.
Let us estimate their loss. It is simply
the present Inconvenience that must result
from change in their business or in their
location, and the future loss of revenue
that they will suffer from the earnings Of
their customers being diverted from them
to the grocer and butcher.
Ihere is no loss of capital. The saloon
Keepers propertyis not confscated and his
There is nothing in the provisions of this
law to prevent his engaging in any legal
calling and earning an honest living for
his family in some other avocation. It
does not injure his health or take aWay
his character or deprive him of the respect
OF his neighbors or injure his future pros
business. 1t is not claimed that the en-
forcement of this law will injure any class
OF citizens. save only the saloonkeepers.
and them only by subjecting them to tenn
POrary inconvenience from change in
business. The loss Of business or of money
is the least of earthly losses. Let us estf-
mate mat the losses resulting from the legal
state Of the citizens, who BY the operations
Of the law, legalizes the sale Of liquor, are
transformed from industrious tax-paying
cltlzens into paupers and criminals. The
loss to these citizens of money and prop
erty and character and self-respect and
independence, the loss to their families of
their protectors and providers, the loss to
the grocer and merchant of their patron
age, the loss to the wife of the husband, to
the child OF the parent. Oh, tell you
that all their losses together bear no COM
parlsOn to the lOsSi iOf the young daughter
who reaches the threshold Of womanhood
missing the protecting love of the father
whose arm should have been her stay and
protection. 9fEfsl (ffs3 { "a ! I71' b
Unlike eli other callings, the soloon-
keeDer's loss is his customers gain. i do
not dare to estimate the number of patrons
to each saloon, but 1t is great enough to
call for the operation OF that principle in
our government that seeks the greatest
good OF the greatest number and aims to
promote the welfare of the many, rather
than the wealth Of the few.
nakfes a few years ego the temperance party Of
who were classified as "cranks;" and q few
sorroWing women whose efforts to
save the loved ones Of there households
were sneered at as tsentimentalism."
To-day. Oh, thank God, there are arrayed
on the side OF prohibition in North Dakota:
First Woman's Christian Temper
ers, sisters and daughters of tile patrons Of
the saloons with host of other good
women who have made this cause their
own.
Second-The now Partisan Prohibition
Alliance, led by earnest ministers of the
gospel and backed by all the churches of
the state. 50 67i,5
Third--The Farmers Alliance composed
of the intelligent men Of our farming com
munities, whose honest hands are hence.
forth to shape the destiny of our state. s5.
F0urth-The Knights Of Labor, that bene-
fcient organization of working men and
women that so wisely plans and acts for
the benefit Of the working classes.
Fifth-The patrons of the saloon who
are the slaves of intemperance and who
pray in their weakness to be delivered
from temptations.
All Of these organizations. save the first
and last, have q majority of representatives
in the two houses Of the legislature, and
they are supported by a public sentiment
so overwhelmingly that no statesman who
taxes thought Of his future, no newspaper
that values its patronage, can afford to es
p0use the cause Ofathe saloOnkeeper wht
stands alone in his demand for reprieve
There is no politics in the question Q,
prohibition. 1t is woman's cause fol
woman. It is humanity's plea for protec
ton for the innocent and helpless. ant
surely the chivalrous men who represen
the interests Of these three grand organic
atiOns, and whom the Christian people o.
our state have ordained to legislate for us
will not be moved by Sentimental" cOnsid
eratiOns for the salOOnkeeper's loss of bust
ness to disregard their solemn obligations
Neither can the champions of this right
eOus law ignore the appeal Of the people
that the defeated despoiler Of their home.
may die, and die speedily.
LINDA w. SLAUGHTER,
State Superintende Of Press Work, Nortl
Dakota w. G. u. u.
December 4, 1889.
Regarding the Deaf Mute School.