The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-07-18

This week we publish two cOnmunica-
each bearing Oh practically the
same point. The object of each seems to
be TO remove the greater part of the re-
spOnsibility, now commonly attributed to
the saloonkeeper for the crimes and other
evils resulting from strong drink. and fix it
upon the consumer. 1t is true that too
much blame is put upon the saloonkeeper.
They are not alone to blame; but all who
drink liquor; those who drink in the pri
vacy of their homes as wei! as they VINO
drink at the public bar: the retailer, the
wholesaler, the diStjier. the !icenSer and
all who in any way derive money from its
sale. There is not an iota less blame at
taching to one than the others. Most tenn
perance advocates make the salOOnkeeper
the chief object OF their condemnation,
simply because it is through his hands that
the liquor passe, Immediately to the con-
slmer. The salnoukeeper is ostracized
by what is called good society. The whole
Saler is on about the same footing as the
wholesale dealer in any other kind of mer-
chandlse. The distiller, or member of the
Whisky Trust, is an eminently respectable
gentleman whom the average temperance
advocate aludeS to. it at all. as person
who ought to be ashamed OF himself. The
Whisky Trust seems 70 be looked upon as
an irresponsible something: but behind it is
an army of men who use it to squeeze the
highest possible price for their liquor out
of the saloonkeepers on the other side, who
simply turn it over to the consumers at a
fair profit for their work. If the saloon is
a curse. then the Whisky Trust is all aggre-
CATION of curses. 1t may be compared to Il
great fountain from which thousands of
| little branching streams flow out through
the country, damned up at intervals. but
| finally are swallowed up and disappear
If the temperance workers would devote
their laborS to dammng up the fountain,
the little streams would dry up of them
selves. In this state attention has been
drawn away from the source from which
the intoxicating beverage is quaffed and
turned to the consumer. The tempting
stream is allowed to flow on before the
eyes Of the thirsty, but they are forbidden
to par:ake to satisfaction. The law of
this state making drunkenness crime may
be hard blow at intemperance. 1t GER
tainy is shifting of the responsibility
from the salOOnkeeper to the consumer
TO us it looks as if it might have been a
sagaciOus move planned by old Gen. Rum
to throw Gen. Prohibition off his trail. 1t
certainly is assailing the enemy at its
weakest pOint-sOnething like attacking
the ambulance train that is bringing up
the sick and the imbecile in the rear of the
enemy. 1t looks like mean kind of war;
fare, but then it relieves Gen. Rum of a
great responsibility and gives the Temper
ance soldiers a chance to show their gener-
Osity by taking care Of the enemy's in
vallds. But while they are dOctoring their
captives, Gen. Rum will have gained and
fortified a stronger position. There is but
one way to prevent drunkenness, and that
is to stop the manufacture of all intOXi-
cantS. Make drunkenness capital crime
and every county in the state would have Il
permanent gibbet during the life of this
present generation at least.