Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-01
rHE LESSON % A SUICIDE.

The community has been shocked by the
suicide of a young man of high and honor
BILE family connection, of bright prospects
in life, and of excellent social standing.
He had at an early age conquered posi-
ton among men, placed himself in a con-
dition of financial independence commend
able for one of his years. He was honor
able. The President of the bank of which
he was Cashier has testified to this 10
strong terms We reproduce his words
with pleasure: There was not dishon-
est hair in his head He was a noble
young man, of fine financial judgment,
clean-handed, true-hearted and trust
worthy to any amount" He was not suf-
fering from any financial embarrassment,
nor from any social complications, nor
from disappointed affection, nor from mall
aides which would produce morbid states
of sensibility leading on to suicide. He
was simply victim of the saloon business.
His prominence in the community, the
high responsibility Of his parents, and his ex-
tended acquaintanceship, confer upon this
incident wide notoriety. We are shocked
when well-known persons meet with dis
aster; unfortunately, We are Indifferent
when the victim comes from the ranks of
obscurity. The incident under consider
ton is simply one of thousands and tens
of thousands constantly occurring. The
suicide was the legitimate fruit of the
liquor traffic. The instance under consider
ton was simply one of the many thousands
of the fallen fruits of that nefarious bust
ness. The business itself has no part or lot
with the triumphs of industry. 1t is in no
sense a beneficial industry. The persons
engaged in it may have the consolation of
knowing that Judged by any high standard
of morality, they are pursuing business
at enmity with every good thing humanity
may hope for. Between the traffic in
Intoxicating liquors and all other COM
mercial pursuits there is this essential diff
ference; that, whereas, the prosperity of
all other commercial pursuits indicates a
corresponding prosperity among men, and
growth of industry, and Advancement of
the arts and appliances Of civilized life,
the prosperity of the liquor traffic dis
closes only the magnitude Of mems degra-
dation. The traffic, therefore, stands re-
lated to all other commercial pursuits as
evil is related to good. However unpalat-
able these statements may be to those en-
gagged in the traffic, they are the simple,
plain, unexaggerated truth.
The metropolis of this State, the city of
San Francisco, presents the appalling spec
tacle of having over 1000 places where
LIQUORS are sold at retail. Estimating the
receipts of these places at the low figure of
$40 per day, and the burden upon pro-
ductive industry aggrega tes $4,000 day,
or SIS, 100000 per annum. If it is OBJ
iected that $50 day is an overestimate,
we will place the receipts of each at so a
day, which will give an expenditure over
the counters of these saloons Of $4,000
day, or S14,6Oo,ooO per annum. We are
disposed, however, to adhere to the former
figures. A less sum would scarcely pay
rents, gas, barkeepers' services etc.
Here in Sacramento We have about 800
saloons. Basing the estimate of their re-
ceipts at $40 day, the aggregate amounts
to $4,000 day, or s., 095,oOO per annum.
In this case, double the figure is perhaps
nearer the truth. The traffic itself makes
no return for this expenditure. 1t is
clear waste of human energy, and to this
waste is chargeable a vast proportion of
the poverty and still greater proportion
of the vice and crime which afiiet hui
mainly.
Rejecting on these things hightens our
admiration for the States and communities
where conviction of right has proven to
be broad enough and strong enough to
place the seal of legal condemnation upon