The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-02

~ We EUttOT " Tue ITtSS.
The New York Tribune (semi-weekly) of
the 26th of Sept, 1882, has an admirable edi-
torial with the title Of this article. 1t con-
tains statements of facts of which great
many Of our most intelligent people are pro.
foundry ignorant. but which ought TO be ia
miliar to every American citizen who wishes
well to his country and countrymen. No ID
telligent man, i. seems to me, can fail to see
that this question protection to our people
from the liquor traffic is of such vast magni-
tude that its Importance to the National in
terests cannot be easily exaggerated. The
Tribune, in stating the case has been so care.
full to put it moderately, that 1t is really min
imized in many particulars. The Tribune
says:
sit does no good for men to sheer at the agita.
too important to be laughed down. II
has become altogether too important to be ig-
nored, or passed over without any serious attempt
which it has ELECTED, aside from all its moral and
religious aspects, the question considered purely
as one OF dollars and cents in It's effect upon the
impol tant that can be named.
directly and indirectly, this country spends in
the national debt The cost Of that trsc 70 the the
country, direct and indirect is greater than the
profits of all its capital not invested in real estate.
1t costs every year more than our whole civil
vice. our army our navy, our congress, including
the river and harbor, and the pension bills, our
state, county and local debts, besides all the
schools in the country. In fact, this country pays
more for liquor than for every function of every
KIND OF government How Is a question of that
size to be put aside with sneer?"
The Tribune then goes on to give figures
aud facts in detail, which show that the
drink-bill Of the nation in 1892 was $780,
10000, and the indirect cost, 500 0OO, 900, in
addition; then it proceeds:
"But the cost of the liquor drank is not ty any
means the whole cost of the liquor traffic. An
OIL ial report prepared with much labor by the bU-
reau of statistics Of Massachusetts, under author
.y from the legislature, states that "a per cent of
all the crime and criminal expenses in that State
comes directly from tie abuse of liquor. There
of this country who are rendered idle by their
habits on incapacitated for work, and these per.
sons az the ordinary wages of workingmen, would
5000, 000O 900 yearly. The proportions of persons
in hospitals who reach them because of excess in
drink is very large, but cannot be definitely as
DIR. Clark of London physician in ordinary
to the Queen, said in Exeter Hall in that city,
that he had found by personal examination,
that 50 per cent OF the hospital patients in
London were there, directly or indirectly,
because of drink.
ga traffic that costs in actual payment and in
loss of productive labor, more than half the
National debt every year is not to be ignored by
entire wealth Of the country has risen from
$4,000 100000 in 1870 to $4,000 100000 in
1880, about one half being in real estate. Proba-
cent yearly. taking bad Investments with good,
but at that rate the yearly interest all personal
RSs s s e al nnss sa a s
THE time has gone by in this country when
sacS vast to the Nation can
vented vented by bullying intolerance insolence or
It is Certain that the entire savings of the people
and all additions to their wealth are not twice as
much as the sum expended for liquor and because
OF the abuse OF liquor II any Just and reasonable
to the savings and prosperity of the Nation, it will
not be put down by a sheer, nor be defeated by
a law-breaking mob"
The Tribune of 25th of March 1884 con-
tinuing the subject says:
"a few days ago an organic alton of liquor
dealers in this State formulated resolutions in
which they declared that the business In which
they and entitled to
Long habit doubtless blunts perception. The
soap-boiler cannot smell the stencil which per-
to think his wares sweet and inotfensive; and SO
il is possible that those whose business Is to sell
poison to the public. and who witness hourly the
disastrous effect OF their trade, may think it de-
serving of respect. But the public can make no
such mistake. trade which fiourishes upon the
ruin OF us supporters, winch derives lLS revenues
from the plumber Of homes and from the defraud-
ing of helpless children, and from the degrade
ton of manhood; which requires for its prosperity
every Vie and vicious passion and propensity
which makes drunkardS and thieves and en-
bezzlers, and gamblers, and wife heaters and
who are brought in contact with it-cannot claim
the respect and assuredly ought not to be able
at indeed indicates the extent of the prevalent
Generalization that business so Inherently
infamous, so unquestionably against public policy,
should have been permitted to establish itself SO
firmly that those who pursue it are convinced,
not only that it is legitimate, but that it is en-
titled to protection and respect But upon what
stitutes legitimate, respectable business? Is a
business which: debauches, impovershes. Injuries
such questions have 70 be asked it is time that
they were settled defnitaly Since
its consequences are what we see, it would be
an abuse OF language to term it respectable
"Rumselling does not stop at these insolent
pretensions. 1t tells the people that it has great
will fight reform and temperance with the votes
OF the unf0rtunates 1t has embruted. Then this
Is what the community has to face. 1t must
rumseller; it must either accept their govern
ment; it must either bow to their standard of
morals and declare them to be entitled to 'protec-
tion and respect;' or it must make up its mind to
conflict the aim and object of which shall be the
overthrow OF this abominable abuse and the pro-
lection of the masses against the worst foe of civ
ilizatlon.
"They will oppose any reform whatever. They
az Ths ne o
son and brutalize and degrade all whom they can
reach. They think they can be supported in this
persistence of whose animal appetites they
coarsely calculate. Hitherto they have unhappily
been justified in this dependence. y But
a change Is now passing over public opinion. 1t
is becoming more and more generally recognized
that intemperance is at the bottom OF two thirds
of the social political and moral evils that retard
and DprDQY and haraSe the lapis1atnr
- In fact it is being realized that the future
OF the country depends largely upon mastering
the elements which have their origin and derive
all their strength from rum, and which initiate at
every turn against good government, pure social
conditions, religion and progress"
Again the Tribune says in an editorial en-
titled
THE QUESTION OF THE AGE.
"There is today in the English speaking coun-
tries DO such tremendous, far.reaching vital ques
ton as that of drunkenness. In its implication
Bile to examine any subject Connected with the
progress, the civilization, the physical well being
the religious condition OF the masses, without en-
counterlng the monstrous evil.
1t lies at the centre of all social and political
itn1lschiet: 1t parayzes energies in every direc-
s s,sd II neutralzes educational agencies. 1t
form. II rears aloft mass Of eviliy disposed
power winch at every salient point threatens So
rance anc Vice greater potency than Intelligence
ana virtue can command; which depriyes the
p 34n VI lne advantages of modern progress;
wnlcn deDauches and degrades millions. brntal'
ling and soldering them below the blanc Of
h sta , StaVsgefy and filling the centres Of pop1-
cuses the immortality which renders Them dsns e
GUS to their generation. 0"' u""sei-
All these evils all this destruction of human
souls and lntellects, go on among us dailv and
hourly. Some hearth darkened: some 1ne
family scattered; some loving heart broken:
some promising career ruined; some deed u,
shame done. Yet how hard it is to get this SaaO NJ
tic evil attacked seriously? - What are
differences by the side of this national
curse? Can the churches fold their hands and
fiatter themselves that their duties are all fui
filled, while the masses prefer the saloon to the
pulpit, and while rum rules IN politics and So
ciety? Can any political organization be said to |
the best aspirations and the strongest
needs of the people, while this abiding source of
misery and crime and poverty IS allowed to spread
and flourish?
There is needed something of that sacred fire |
which kinded into inextlnguishable heat the zeal
Of Abolitionists, which compelled the abandon |
nant of CALVARY 10 r0usa tha national In