The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-05-29
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A GROWING EVIL.
Victims of the Drink Demon Constantly
Increasing in Numbers.

Increasing in Numbers.
AS everyone knows, the cities of the
United States are the strongholds of
the rum power. Our largest one, New
York, has population of 100000. Its
liquor traffic each year is over $50, 000,-
900, while the support of its churches
of all denominations costs but s.. OOO.-
600 year. With a population of o.
100000 in the whole country, we spend
about $500, 900, 900 a year for rum, and it
costs $500, 100000 year for the support
of our prisons, poorhouses and asy-
lums, three-fourths of whose inmates
are there from causes directly or re-
motely dependent upon the use of rum.
During the past twenty years, the
temperance reform has made great
progress in the United States. and the
proportion of those who abstain entire
ly from the use of rum in any form is
much greater now than ever before.
Yet in these twenty years, the manu-
facture of intoxicants has increased
more rapidly in proportion than the
population, and there is more liquor
used per capita than there was a score
of years ago. This shows that there is
more excess now than there was at
that time, that those who do drink.
drink more freely than was then the
case.
Nor is there anything in the situa-
ton which promises a speedy amend
ment of this condition. The curse of
the saloon is more potent than the eff
forts of the workers in the temperance
cause. The increase in the amount of
liquor consumed is not because our peo-
pie like it any better, nor because it is
more palatable, but simply because
the 200,0 saloons of the country are
doing more active prosecuting work
than are the advocates of temperance.
The evil of the saloon is not the harm
it does to those who are already the
victims of the drink habit: it's worst
feature is its effect in creating that APP
petite in young men. The youth with
a vigorous, healthy body and good di-
gcstlon does not like the taste of rum.
He does not begin to drink from any
liking for liquor in any form. As we
have already said. it is the social
feature of the saloon which draws
these young men within it's doors.
Once there, somebody promptly offers
to treat to refuse is to appear I'M
duly straightlaced, and to lack good
fellowship; the young man drinks, al
hough he does not care to do so, and
then feels it incumbent upon him to re-
pay the obligation by treating" in
turn. This is the first step in the down
ward road.
- Ct n
taste of strong drink, and from drink
ing only when he is invited or when he
treats in his turn. he soon comes to
drink for the excitement which fol-
lows; and once he learns to drink from
this cause. the way is open to drunk
enncsS and all the woes which follow
IN its train. Take the 200. 600 saloons
in this country. and it is but a mod
crate allowance to estimate an average
of Twenty young men per year who
learn to drink in each. Hence the
fact is not overstated when we say that
the saloon system of the United States
is destroying no less than 1900, 900
young men per year.
The vice of intemperance does not
end with its victim nor does it end
with his becoming sot. 1t is the
prolific parent of vice and crime. There
is not gaInbling-hell in the United
States which does not furnish liquor to
unsteady the nerves and unbalance the
Judgment of the poor fools who fire.
Cuent them. There is not a house of
ill-repute in which rum is not at hand
10 intiame the baser passions of its Wis
lfnrC 'Thnrn < mot n nf
peace and good order in twenty that is
not largely or entirely due to rum.
These things are the natural outcome
of the career which the young man be-
gins when he first enters a saloon to
meet his friends,
1t is safe to say that no young man
ever starts out with the determination
to become drunkard, Or the slave of
vice, or a criminals yet look around
you in any community. and see the vast
numbers who are confirmed drunkards!
Visit a large prison and you will find that
the great majority of its unhappy in
mates are there from causes which can
be traced directly to the drinking
habit. Visit poorhouse and inquire
into the history of the unfortunates
who find that their only home. and you
will learn that in the cases of the ma
iority rum was the initial cause OF
their being there. 1t was the careful
judgment of former superintendent of
the Toledo insane asylum that fully
three-fourths of the cases of insanity
within the establishment We're due di.
rectly or indirectly to incompetence.
The condition of things in regard tc
drunkenness in the United States is
grave enough to cause alarm to every
thoughtful person. The condition can
not be improved so long as the saloon
is allowed to exist; and so long as the
saloon is in existence our condition re.
garding intemperance will grow worse
instead of better. But the saloon can.
not be suppressed until public opinion
is strong enough, not only to demand
its suppression, but to enforce that de.
mand when it is enacted into law.
The obvious place of beginning any
effort to change the existing order
must be with the people themselves
and it must take the shape of a cam.
paign of education. The facts as to the
magnitude of the evils resulting from
the rum traffic must be brought home
to the understanding of every citizen