Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-12
MIR. DUMONT's REMOVAL.


MIR. DUMONT's REMOVAL.
Good Templars Submit Protesting ResoIu-
lions to the District Commissioners.
This afternoon a committee from the Grand
Lodge of the independent Order OF Good
Templars, consisting Of A. n. Garfield, F. +.
Bishop and J. C. Moberly, appeared before the
Commissioners and presented a set of resolu-
tons adopted at a recent meeting Of the order
They we're presented by Mr.. A. n. Garfield.
who read them through.
Commissioner Ross stated that the Commits
sioners were doing everything in their power
to quell the unlawful sale Of liquor. Mr..
Dumont's resignation not requested be-
cause Of his activity in prosecuting the unlaw-
ful dispensers of liquors. The attorney for
the District was in full accord with the
views of the Commissioners, and had only been
waiting for the thirty days to elapse before pro-
ceeding against the violators of the law under
the police regulations. The Commissioners had
instructed him to go ahead, and be would begin
at once. The resolutions presented follow:
At a regular meeting of the Grand Lodge Of
the Independent Order of Good Templars of
the District Of Columbia, held September 9,
1892. the undersigned were appointed a COM
mittee to present to you the following pre-
ambes and resolutions. expressing the senti-
l.SU
Washington, viz:
Whereas the prompt decisive and energetic
measures adopted by the authorities of our
nation, states and cities to prevent the intro
duction of the dreaded Asiatic cholera into our
fair land are not only demanded by every
sentiment OF humanity and interest and heartily
approved by all good citizens, but also receive
the enthusiastic commentator Of all civilized
nations, and every expense and inconvenience
are patiently and willingly borne il
thereby our homes may be protected
from the ravages Of that terrible
destroyer. And whereas alcoholism, the disease
resulting from the use of intoxicating liquors
as beverage, u more destructive scourge
than Asiatic cholera or any other disease;
more destructive, because, while the cholera
comes only periodically at long intervals
and soon spreads its force and is gone, a,co-
hoism Is perennial, its destruction goes on con-
tlnually in all climates, at all seasons and for
all times without abatement; more destructive,
because while cholera affecting the body
only mercifully kills its victim quickly
or admits of speedy and complete cure, alco-
holism attacks and destroys body, mind and
moral character, and for its victim, once at
tackled, there is no remedy; more destructive
because the victim of the cholera affected in
body only is harmless as to others,
while alcoholism, attacking and de-
stroying the mind. renders its victim danger
ana menace to every person and every
interest leading him to destroy his own prop
erty, take the life of his best friend, murder
his innocent wife and children and to commit
any and every Crime found in the long
catalogue OF crimes; more destructive because
the effects OF the cholera stop at the grave or
at the cure Of its patient. while the
effects of alcoholism in a weakened BODY,
Initiated and enfeebled mentality and a
depraved moral character are transmitted from
parent to child from generation to generation.
Alcoholism, the scourge above all other
nr,lt lad .rls Oh, x~.al L.
stroys mind and character. the disease which
nils our cemeteries with drunkard's graves,
our almshouses with besotted paupers, our
asylums with raving maniacs, our penitentiaries
with criminSls convicted Of every crime and
our homes with the bowed heads of aged parents
bereft Of the natural support of their declining
years. Alcoholism receives no check OF him
drance from the authorities of nations, states or
municipalities, but on the contrary, is fostered
and encouraged by them. the places where the
deadly virus is kept are established and pro-
tected by municipal authority and the persons
who make, keep and scatter the cause Of this
disease are formally licensed to do so and
granted a monopoly in the business for a price,
for so many dollars paid into the treasury;
And whereas the Christian temperance peo-
pie OF the District of Columbia, those friends
of humanity who believe it is a crime for any
government to legalize the spreading of a
deadly disease or to sell the best interests of a
community for money, had. by long and hard
struggle and at great expense, secured the en-
actment of a law which rescued a small piece
Of land around the National Soldiers Home
from the presence Of the licensed saloon, and
the District Of Columbia had an officer in the
person of the Hon. Neill Dumont who was
willing and able to enforce the law;
And whereas the suit brought by this officer
against the violators Of the so-called ..ore-mile
limit law" have been dismissed and this officer
removed from Office just at a time when the
prosecutions were severely disturbing the de-
PENDANTS; therefore.
Resolved by the Grand Lodge of. the indie
pendent Order of Good Templars OF the Dis
trict of Columbia, That we have seen with
alarm the removal of the Hon. Neill Dumont
from the Office of assistant prosecuting at
circumstances which imply that the removal
was dictated by the liquor combination and in
the interests of open violators OF the law. and
we see in this evidence that the liquor
dealers and the executive officers Of the
District of Columbia are combined in
determination that no foothold shall be gained
for temperance and sobriety, and no spot of
ground. however small or sacred. shall be freed
from the domination Of the saloon and the
liquor interests;
Resolved, That We demand the honest and
faithful enforcement of the ''one-mile limit
law" according to the intentions of those who
framed and passed it, by all legal means and
that We appeal with all the force that
language can express to the powers that
create the offices and appoint the officers to ap-
point and maintain in Office such officers only
as will honestly and faithfully enforce all laws
made for the protection of our best interests
without fear or favor.