The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-29

AT. du1HOTLu DEnQleG the uQuDT
traffic without gloves. He pronounced iE a
damnab,e. disreputable business, and every
liquor dealer. ne said, should be ostracised
from society. 1T is a cruel business" sid
he, more cruel than the fiends OF hell
themselves"
Mr. Wsdsworth held up to ridicule the
punishment by law Of the poor drunkard.
Tine law said be, "llcenses the traffic to
tempt man and break down his will, and
because the poor unfortunate drinks what
the law licenses be is taken W and pun
ished. The drunkard. as DR.. StebbinS has
said. is the ripe aud rotten fruit Of the
liquor traffic"
Mr.. Wadsworth compared saloonkeepsrs
TO the wreokeFs who, with fires
in stormy weather, attract the mariner 90
the shore for the purpose OF plumber.
They hang cut the red light" said he, land
with their music and other attractions
allure the poor. weak victim into their
places and feed 10 him the stuff which pur-
sues his brain and drags him down."
AN ORGANIZED INTEREST.
Mr.. Wadsworth said that the liquor traffic
bes one OF the most thorough organizations
in the country and one Of the most power
full lobbies at Washington. When the farm
ers gathered together. he said, and agreed
upon the sub-treasury plan and
asked the general government 20
smart men of the cities cried the
idea down and only one. Hon. Thomas NJ.
Norwood of Savannah had cnampionsd the
cause Of the farmer. But" said Mr..
Wadsworth, years ago congress did for
the liquor traffic exactly what the farmers
now ask for 1t gave it bonded warehouses
to store its liquor until wanted to be
shipped to the poor heather inhabitants of
the South Sea islands and other places,
carrying damnation to them. While cotton
goes down in price whisky stays at the top.n
Mr.. Wadsworth spoke at length OF the
increased consumption of liquor in the
world, which, he said, is seven times greater
than the increase IL population.
The social custom OF giving wine TO CAL
lers came IN for its share OF attention.
THE SOCIAL GLASS.
Mr.. Wadsworth said no one has more re-
spect for the beauty of southern woman
hood than he, and he is sorry to know that
not only do many Of them offer iutoxicauts
TO their gentleman friends in their homes,
but also drink with them. docs it require
the giving TO men Of wine 10 attract them
TO the beauty Of women P asked the speaker.
Mr.. Wadsworth wished some oae would
have the courage to break through this Gus
tom OF having vine at receptions and mar
riaRes. MANY father, said he, starts
to ruin the man to whom he has intrusted
suo hAO VI us Q1ukuk6T RlfllR nun III
toxlcants at the marriage"
Mr.. Wadsworth evidently doesn't believe
in society" For long time" said he,
II have been trying to find out what con-
stitutes society. Blood don't make IL, be-
cause there is as good blood outside the pale
as any within 1t. Not money, because
there are as many fortunes owned by OUT
siders as by society people. am certain 10
isn't brains, because there are fully as many
nfIEQida a a in ~ ha - Z.
composed of parvenues who, in many cases,
live BY their wits ends.
A DIAGNOSIS OF SOCIETY.
According to my diagnosis of society, it
is composed Of four tnings-the cutaway
coat Of the man al the bottom, the cutaway
dress of the woman at the top, cards and
liquor. Look into it, and you will see that
this mostly constitutes society"
Mr.. Wadsworth next opened uu his local
warfare. II believe, ne said NJ stand to-
night in the home OF artillery punch.
have several friends In the Georgia press
who have made trips 20 Tybee, aud they
have told me that Chatham Arslilery punch
looks as deceptive as commencement lem
onade, but that three tablespoons
fuls OF it to person not
used to liquor. is warranted t.
put him under a table, and do it every
time without fall" There were several
members Of the Chatham Artillery in the
congregation. and they smiled at Mr. Wads-
Worths tribute to the famous concoction.
SAVANNAH THROTTLED.
Mr.. Wadsworth said that liquor has Sa-
vannah by the throat. There are in the
city 3l2 retail saloons and IS wholesale
houses. This, according to the reverend
Renteman's figuring, gives l liquor dealer
TO every 25 voters. The saloons are every
where in this city, said Mr.. W6dsworth.
They are in the residence portion as well
as the business portion. There is no LIQUOR
limit in acknowledgements is the limit.
Nearly every little grocery sells liquor and
l understand there is as much liquor sold az
groceries. This shows that Savannah is
keeping up with the statistics Of the bal
ance of the county. The grace of God il
certainly wanted here"
Mr.. Wadsworth complimented Mayor
McDonough very highly for lis efforts to
break up the Sunday traffic. "I have
nothing but kind words for your mayor"
said the speaker. "God bless MIN. He is
the only mayor Savannah has had in many
years who had the courage TO try to do any
thing to rescue Sunday from the evil.
Forty-two cases have been brought before
him since lie came into office | understand.
and nearly all of the offenders punished.
TTCKLER FOR THE ALDERMEN.
"But you have peculiar law here. Your
city council votes on these fines and gives
them back quite often. The aldermen say:
%, there Isn't sufficient evidence for us to
convict but that isn't what it means 1t
means connlvauce with the liquor traffic.
which sang 10 the air of the doxologY
means, Praise TO the devil from whom all
evils tiow.n
THE fact of the matter is. that there is
not moral sentiment enough in council 70
uphold the hands of a mayor who is trying
to rescue your Sunday from great evil"
Last Saturday night" said Mr.. Wads-
worth, 400 men were counted going into
one saloon in ~ hours, 200 into another.
200 in one hour, and into three other saloons
IN the same time ll5, 90 and 60 respectively.
making total of $50 in five saloons out OF
3l2 Gods church Is certainly needed in
Savannah
The liquor cause, " continued Mr.. Wads-
worth, "has the military of Savannah by
the throat. This is the orr xinal home Of the
chivalric soldiery of Georgia. Here they
run barrooms. 1t is q nice business for
soldiers TO be engaged in.
AwHACK AT TIE CLUBS.
"Then you have one club with its 800
members, composed of the repre-
sentative men OF the city, pro-
fessonal and business men. l point
to the records Of the internal revenue office
for the record OF that club. You'll find it
there plainly written that it is licensed by
the government 20 carry on a saloon bust
ness, for which it pays TO Uncle Sam S25
per year. 1t runs free saloon-a Sunday
saloon, too. The representative men
won't risk going TO Sing Sing