Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-11
The Worlds Fair a. q Rumshop.

The great Worlds Fair is to 60 into the
liquor business. The products Of the vat
and the still are to be sold by the side Of
those Of the mill and the loom, and the
visitor will not need to 60 into disreputa-
BILE and dangerous places to study the re-
suits Of the American saloon.
These results are to be displayed on the
Fair ground and schooners Of lager, po-
MES Of brandy, glasses Of whiskey and
bottles Of wine are to be dealt out As free
ly As cups Of coffee or tea, and glasses Of
milk or lemonade. The local directory Of
the Fair has decided that the government
OF the United States, and Of every state
and territory. shall thus go into the liq-
uor business.
The Fair is to go into the liquor business
for the profit there is In 1t. This Is the
reason that BILLY" McGlory and every
other keeper Of "dive." or rumshop, or
beer saloon 90 into it. 1t is not because
the business is necessary, or desirable, or
helpful, or reputable Z; but because il pays.
That is why the Worlds Fair is to 20 into
it. 1t wants the money that liquor dealers
will pay for the privilege that comes from
carrying on this disreputable business on
the Fair grounds.
The Fair is to go into the business as
drunkard-maker. The liquors which are
to be offered under its auspices are those
which make every saloon an enemy Of hu-
man kind. Under the sanction Of the d.
rectors they will have on the Fair grounds
the same fell power over body and BRAIN
over manly virtue, noble aspirations and
human impulses as In the corner groggery
Because such are the inevitable results Of
the liquor business, 1t is everywhere brand
ed As infamous. The Fair is,to be special
patron of this infamous business.
The Fair wants share Of the revenue
Of this infamous business for its large
expenses. For PHYS sake is this country
so poor that it cannot hold a great Fair
without calling in the saloon keeper to
| 5000 600, Chicago has given SIC. 900, 900,
the States have appropriated millions
more, gate money Is to be collected, other
sources Of income are available-is 1t pos
sible we cannot scrape enough together
for expenses without taking blood money.
or turning our one weekly sacred rest day
into day Of trafilc9 Congress is to be
asked for more! Why not ask it for
enough to cover the cost?
The Fair is to be a Worlds Fair; it Is to
be magnificent exhibit of the products
and inventions Of civilization; it is TO be q
celebration by the two hemispheres of
the discovery of this continent; it
is to be demonstration Of the pro-
gress Of man; it is TO give also a repre-
| sentatlon of the benetlcent effects of sdu-
cation and religion. In the name OF com
mon humanity cannot q great and wealthy,
not to say moral and christian, nation Of
81, 900 900 pay the expenses of such an en-
terprise without the help of the beer bot
| tie and the rum cask? II we cannot we
| ought to hide our humiliation In the rags
Of our poverty, and beg the world to look
some other way. IL We can raise it, II we
can raise hundred millions, il necessary.
to make the Fair success. in common
deceney. let US drop the liquor business.
Editorial from ~ Y Independent.
Jan. 2eth, 1892.