The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-12-01
The Better Way.

The Voice-we mean the prohibition
party Voice-is in despair of its party
methods and we'll it may be, of being able
to destroy the saloon. and says:
'We are subject 10 WEAKNESS and dis
couragement and dependency inst as any
body else is, and we venture 10 speak in
behalf of prohihitionisls in general when we
say that if there is some easier and quicker
way than ours of solving this problem
(so-called) we are ready and willing to drop
our way at once for this better way"
This declaration suggests the question,
"What is the way ofthe Prohibition party?"
1t is simply to "down the saloon" In
order to down" any result the cause must
he found and removed. The Prohibition
party has never sought for the cause of the
saloon and the drink evil. If anything else
is proposed than down the saloon" the
party objects. They are now urging the
committee of Ways and Means-at least the
daily papers SO report-to increase the tax
on liquors. This is TO increase the power of
the liquor monopoly and strengthen the
saloon. The saloon was established in the
old countries by the arts ocratic and monar-
chial classes, mainly for the purpose of
weakening the power of the lower strata of
society. This it has effectnally done. Had
II not been for the saloon-lhe alcoholic
drinking custom--it is doubtful if there
would now be throne in all Europe. The
saloon was transplanted in America by that
same class-the monopoly class, the ey-
plotting class-for the same purpose it was
conceived and encouraged in the old coun-
tries, to strengthen the power of the gov
erning class by debasing the laboring
millions to divert their mind from the
vampires which preyed upon them. The
saloon will never be destroyed in this or any
other country while government makes the
liquor business a source of its revenue
Government is bound to protect the sources
from which it derives its revenue, and there
is nothing else will maintain the liquor
monopoly except the tax it pays for govern
ment protection. The monopoly, class
government which has this nation and
people by the throat must be destroyed
before the saloon can be even slightly
injured. Twenty years ofProhibition party
effort on the lines it is trying to advance,
with the dismal results achieved ouqM to
convince all rational people that the way to
abolish the saloon is not by its front door.
The four principal monopolies which hold
possession Of the government must first be
destroyed, before their principal weapon
can be broken, which is the saloon. These
four monopolies are the monopoly of the
money of the country, the transportation
monopoly. the telegraph Including all
the electric collateral banches), and land
lord CT land monopoly. These monopolies
use the saloon TO fill every departm mt
State and Nationalist the law.makips
power and its administration with their
tools. They work from the district primary
up TO the Presidential chair with the saloon
The Senate and the House of the U. S
Congress are overrun with drinking men,
bers, many of them drunkards. The
President and some of the members Of
Cabinet are habitual drinkers, and if Wash
ington gossip is true, little more than thai
And now, Prohibition party men and
women "a noble self sacrificing band-and
friend Voice, these are facts there ia nc
getting away from. The liquor monopol,
and saioon-which is its oullet-sre estah
lished and sustained by the giant monnpo
lies which hold the nation and people BY
the throat, for the purpose we have pointed
out.
To make the destruction of these monop
olies the main object of attack, the ''dom
lnant issue" is the "helter way" inquired
for. Are you ready and willing to droI
> our way at once for this better way"? Tn,
" answer will be, mol Ephraim is Joined I,
his idols. Let him alone.