The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-06-16
"The Dominant Issue. y


Under this, caption will be found on our
fourth page we'll considered article from
The Voice, prohibition organ, which is
worthy careful reading and still more
careful consideration. The point attempted
10 be made by the Voice is, that the saloon
rises to the dignity of an "issue." If the
Voice will reflect moment the error of this
conclusion will be apparent. The saloon is
political tool, in the hands Of inscriptions
classes who use it to achieve political ends
which are altogether vicious.
"1He liquor traffic is in control ofthese chan
nel8 Of legislation" says the Voice. True, but
who is in control of the liquor traffic, or
saloon? The saloon has become the chief
instrumentality to uphold our present class
system of government. 1t may be likened
10 system of batteries planted at strategic
points by strongly entrenched defending
army. An army SO situated as to be able to
control the whole country with every APP
proach defended by strongly masked bat
terles. Such an armed power could levy
kribute on the whole nation at will, and
successfully resist every attack.
This is exactly the condition of the
United States to-day. The entire control of
the country, national and state governments
is in the hands of corporations, and the
Emperor to whom-so 10 speak-all those
mighty corporations acknowledge allegiance
is the money power-the comparatively few
men who control the great debts ofthe world
and the gold of the world. This constitutes
the money power" These corporations
levy tribute on Tie people through every
avenue of production and exchange, and the
money power exacts tribute from corpora
lions and people.
The saloon is the chief instrument used
by this specially favored class in holding its
power over the people and controlling the
government. The saloon therefore is not an
issue in the contest; no more than park Of
artillery is the issue pending great battle
It is simply tool in the hands ofthe enemy
by which he works great havoc and destruc.
ton on the community in the resistance
made to hold this usurped supremacy. The
saloon is put into the hands of low in
morals, vicious class whose work is merely
the manipulating Of these political batteries.
The profit this class can make out of the
business is rich return in dollars for the
work expended, while their conscience
troubles them for the obstruction they cause
NO more than does that Of the artillery
mans.
The frantic efforts of the more bigoted
element of the prohibition party made
against the saloon, and their frothy denun-
clation of every worker who refuses 10 take
their ipse dirt for guide in the work Of
getting rid of the saloon, is senseless.
After warfare of half a century against
the saloon, its enemies stand utterly batiled,
while saloons have grown more numerous,
more arrogant, more powerful and more
aggressive than ever, and virtually say to
the prohibition enemy: "We exist not by
right but by power. What are you going
40 do about it?" Old methods have failed
utterly and people whose zeal is tempered
with Judgment, haye come TO the conclusion
that other means must be employed. The
able general reasons-if those batteries are
taken the enemy is defeated. They are
impregnable to attack in front. If'the source
of their supply is cut IF the guns will be
.silenced.
This reasoning exactly applies TO the
saloon. 1t buys its charter from the Slate
Let the State retain that power in its own
hands, and monopolize the liquor business.
1t can then control the business. This move
rneat breaks up the saloon. The liquor
dispenser is no longer taken from the lowest
strata of society, and the only limit to his
perquisites, the quantity of liquor he is able
so sell. But the business is placed in the
hands of responsible, saiaried officer,
whose purpose rather would be to diminish
the volume OF trade. The great point gained
is the saloon is destroyed utterly, and this
power is wiped ont. This instrument-the
saloon-of class legislation and weapon
used by the enemy of the masses of people,
by placing the liquor that is TO be sold in
the hands of State officials, is completely
destroyed. This would be tremendous
gain to the friends of honest government and
pprer politics.
But the Voice is mistaken 10 terming the
saloon an tissue" The issue will still
remain after the saloon has been destroyed.
The monopoly of money, the tool of COM
meros and productive industry, together
es ith corporate control OF the government,
is the great Issue. The destruction OF
dangerous TOOL OF weapoS. used by "a schem-
ing, uuscrupaious class, but no Issue proper
baI been touched. The way has been
cleared TO make formidable attack upon
the waee,slave master of the age. That
power is the issue" we are face to face