The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-07-05
w. c. U. COLUMN
CONDUCTED By MRS. NJ. l.. HOBBS.
Terrible Charge Against the Drink
Traffic.

There l. an increasing and sue
:es>ful determination to extend the
saloon power in tins country. Sa-
looms are multiplying, notwith'
standing the public indignation
which at times bursts into flame
The saloons in America are respon-
sible for
Eighty per cent. of crime and o.
all public expenses resulting.
Ninety per cent. Ct pauperlsn
and Of all public expenses resulting
Fifty per cent. of insanity and oi
all public expenses resulting.
Thirty five per cent. OF idiocy
and Of all public expenses resulting
These estimates are not guess
work, but are based upon the te,tl-
mony of such experts as Judge
Noah Davis and DR.. Willard Parker.
At low estimate $3.50, 900 ,OOC
are spent annually in the OO,Vl
saloons of America, as may he eaSi'
ly computed. averaging only $40 4
day as the receipts for each saloon
for 800 days per year. Not less
than $4O0, 900 900 of this amount
is spent by workingmen, according
to Powderly and other labor lead
ers. The misery and depravity
that is resulting from this immense
waste is simply incalculable. A.
Canon Farrar said in reference t.
the saloon evil in England:
1T has come to this: England
must in this matter mend her ways
she must get rid of this curse and
crime, or she must ultimately per
ish. y
No one will accuse Canon Farral
of fanaticism. What he says OF
England will apply, with scarcely
any abatement Of force, to America.
Said the New York Tribune some
time ago, with courage all too rare
in its columns and in the columns
oil other secular papers:
This traffic lies at the center o
all political and social mischief
paralyzes energies in every dlrec
tion, it neutralizes educationa
agencies, it silences the ice OF re-
ligion, it battles penal reform, il OBJ
structs political REFORM
What can. be done? Will the
churches of this nation be silent il
the presence of such an appalling
and growing evil? How can the
churches arouse the sleeping con
science of the public to energetic
aggressive, decisive action? Once
aroused, public sentiment will prove
omnipotent. BY persistent and lu
dicious efforts on the part Of thu
churches it can be aroused.
Clergymen permit Us 10 urge up
ou YOU the following suggestive
thoughts:
First-The saloon power is q
gantic conspiracy of ignorance anc
greed. We can help overcome il
bv intelligent, educative agitation
along the lines Of both clear sighted
selfshness and Of christian charity
Second-Now is an excellent
time for the clergy to confer with
one another and talk plainly to theil
! people. BY and by the dust and
smoke Of the coming political con
tests will make il much more dlfii.
cult to see clearly.
\ Third-The cry Of distress that is
going up from every block almost II
our cities and from almost every
township iu the country, of families
made wretched by the terrible drink
evil, should nerve to action, and SC
should the despairing cry Of hun
| dreds Of drunkards in our midst
who are to-day utterly helpless
actually helpless, (for, as one OF ou1
most eminent physicians has said
alcohol is solvent of the wilD
helpless in the presence OF open sa
lOODs ever l1CItdsitiS iti atti'Nt'N
ness and in number--a cry like
that Of Millions fallen spirit
And in tile lowest deep. "A lower still.
That threatens to dcvonr me. opens vide
Said a member Of parliament il
the presence of Burke, England
will stand until the day OF judg
ment." Burke replied, "What
fear for England is the day Of nc
Judgment. 1t will be fata
course to stand by until the saloor
has debauched judgment and con
science. Let us earnestly, bravel,
search to-day for the remedy, anc
apply that remedy as rapidly as I
is revealed to Us.
-. 80
II is generally the man who car
least afford the cost who has III,
reddest nose.