The morning times., 1896-11-23
DISPENSARY SYSTEM.
DIR. Kent Thinks 1t the Only
Practical Reform.

1.-THE dlspensay sySteui-puints out
the only practical direction in which temper
ance reform can he successfully accom-
lishcd in this country for number Of gem
erations,' was the summary of Rev. Dr.
Alexander Kent's address Yesterday MORN
ing in the Peoples Church In discussing
the Saloon Question
DR. Kent chose no Scriptural text for his
discourse, but mt once launched out into
broad discussion Of the subject covering
all the various phases Of the liquor robleu,
the saloon and its relations TO society.
However widely good people may diff
fer-and they doiiffer -astothcadvisa ability
ni pToHIbIt"rE !c:lsIaJIDu, EdiH Iyr. Kent,
1T would seem impossible that there should
be any variance % OpinIrn IN regard to the
lnadvlsa hility OF the saloon. Even If IL
he CUhIrued that there ~ "a need for H.
toXicating liquors, the saloon has no public
utility, II answers no good purpose, and
has no claim upon society for protection
in its business. Ii meets no need even pr
its patrons, on the contrary II creates needs
which all the organizations uf society are
not able to fulfill
nc evit> aIring from the influences
of the Sa!cnn coupled with the Imperfect
social system are what threatens the ex-
lStenCe OF the rCpuhli do not say this
in a narrow ur Purtancal point of view,
for believe there IL room for any inStitu-
women more womenly, and which will open
up new sources uf enjoyment and pleasure
but the Influences of the saloon are to
quicken the lower and baser impulses, il
never elcvates. 1t gives dominance To the
sensual, and subostlinates the higher motives
and purposes. The whole atmosphere of
the saloon tends TO excessive Indulgence
Drinking creates anappetite for that which
IL feeds ~
In cnumerating some Of the evils of the
saloon. without reviewing thc disastrous
effects of strong drink which were every
where apparent, Dr. Kent alluded to the
practice so much IN vogue in tins country
of what is known a> treating and said
that the allureneuts the environments
aud attractions II iic saloon Were whit
produced the more drnlorLliZing influences
especially upon the young lie reviewed
the laws whch At present ARE upon the
statute books in the fiiStFict of Columbia
regulating the sale OF liquor. and implurcd
the alert citizen 60 take notice that the
restrictions wcrcsiivsd up to and thus
aid the authorities in infUrcing the excise
laws
In that manner the number of saloons in
the District might be reduced fifty per
cent though he did not believe in cstab-
fishing the respectable, or what some
people are pleased In call the respect Il bic
saloon, and giving them a monopoly of the
liquor business. The Influences of re
Specialize place wcrc-morc disastrous to
the young men, and vastly more dangerou,
than the low-duwn frog shop. What was
needed WAS 10 abolish the saloon alto
EetheI.
But is il practicalo" he inquired. Alb
SOlute prohibition Is at least many years
remote. Liquor, If sold at all, should he
sold the same as groceries and provisions
There should he no amusemcntS, no ac-
inf no oil n,ts. al. 81.
saleSroom. With these attractions taken
away the influence of the saloon would
largely disappear, and the evils would lie
only the result of drink itself, and not
from the surroundings of the saloon. whose
business would greatly diminish if its
surroundings We're removed
Speaking of the Gothenburg system Dr.
Kent said that while it had worked favor
ably largely in tie old country. he did
not believe il would be successful or would
result satisfactorily here. People We're too
anxious to make money, and had always
evadcd any Jaw which set "A limit upon
their profits.
The dispensary system, that instituted
by Gov. Tillman of South Carolina,
seems 10 be the only practical remedy
now at hand to abolish the saloon" he con
tinued. by il personal profit is impos-
sible. Pure articles are guaranteed, if
that I've of any good, and there is no Qu:s-
tion but that the adult:ration of liquors
is a great injury to the consumer. The pa
tron is assured full measure, but this ar
guInent is subject to the same criticism ms
the former one but it guarantees honesty
even in dealing with whisky. Treating
and the evils consequent are largely ub-
waited The places where the liQour is
Sold are closed at night, and about them
there are none of the concomitants of ice
lemons, sugar and the like, which 60 10
make up mixed drinks. There are none of
the enticemcnts of the saloon, no place to
lounge about. no place for hangers on
Liquor is only sold for cash: there is no
trust, no 'chalking up
There are no gambling dcus, pool rooms
or other places Of amusement in connection
with these dispcnsarics and which ar.
largely productive of crime. The whisky
rings in South Carolina have been broken
up and the influence of the barkccpcr in
politics is destroyed. 1t seems to me that
prohihitionists should indorse GOV. Till
mans plan as a means leading up To their
ideal. Its only defect under present CON
ditlons, it seems to me, is that it is a source
of state revenue, which might tend to ma Se
il perpetual if IL large rcccnue is derived,
where Il direct tax would be a much better
means of affordiug revenue. But its adop.
ton as a means of revenue was, it seems,
necessary. Other States in adopting the
system might avoid it.
The saloon in politics is a question
which those who believe in popular gov
ernment have cot face. Complete nation
alization, covering merely the expenses
incident. making drunkenness a crime
in itself instead as an excuse for crime.
the dealing with rich violators as with
the tramp or mechanic, would eradicate
many evils and accomplish many favorable
results.