Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-07
w. c. r.U. COLUMN.
NFor God and Home and Every Land. )


After long period of evasion DR.
l'arkhurst has at last defined his posi-
tlon the question of Sunday saloons. Ir
carefully prepared statement made
before the New York Chamber of Com.
| merce Excise Committee on the 7tt
INST, and given to the press the next
day. he says:
The poor man should not on ac-
count of his poverty, be denied com
forts that are allowed to rich men al
hotels, clubs and similar resorts We
must either exclude rich men from,
these Sunday privileges or give the
poor man an equal chance.
II am in favor of the sale of beer.
ale and light wines on Sunday as an
accompaniment of an honest meal.
honestly furnished and honestly oaid
for. draw the line at whiskey and
spirits. believe, also, in providing
for the people who cannot go to res
taurants. but must eat their Sunday
meals at home. 1 belize in opening
respectable saloons at certain hours OF,
Sunday To enable these people to our
chase beer and light wines to be aiken
away from the premises The prrpo-
sition of the German American Reform
Union, from II until and from until
s +. Nj. on Sunday, conforms With my
ideas.
Il do not think there is any prospect
of referendum this winter. | do lot
think the present legislature will take
| one step towards opening New ,rls
Saloons on Sunday. But if making
reasonable concessions to our German
citizens on this excise matter will gain.
| us their support in crushing out TAM
many. | am in favor of granting
| them"
| Why this discrimination of Dr. Park
hurst in favor of beer. ale and light
vines as if they were harmless bever-
| ages? He has no excuse for being
ignorant of the history of discrimina-
| lions in favor of these lighter alcoholic
beverages. 1t is the universal expert
ence that these lighter drinks are the
great tempters of the young. the inno-
cent and ignorant. They have never act
| ed as a substitute for distilled liquors.
| but in multitudes of cases have pro-
NOTED vice ami intemperance. The
records of prisons intirmares and
other institutions show that the vast
| majority of the inmates began their
careers of intemperance as beer OF
| wine drinkers DIR. Parkhursts posi-
| ton would have been just as tenabc
| if he had declared in favor of the sale
| of whisky, gin and rum on Sunday.
and he deserves no consideration for
| the discrimination which he makes.
| The public has long been aware of
| the anxiety of the liquor dealers and
| their allies that the poor man at all
| times-Sunday included-should be able
| to get his grog. Their solicitude in his
behalf would be pathetic, indeed. We're
not its selfishness so transparent. 1t
| does not seem to us that there is a per-
| son obtusc enough not to comprehend
| their purposes. From beginning to end
| this saloon argument has been simply
a demagogic appeal to class prejudices
| in order to secure the poor mans vote
for legislation that would enable them
to more effectually rob him. Daniel
Webster once declared that, Whoever
has the Wickedness to conceive and the
hardihood to avoW, a purpose to break
down what has been found
essential to the protection of all inter
csts. by arraying one class against
another. and by acting on such a prin
ciple as that the poor always hate the
rich. shows himself the reckless enemy
Of all. An enemy to his whole country,
to all classes and to every man in it, he
deserves to be marked especially as the
poor mans curse" These words are
just as applicable to the present issue
as they were to the question under dis
cussion a half century ago For the
liquor dealers or for Dr. Parkhurst to
endeavor to obtain support for saloon
legislation by appeals direct or Indirect
to the ignorant prejudices of the lower
classes in rum-ridden New York, is a
moral crime. No man can use such |
methods and escape the just verdict of
being IAN enemy to his whole country. |
To all classes and to every man in it."
But fortunately for the public and
unfortunately for DR.. Parkhurst the
motive for this pronunciamento is |
clearly stated: But if making reason |
able concessions to our German citi |
zens on this excise matter will gain us
their support in crushing cut Tam |
many. | am in favor of granting them"
Was a compromises deal-a bar |
Sain--an unholy alliance ever more APP |
parent? DR.. Parkhurst is making sim |
ply an ordinary corrupt political trade |
"A Sunday saloon law for the east
side, poverty stricken. German beer |
vote. If such deals are reprehensible |
in the saloon bred Tammany politician, |
they are much more so in a man of |
Dr. Parkhursts intelligence and envi |
ronment There has not been case |
more deserving of righteous indigna |
ton since Daniel Webster disgraced |
himself by his surrender to the slave |
power.
Unless Dr. Parkhurst changes his |
position his usefulness is DESTROYED AT |
this moment he is doing the cause of |
municipal reform and especial anti |
saloon legislation great harm. We say |
this with regret, for DR.. Parkhurst has |
done much for reform and in him has |
been centered the confidence and hope |
of many.
A Black Record.
Mrs. Helen NJ. Cougar gives special
attention to the crime and financial |
phases of the liquor traffic. She en-
gagged the Chicago Press Clipping |
aJi h.