The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-08-12
FROM ARCHBISHOP IRELAND.
A Tremendous Indictment Against th,
LegaIized Drink Traffic OF America

At the very threshold of the labor
question comes this temperance
question.
Ii is fearful to think of il, but in
this nation of the United States over
81 ,OOO, 900, 600 annually is spent in
the direct traffic of intoxicating
liquors, besides its oeing the direct
cause of the waste of much more
money.
Men are unable to work because
of injury done to their appetites by
drink.
Time is absorved in drinking and
the country's resources are scattered
to the wind.
1t woulu be much better if the
money given to drink were taken
and cast into the lake
At least il would then leave be-
hind it no harm.
But here, in this beginning Of the
twentieth century in civilization,
we are taking the riches Of the
country and using them to pur
chase tears, mourning and misery.
We are using them So that our
families will be demoralized, so that
the very social fabric will be en-
dangered.
And not only this, but we sit
still.
We look on-we Christians, we
who have an interest in the country
and humanity-and we see the
prmies Of the liquor interests form
ing in serried rank defying their
fellow men, defying even the very
nation.
L. il not a shame and disgrace
that in any civilized Christian COM
munitv laws are made and guar ded
sacredly or the statute books, and
yet the liquor interests throughout
the Country are able to lsugh these
laws to scorn and TO say to other
interests:
"Observe these laws as you will.
ave, the liquor deale.s, are
above law"
And yet, say what will, this is
the case in many places.
1t is danger for the whole ma
ton.
What are we coming to? we may
well ask in wonderment.
l. it possible that this nation. for
the life and preservation of which
we have shed our blood on hattle-
fields, is 10 be dominated and ruled
by the abettors Of intemperance?
They beseige our municipal coun
ell halls, our State and National
Legislatures.
They make no secrecy about 1t.
They nave their organization in
every city, in every village, through
out every township in the land.
They collect large sums of money
for the purpose Of extending and
fortifying their cause.
They control our elections.
Isit not true to-day III free Amer
lea, in the country Of liberty par
that acandidate fol pub
lie office and public favor is COM
PEELED, if he wishes to succeed, to
come and worship at the shrine of
vile whisky and vile wineg
Is it not true that numbers OF our
legislators confess that they ought
to vote for laws for suppressing the
liquor trafli, and to vote for the en-
iorcement of such Jaws when passed,
and yet in veriest shame say that
they cannot endanger their political
prospects.
They know that when they turn
from the halls of legislation to their
they would have united
against them the liquor interests
and that their political fate would
be sealed.
Is il not fearful that, whatever
may be the laws for closing the sa-
looms on Sunday, they open in
spite of those laws and mock you
and call you fanatics?
They care not for you, they say
they are your masters.
Ten Just men would have saved
Sodom from destruction; few
hundred jealous moral heroes in
America will save the nation.
And why?
Because a soul of fire spreads
abroad the sacred contagion OF fire.
Virtue there is in each, we think
love Of church and love Of country.
There are millions in America
who, if the fact Of the national de-
gradation from intemperance were
brought home to them, would arise
as Americans did arise when the
papuhl;c was in danger and saw.