The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-03-08
The Saloon Not a Necessity.

To the Editor-Slr: The saloon is not n
necessity, There Is no need OF man that
the saloon fllls. This very agitation is evil
dence that the peoples conscience is being
pricked because OF the public federation OF
nm awful evil that Is daily perpetrating the
most horrible curse upon humanity, and
specially upon the workingman, ard still
more, cruelty treating the innocent wife
and children.
Necessity? Why? Because there Is
money In the business, money for those
who fatten upon tho lifeblood sapped from
the vitals OF the toilers OF our land, and
this selfish interest simply purchases the
privilege for the saloon to exist for the
further gain OF its promoters. The curse,
the blighting, devastating curse Of the sa-
loon cannot be hidden by the assertion that
the saloon is the workingman's club. II 1t
Is his club, It is used only by him to brain
his wife and beat all the joy, hope aud
honor from the hearts and lives of his or
spring, who have right by the sacredness
OF birth to the sheltering care aud protec-
tion OF father in the full control OF his
senses, and OF the home fellowship OF faith
full parents. Tho saloon robs them OF this
enjoyment.
The saloon is not phllanthroplc. 1t does
not exist for the sake OF providing social
relaxation for the weary. Any association
1t affords only serves its deadly purpose
the more. The wife and children need not
only social relaxation, but relaxation from
disgrace and dishonor, abuse and pnched
poverty. and from the more trying neces-
sity OF wearing poor II not ragged clothes,
and from the narrowing necessity OF eating
hardened crusts while the saloon keepers
wife and children revel in their purple and
fine linen and fare sumptuously every day.
A necessity An institution necessity
that robs the nation OF over billion year,
sends 100, 900 drunkards to their graves,
makes so 900 orphans, 20, 900 widows, causes
1000 suicides, a loss to the nation OF Sl0,-
900, 900 through fire and violence, and
causes parents under Its deadly, Supplying
influences to overlay 25OO little innocent
children every time we count hity-two
Saturday nights In the United States and IL
the cause OF ninety-seven per cent. OF all
crimesl
A necessity? Neverl Revolution moves
slowly. but just as sure as the sun shines,
Just so surely is public opinion closing in
on the saloon. You may not see It and l
may not, but what sometimes will not hap
pen in 100 years happens In day, and some
lay, and that day is not so far distant
either, the tide OF sentiment will be
aroused against the saloon and distillery,
because of their constant menace to So
,lety, and this fearful institution will be
fitted from our body polite and dropped to
.he nethermost hell.
Until then, welcome, thrice welcome. to
any agency that has for its purpose tho
iessening OF intemperance, whether it bo
through the coffee wagon, the mercy seat
Or the ballot box. But hail to the glad day
when 1t shall be no more
desire to have 1t clearly understood that
the foregoing is not In any way intended as
A criticism to the remarks Of Bishop Potter.
regard his remarks as intended to be a re-
Duke to the professed friends of humanity
and the morals of the people whose duty it
Is to restrict the saloon and to provide
places of respectable resort for the laboring
man. WILLIAM BREWER.
Editor-in- Chief OF Salvation Army Publica-
tions in the United States.