New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29

. SALVATION ARMY VIEW OF THE SALOON
To the Editor of The Tribune
sir. The saloon Is not a necessity. There Is To
need OF man that the saloon fills ms yer as"a
ton is evidence that the public cohsc'e"eo
he,ng prcked because OF the public to!era Uoh u
an awful evil that is daily perpetratlhe 'ne ms
horrible curse upon humanity. and especially upon
the workngman. and still more, cruelty treating
the innocent wife and children. Necessity "h!
BECAUSE there is money IN the business for those
who fatten upon the lfeblood sapped lro'i 'No
vtals OF the toilers OF our land. and ms money
interest simply purchases the privilege ior V"e So
loon 10 exist for the further gain OF It's promoters
The curse the blighting. devastating curse Oh '"e
saloon cannot be hidden BY the assertion mat ,he
saloon is the workingman's club. II 1t Is his CLUB
Il is used only by him 10 brain MS VIE anu o'"I
all the 10Y hope and honor from the hearts ana
lives Of his Offspring who have a right by the
sacredness Of birth 70 the sheterng care ana pro-
lection Of father IN the fun control OF his senses
and OF the home fellowship of faithful parents.
The saloon robs them Of this enjoyment.
The saloon is not philanthrop.c. It does not exist
for the sake OF providing social relaxation for the
weary Any association It 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 rinched poverty.
and from the more trying necessity OF wearing
poor II not ragged clothes. and from the narrowing
necessity Of eating hardened crusts, while the sa-
lOCnkeepers wife and children reNel IN theF purple
and fine linen and fare sumptuously every day
A necessity? An institution that robs the Nation
OF over 81 10000 year. sends 10000 drunkards
10 their graves. makes 5000 orphans, 1000 widows.
causes 1000 suicides q loss 70 the Nation Of $1,000.
90 through fire and violence, and causes parents
under s deadly. surveying influences 10 overlap
$50 little Innocent infants every time we count
ffty-twC Saturday nights In the United states, and
IS the OF per cent OF all crimes.
A necessity? Never Revolution moves slowly
but Just as surely the shines just 30 surely
is public opinion closing H. on the saloon. You
may not see II, and / may not. but what does not
happen in hundred years happens in day, and
some day-and that day is not far distant, either
the tide Of sentiment will be aroused against the
saloon and dstillery. because OF the constant men,
ace to society. and this fearful institution will be
lifted from cur body polite and dropped 10 the
nethermost hell
! desire TO have 1t clearly understood that the
foregoing Is not in any way intended as a crltl-
cisIn OF the remarks OF Bishop Potter. consider
that all far-minded men well know that many
criticisms OF the Bishops remarks have been cru
ely unfair. The proper Intended meaning Of his
remarks was distorted Bishop Potter evidently
had no intention Of indorsing the saloon as a ne
cessity in itself but rather intended his remarks
to be rebuke TO the professed friends OF humanity
and the morals OF the people whose duty II Is 10
restrict the saloon and TO provide places OF re-
spectacle resort for the aboring man
WILLIAM BREWER
Edtor-in Chief Of the Salvation Army Publca-
tons Of the United States
New-York Jan. q. 1890.