The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-02-21
THE RUM TRAFFIC.
A Strong Arrangement of the Infs-
nous Business by the New
York Tribune.

AOuS ny the We"
York Tribune.
A trade which fiourishes upon the
ruins of its supporters, which derives
its revenues from its plumber of homes
and from the defrauding of helpless
childhood, from the degradation of
manhood; which requires for its
prosperity the injury of the commun-
ity; which ministers to every vile and
vicious passion and propensity, which
makes drunkards, and thieves, and
embezzlers, and gamblers, and wife
beaters, and murderers; which brut-
allies and degrades all who are
claim the respect. and assuredly
odght not TO be able to claim the en-
enlargement of the community.
1t indeed indicates the extent of
the prevalent decentralization that a
business SO inherently infamous, so
unquestionably against public policy,
should have been permitted to estab-
fish itself so firmly that those who
pursue it are convinced, not only
that it is legitimate, but that it is
entitled to protection and respect"
But upon what ground do these bold
claims rest?
What constitutes a legitimate, re-
spectacle business?
Is business which debauches. i'm
poverishes and Injuries the public,
either the one or the other?
When such questions have to be
asked it is time that they were set
tied definitely.
At present rum selling is technical
ly legitimate.
That is to say. it is not unlawful
But since its consequences are what
we see, it would be an abuse of lam
guage to term it respectable
But it does not stop at those inso-
lent pretensions.
1t tells the people it has the polit-
ical powers. that it is organized, and
that it will fight reform and tenn
perance with the votes of the unfor-
Inmates it has imbruted
This, then, is what the community
has to face.
1t must either submit to the polit-
ical supremacy of the rum sellers, it
must either accept their government,
it must either bow to their standard
of morals and declare them to be en-
titled to protection and respect" or
it must make up its mind to a con-
flict, the aim and end of which shall
l, = , ~
abuse, and the protection of the
masses against the worst foe of civ
ilization.
They will oppose any reform what
ever
They deny the right of the people
to protect themselves at all
They claim the right for themselves
TO poison and brutalize and degrade
all whom they can reach
They think they will be supported
in this by the public they fleece and
injure, and upon the persistence of
whose animal appetites they coarsely
calculate.
Hitherto they had unhappily been
justified in this dependence
The men who had most cause to
loathe the business have been among
the first to uphold and fortify it,
But a change is even now passing
over public opinion.
1t is becoming more and more gem
orally recognized that intemperance
is at the bottom of two-thirds of the
social. political and moral evils that
retard progress, and perplex and
harass the legislator
1t is being comprehended that an
effective franchise requires sobriety
and intelligence in the voter.
In fact, it is being realized that the
future of the country depends large
ly upon mastering the elements
which have their origin in and derive
all their strength from rum, and which
initiate at every turn against good
government. pure social conditions,
religion and progress.-N. Y. Tribune.