The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-07
THE wHIsKEY EVIL.
Mr.. Bullock Argues That it is Far Worse Than
the Cigarette Evil.

To the Editor:
Some time ago in our ignorance and in
nocence we wrote an article for your
valuable paper calling the attention of the
wise Solons of our country to an evil
which we thought more dreadful than the
cigarette. We had read how whiskey had
wrecked the lives of tire brightest stars
in cur several professions, had broken the
heart of her whom at Gods altar n an had
sworn to love, honor and protect, had
caused man to kill his best friend filled
cur jails poor houses, and insane asylums.
1t had caused man to forget the COM
forts and pleasure of home and forsaking
all these to live vagabond and to die
in the throes of delirium. and we thought
surely there is nothing more terrible than
this.
But to err is human. and we find
that correspondent writes-"Some one
has foolishly compared the cigarette evil
to the whiskey evil" Now we do not wish
to appear to underrate the evils of the
cigarette. We believe that they injure
those who use them. but only those. With
whiskey it is different, we must bear it's
burden, whether we drink it or not. The
wife bears the shame and disgrace OF q
drunken husband, yet she has never taken
a drink, the child bears the humiliation
of drunken father, the taxpayer bears
the burden Of taxes to erect jails. build
poor houses, run the courts and police
force all on account of whiskey. Or fully
three fourths of the crimes that are COM
mitted whiskey is the cause, fifty per cent
of the county charges We're brought there
by whiskey. Yet Some one has foolishly
compared the cigarette evil to the whis-
key evil" We thank him for that word
The whiskev evil is SO much more terri
bic and far-reachng than the cigarette
evil that the comparison is foolish, and
should not be mentioned in the same
breath. Now we do not wish to be under
stood as opposing the passage of the Gig
arctic bill, We merely suggested that il
our lawmakers wanted TO strike down
the greatest evil that confronted a civil
lied people they could do the greatest
amount of good to the greatest number Of
people by making war upon traffic that
affected every one,
ITS nothing to me" the mother said;
az have no fears that my boy will tread
The downward path of sin and shame
And crush my heart and darken his
name"
1t was something to her when her only
son
From the path of right was early won,
And madly cast in the flowing bowl
ruined body and a shipwrecked soul.
ITS nothing TO me" the young man cried
In his eyes was a flash of scorn and pride,
Il heed not the dreadful things you tell;
/ can rule myself, / know full well.''
Twas something to him when in prison
he lay.
The victim of drink-lire cbbing away
As he thought of his wrctchcd child and
wife.
And the mcurnfaI wreck of his wasted life.
cts nothing TO me, the voter said;
The partys loss is my greatest dread"
Then he gave his vote for the liquor trade,
Though hearts are crushed and drunkards
made.
1t was something to him in after life.
When his daughter became a drunkard's
wife.
And her hungry children cried for bread.
And trembled to hear their fathers
tread
Yet some one has foolshly compared
the cigarette evil to the whiskey evil"
Yea, verify We strain at gnats and swal
low camels.
!. D BULLOCK
Wilson, y. c.. Feb. ;. 1901.