The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-07-15
LECALIZED EVILS--NO. 66.
BY JOHN DANNER.

Just at this time there is quite a
good deal of preliminary talk and
discussion to determine wnat shall be
the paramount issue between the two
great national political parties in the
coming national campaign.
| When we come to look over the
history of our national political con-
tests, it must be observed by all who
! closely watch these things that both
parties are agreed to a conspiracy of
silence on the great evils wrought by
the legalized liquor traffic and to see
to it that they do not champion the
cause of prohibition and morality.
Both parties emphasize the material
over the moral condition. We see that
such questions as the currency, the
tariff and other material questions are
largely dwelt upon, but the spiritual
and moralTthe best interests Of the
people--are Ignored q.
This thing has been carried so far
in our national politics that one OF
the brightest, and, personally, the
cleanest politicians has said that tC
regard the Ten Commandments, the
Golden Rule and the Sermon on
Mount, as having anything to do with
our modern politics is an iridescent
dream"
/ When politicians come to such a
conclusion as this and cater to the
saloon vote as both the old political
parties have been doing and are still
doing, it should be the cause for great
alarm among our best class of citi-
zens. No fault should be found with
the political parties because they have
looked after the financial and mater
ial things, but the fact that our moral
laws are trampled upon and thousands
of our best citizens are ruined there
by is of infinitely greater importance
than the material things.
Stop and consider the various phas'
es between the material and moral is.
sues. For instance, the issuing Of
gold or silver, the policy of holding the
Philippines, traffic or free trade, the
much-talked-of civil service reform
the regulation and management ol
trusts and other affairs are as nothing
when compared to the .legalization Of
the liquor traffic for beverage pur
poses. Stop and think of the colos
sal drain of the liquor traffic upon the
people-over twelve hundred millions
4 of dollars every year, and not ont
dimes worth of real value given bacl
to the people for this vast expenditure
of money, to say nothing of the los;
Iof manhood and the degradation an6
crime produced by this legaliZed mon
ster One of Englands greatest states
men has said that the legalized liquo,
traffic causes more loss of treasure
loss of life, and misery than war, fam
inc and pestilence combined, and yet
with all these facts staring us in the
face, neither of our great politica
parties has had the moral courage to
come out in favor of the masses ant
against this legalized tyranny.
All patriotic citizens will admit tha
the utter prohibition of the liquor traf
fic should take precedence over al
other issues with which the bosses ant
leaders have been seeking to stir III
the people. 1t is not alone for tn,
good of the toiling masses that tn,
saloon should be suppressed, but fol
all the people, because with the saloor
legalized as now, the liquor power die
tates our party platforms and puts Il
sleep the conscientious scruples o.
thousands of Christian voters and boy
colts and subsidies and controls the
secular papers, and our religious pap
ers dare not utter half the harm they
believe the legalized saloon is doing
but deal in smooth platitudes in favol
of temperance and raise up their voic
es In holy horror IL the question o.
prohibition Is advocated in a polite
al platform.
This order of things cannot lon,
exist Our national strength Is i'm
paired because of the waste OF hard
earned money and the impairing o
the morals Of the people and the pro
duction Of fully two-thirds Of our pau
perism and crime. This nation can
not long exist part drunk and par
sober. "The saloon must CO." AM
wise and fortunate will be the oil,
political party that shall have tn,
moral courage to- r0organise an,
4 champion the interests OF the hom'