The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-11-18
An Irretrlevable Financial Loss.

The New York Observer says: The
liquor traffic has many sides. 1t may be
that the financial side is less importan6
than some others, but it should not be left
out of consideration. Broken hearts, ruined
homes and lost souls are results that can.
not be passed lightly, but for the present
the money side is before us. A nation
cannot increase or decrease its wealth at
will. 1t would be impossible to plant COLI
ony of 100000 men in the Sahara desert
and each worth 81 100000 in dozen days
1t is true, also, that il one-fourth of a ma
tons capital is invested in any one indus
try not more than three.fourths is avail
able for all other lines of business. What
ever money a man spends for liquor he cam
not spend for anything else. We are inter.
ssted to know whether Solomon told the
truth when he said that the drunkard
'winebibber, but it can stand for the user
OF any kind OF intoxlcants. This verse
links the drunkard with the glutton and
the s!uggard-all are headed toward pow
erty. The word translated poverty has
more in it than our English word. The
wlneblbber shall hi be dispossessedy Is good
rendering. This shows not only the poor
condition OF the drunkard. but also tho
course by which he has arrived there.
There are three leading causes for the
drunkard's loss OF property-the drunkard
himself; nIini. ;.o,; the opP?resssor; drink;
DTlHk ltseu Is one OF tne most powerful
agencies for producing poverty. To pro.
cure it requires money. 1t is true that
much is given away among companions,
but what is so received is in the end the
most costly OF all. Breweries and distiller-
les intend that every swallow shall be paid
for, and the final cost falls upon those who
drink. When we learn that the sale OF
malt liquors in New York City averages
more than barrel for every man, woman
and child in Chicago and Phiadelphia
nearly two barrels for each inhabitant; irt
Boston more than two barrels; in st. Louis
and Cincinnati more than three barrels; in
Newark, n. j., nearly five barrels, and in
Milwaukee seven barrels. do we doubt that
strong drink requires money? The above
figures do not include distilled liquors and
wines. The use of liquor begets desire
to squander money. Drink makes most
people liberal. Money is free as long as it
lasts. Common :aborers often come out OF
a three DAYS spree s25 or $50 poorer than
before. Ones own appetite requires a
larger expenditure, and the circle OF friends
increases to whom he feels under obligation
by the unwritten code of intemperance.
Gambling is inseparable from drinking in
this age, and furnishes a new channel for
the outflow of money.
Drink also destroys the ability to earn
money. The capital melts away, and tho
debt accumulates, if the man can find
credit. Business expeulency should put a
stop 70 drinking, il no higher motive can
appeal to man. IL is becoming harder
and harder for an intemperate man to Sc
cure good job on the railroad. Soma
roads will employ no man who goes into a
saloon, and will discharge an employe for
the. first offense. Others that are less rigid
will give the sober man preference over an
other applicant for position who INDUCES
in drink occasionally. II one OF two men
is TO be discharged, the temperate is re-
tanned and the intemperate dismissed. it
other things are equal. The ability OF a
drunkard to earn money is growing lesa
and less every year. Much OF what has
been said about railroads is equally true Of
other lines OF business.
"One might reply that the circulation OF
money is essential to business prosperity
That is true but there is no circulation
about the drpnkard's money. To circulate
means to go round and round, permitting.
the same man TO buy with it and sell for i'll
That would be more like business, but
money spent for liquor does not circulate
il moves forward. but does not return. II
ends in the pocket OF the brewer and dis.
tiueri and the great majority of it stays
there" -