The Western news., 1903-10-14
Anti=Saloon League
Column.
Edited by REV. R. N. DUNCAN.

In the past two weeks we have heard
considerable talk about pure liquors.
This plea contains great deal of
truth. 1t is said that there are no pure
liquors sold, and that's what we want
now moreIthan all things else, is law
to prevent impure liquors from being
put upon the market. It is true that
there are no pure liquors anywhere to
be had. The analysis that have been
made show all liquors to contain a
large per cent of poison, such as sugar
of lead, strycnine, stronia, benzine
and many other minor poisons. 1t is
evident, too, that these liquors are
more death-producing than these
not thus drugged. But the argument
assumes two things, neither of which
is true: /. That liquors, if pure, would
not be injurious. 2. That it would be
possible to have an analysis of all the
liquors used in the market In each
test there would be necessarily COM
petant scientist to produce the analy-
Sis, and the necessary apparatus for
the work. The mere mention of this
fact will show the utter impr acticabil-
ty of the plan. And if we could oper
ate it, still we would be left with alco-
hol with its powers to dement,, to
shorten life, to craze, to excite to muir
der, theft, rape and all the crimes in
the catalogue.
Again it is said we must license the
rum trade to bring it under control.
Many who hold this view Of the matter
regard the sale and use of alcohol as
beverage, as an evil, and propose this
plan as the best means of removing
intemperance. Why not deal with
other acknowledged wrongs in the
same way? Why not say, Murder is
an evil, therefore we must license it to
bring it under our control" This is
no more unrea sonable than the other.
Indeed it is the same thing, only one
evil is substituted for the other.
There are two reasons why the rum
traffic should not be licensed: l. If
the traffic is right ard necessary to be
done, then it ought not to be licensed,
for there is no reason for making
man pay fee for driving a harmless
business. 2. If the thing is wrong,
law, as the protector of the people,
should not permit it.. licensing
wrong will not make it right.
Some have said that we must license
this traffic or we will lose business and
1mpoverish our county, and, further,
that we now derive handsome reve-
nue. from the business and that the
thrift and energy of the place will be
impaired if the traffic is discontinued.
This wisdom is wholly financial. It
does not stop at the thought of build
ing our sidewalks in the blood of our
brothers and sons; of educating our
children form the tears and walls of
the broken hearted.
Let this mighty car of prosperity
rush on. What care these engineers
if thousand lifeless forms bestrew
the track behind them! Peace may be
taken from the earth, a thousand pale
faced, care worn, poverty stricken
women and children may pray them
with uplifted hands to stop ere they
crush to powder all their hearts hold
dear, but it is nothing to them. Give
them money and they are satisfied.
This work of death and ruin, desola-
tion and shame is your work if you
support the license system, and ap-
peal to the peace-loving, and especially
the God-fearing, to stand clear of the
blood of this martyred host, sent to an
untlmely death by the rum power.