The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-02-20
Do You Take a Nip?

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The nipping habit grows apace, else
how could so many nipping places pros
per? and how could so many breweries
and distileries become so profitable?
We hear a lot about temperance re-
form and there is hot fight against
saloons throughout the country and yet
our jails and prisons are full of people
who were sent there by strong drink,
and our cities are full of sad homes be-
cause Of il. Every where we may see
more or less misery that may be traced
directly to IT, Think of the murders in
our own District No. >.
Have you ever got down to figure on
the subject? 1t is one OF the things
that can be figured out reasonably close
and accurately. To save you this
trouble and the time some one who had
access to the necessary statistics has
done so, and the result is worth reading
and considering. New York spends a
million dollars a day for drinks, says
the Sun. The annual consumption Of
drinks in the United States amounts to
81, AGO, 900. 000 If all the beer drunk in
the United States since 1876 were
brought together it would fill a canal
from New York to Denver, 20 feet
wide, 10 feet deep and 1888 miles long
The nations drink bill is one third
more than the public debt, twice as
much as the capital stock of the banks,
little less than the capitalization of
the trusts, one half the value of our
| domestic animals, more than one-half
| the value of all our products, one-third
more than our total exports. If each
individual in this country, regardless Of
! age or sex, had drunk his share Of liquor
in 1876 he would'have consumed about
eight gallons. But now the proportion
is little more than 20 gallons.
The increase is attributed to the inflex
of immigrants, who drink much beer
1t is estimated that three-fourths Of
the population are total abstainers,
which would make every fourth person
who does drink consume on an average
$40 worth Of liquor each year. If the
people who drink should abstain for one
year and provide a fund from the saw
ings it would start every illiterate child
in the United States on the way to a
college education, and if the drinkers
Of the world were to endure these
thirst for eighteen months their savings
would. buy every ounce Of gold in eX-
istence.
These figures provide food for
thought, even for those who fill glasses
as well as for those who empty them
But there are not the only ones interest
ed in the business, or effected by it..
Indeed everybody is effected more or
less, and none benefited or at least
not favorably or permanently.
The average factory hand earns $40
year, while it is estimated that the
average criminal costs the public at
least $1,000 year, and 50 per cent of
all crime is traceable to drink.
Look not upon the wine when it is
red for it bteth the like a serpent and
stingeth like an adder.
We have 100000 paupers in this
country and 10000, 600 persons are en-
the ragged edge of pauperism.
Well, what can be done about it? we
all know that the better way by which
to get rid of bad habit is to get away
from the temptations that lead to it..
commend the good people of Friends
vile for getting away from the tempta-
tons and making so many wives, child
rem and homes happy in No, 2 and hope
our present legislators will pass a law
giving the people a chance to vote it
out of our county.
G. d. F.
EriapIcVilla Eab 1000