La Junta tribune., 1909-07-24
Some Reasons for the
Temperance Avalanche
| BY M. FlNITY


that cry is heard in mountain vii
lage of Switzerland, everybody flees
for their lives. An avalanche is
formed of large masses OF snow, ice
and rocks coming down from a noun.
tain side. We have avalanches in
the mountains OF Colorado, but they
are small affairs compared with those
in Switzerland. and are called snow
slides. They sometimes do consid.
cradle damage.
There are moral avalanches, how.
ever. as well as physical avalanches,
and to these | call the readers at.
tention. These spring from deep.
seated convictions, and grow into pub,
lie opinion. Public opinion is the
greatest power in this world-greater
than steam, electricity, dynamite, or
all combined Before IL. kingdoms
and empires remble and fall. and
other forms OF government are set
up. Under its influence changes are
constantly taking place in the laws.
institutions and customs of the diff
ferent countries. changes in the
modes OF business; in the manner of
life; in society; in church and in
the state. Frequently these moral
ayalanches are far more dangerous.
and do infinitely more damage than
do physical avalanches. and at the
same time they often do an i'm
mense amount of good
The avalanche of freedom which
arose in the northern states a half
century ago was the result of pu lie
opinion. 1t arose from discussion
and a contemplation OF the evils of
human slavery II was ten years in
forming. When 1t had reached its
climax II headed for the slave states
of the south, and when 1t had spent
its force the south was ruined; cities
were burned fertile fields laid waste,
millions upon millions of dollars
worth of property was destroyed. and
over quarter OF million OF young
men were consigned to premature
graves; but slavery. the cause OF II
all, was dcad-dead beyond the
power of resurrection. This vas the
avalanche of freedom, part OF
which was, and all OF which saw.
. The temperance avalanche or cy'
. clone which struck La Junta on the
9th OF last April and knocked siA
) saloons into cooked hat. was O
. moral avalanche. II. too. was ter
years In forming. and II arose from
a discussion and a contemplation OF
) the evils Of the saloon. II did moi
, do SO much harm as did that other
} avalanche, and at the same time II
) did not do SO much good. What sig
) nifies the closing OF six saloons. oil
|, six hundred. or six thousand sa
, looms. when compared with the free
dom OF a race?
} On looking over the Temperance
} map OF the United States, find that
} nearly all OF the former slave states
are now prohibition states. made SC
} principally during the last decade
There are far more prohibition states
) In the south than In the north, henc,
) l conclude that this reform wave
which swept over Colorado and th'
north at the spring election. original
} ed In the south Perhaps the south
} got up this avalanche and sent 4
north to pay the people OF the norti
for the one they sent down soutf
forty.eight years ago. on the principle
, Of returning good for evil. II thi'
) Is so. then I kowtow TO the south
} and say to my former foes In arms
Thanks. gentlemen. thanks. II yo,
) have any more moral cyclones lik'
this-more than you need for you
} own use-jusi send them up tbii
, way: We need them"
) The most reliable statistics shov
) that at least ninety per cent OF th'
) crimes committed In this country TO
} day are directly uacsble TO the NJ
) looms. and the revenues derived from
the saloons do not pay tenth o.
the cost these saloons bring upor
the taxpayers. Moreover. late stats
ties issued by the United States Cen
sus Bureau. show that In the United
States. and within the last twenty
years. one divorce In five h caused
by strong drink. Tho claim that M
looms tring business. to u town or n
city Is all foidc.rol. and Is not wor.
thy Of serious consideration. They
bring business for themselves and u
few disrcputabie people who hang
around the saloons. and that Is all.