The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-31
LIQUOR MEN ADD
INSULT TO INJURY

Editor Pensacola Journal.
The liquor traffic has injured as; the
liquor trafiic Is injuring us; the liquor
traffic win iniure us and our chfldrens
We have heard OF adding insult to
injury, and we think this was pretty
fairly illustrated in the recent use of
the name Of Robert Lee In connection
with some whislxey advertisements.
The name of Robert Lee stands for
ideal manhood; purity, honor. Chris
tan character. bravery, and truth.
To associate such a name with the
loathesorne, degrading, Satanic mon
ster which is commonly termed the
liquor traffic" is an insult to every in
stinct of humanity, every emotion
which distinguishes the man from the
brute.
The frailness Of man, and the
wicked craftiness OF the Devil, are the
only causes of the drink habits exist
ence. The human being who INDUCES
in the use of intoxicating liquors
shows his weakness thereby; the man
who opens, runs, owns, or operates
the saloon and its contingent belong
ings, Is pretty good representation
of that wicked spirit which has
brought upon mankind Rii its Ills.
namely, Satan. OF course, we sup
pose the saloon men will not feel this
to be complimentary, nor do we intend
1t so. Truth 10 very often uncompli-
mentary and unpleasant.
We understand that we are taxed
directly and indirectly to build and
keep jails, police courts. poor houses,
insane asylums. and pauperE. We
also understand that q drunkard Is
not q profitable citizen. The money
which he should spend at the grocer's,
the dry goods store and the butcher
shop, goes to the whiskey dealer, ana
his family go needy, or are helped by
friends or the public. II all the Sa-
loon keepers and owners in certain
district were made to bear all the ex-
penses and stand good for all the
damages resulting from the sales or
their goods in that district, saloons
then would soon cease to exist. Tne
expenses they create largely exceed
the profits from the business put Lne
thought for us to remember Is We
nav the expenses, they pocket the
profits.
If whiskey were not 30 terrible in
it's power over the physical and men
tai strength Of man, mere cTunk-
ards could be made to realize tneiF
pitiful, wretched existence.
We pity, while we censure, the man
who drinks, but the man who 10 piiin9
up his money by selling or dealing u
or making whiskey ts cnaTac1eS
which we cannot describe. 1t seems
to us that in him must have died au
the instincts OF humanity. For the
sake of money he is damning the souls
of his brother men. For the sake OF
money he is subjscting his own cDi-
dren to the odinm and disgrace which
must unavoidablv cling to the farnAsy
Of whiskey dealer. We wonder II q
the silence and darkness OF the n29ns.
the thought of Gods sure reckon1as
comes to his soul. We WONDER IL ns
thinks OF the solemn hour when his
soul must stand alone before Us
Maker and account for the hundreos
of other souls which he has sent 70
perdition.
The liquor trafac strikes where the
hurt il deepest, where the blow deals
the greatest destruction. and when, TOT
paltry high license" we permit the
sale and manufacture of whiskey ana
alcoholic drinks, we are betraytng our
homes and our children into the handS
OF an enemy who works carefuliy,
plans crafty and with tireless zeal
for their ruin and death.
The liquor trafic stands today con-
yicted OF murder In the first degree,
II stands convicted Of robbery or every
kind. 1t has caused all crimes IN the
category or crimes. The human race
today has no greater enemy. 1t IL
marvel to the man or woman VINO
holds dear the welfare Of their fellow
men, that any newspaper which con-
saders itself friend to the people VIII
publish 6 whiskey advertisement
We bow to the press: we take our
u