Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-03-26

| EDITOR OF the Beacon:
Dear Strive sadly regret the stand
our esteemed Representative Wilkin-
son took on the temperance question,
In denying the people of st. Mary's
the right to vote on local option, es-
peciaIly at time when il seemed ripe
for this cause 10 prevail, and throw
them the sop of high license instead.
the very thing the people of the county
have only recently proven they do
not want, and think his explanation
OF the attitude he took on this ques-
ton, is an excuse, too weak to very
soon be forgotten by those who placed
him there, To serve our county's best
interest, and it will take something
more convincing than his statement,
to persuade the people of St. Mary's,
that our summer visitors come to the
county for rum, rather than recrea-
ton. If it does entail a loss, who
sustains the loss but the saloonkeeper,
who ought To be run ont of business
any way. But with the sad fact that
St. Mary's has received this set back.
Ii is gratifying TO know that temper
ence sentiment is growing rapidly in
this county. Sober, sensible, patri-
otto people are seeing the evils of
strong drink and feeling the burdens
imposed upon them by the drinkers:
and in the light of the facts concern
ing the liquor business. People are
coming to the conclusion that the
whole thing must he prohibited
throughout the nation. And this is
what We trust is going to- be done in
the near future. Some folks say. Oh,
well, liquor doesn't affect mel don't
drink. But this is false impression.
For there is scarcely person il does
not affect. directly or Indirectly: for
where does the money go, and who
foots the billsI The landlord, who
looses in rent: the grocer and the
charitable persons who pity the child
rem and keep them from starving; the
taxpayer who supports the jails and
prisons, the hospitals and almshouses,
where such folks fetch up at last
And who makes the money? The sa-
loohkeeper, who is privileged to fill
the land with poverty, wretchedness,
crime, disease, death and damnation
being authorized by the sovereign
people.
just see the old rum devil and his sa-
taEic grin,
Which Is seen in every glass of whisky,
wine or gin;
II bubbles from the beer glass, like
foam from "A rabied cur,
And from the cider mug, is like the
sting of chestnut bur
He promises great pleasure to those
who quaif his bowl,
But seq at last, he blasts, for all. the
body, mind and soul:
He tells of health and riches great. To
all his divoteeS,
hut look them over, on land or sea,
you'll find the dcbauchee.s
He honor has, that's very high. for all
who for him vote,
And such as fall and cringe-like
uogS- ne freely dOteS:
And when 10y conscience goaded hard, !
and they his works eschew,
lie looks more wisely and he quotes,
just look Al the revenue.
And thus he plays on their ambition
OF greed and passion strong,
On envy, jealousy, and all in man
that's wrong:
lie, to the color blind is white tn tho
depraved seems good,
lie discomforts the wretched and
taints the hungry's food.
What witchery, sophistry, and devil
try we find,
In his unseen spirit of rum, so cum
ningly combined;
SO the devil we must call it; it's the
father of most evils,
IT you give il a milder name would
only cheat the devil.
7. A. BOND.
Baltimore. Md, April ~.