The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-23
4 DECLARATION Of INDEPENDENCE
FOR TEMPERANCE PEOPLE Of VIRGINIA
bf j. E. Avent For People of Virginia Declares Indepen
dcnce of King Alcohol Fearful Arrangement of the
Whiskey Traffic Facts and Figures Produced
That Are Astounding.

o.
ting Of the Radford Anti Saloon
ue Monday night, Professor JOS
e. Avent proposed new Decla-
pn Of independence, which we give
W. At the close of It's proposal.
notion was made, seconded, and
nimously passed, that this decla-
bn be published as summing up and
ressing the sentiments of the An
hloon league toward the liquor
hc The declaration la as follows;
4 largely the Jeffersonian form to
by to a modern problem:
Few Declaration OF Independence.
Then in the course Of human events
becomes necessary for a State to
olive an institution Of its own ere
N. especially an institution created
maintained by many other States
nations. and to prohibit It from
rcising any more its former func-
g within it's confines, a decent re-
Re 20 the opinions Of mankind re-
ros that this State should declare
causes which impel II to tho dis
tton.
He hold these truths to be self ey.-
L: That al men are endowed by
r creator With certain .nA4cnable
It's: that among these are life. llb-
and the pursuit OF happiness: that
secure these blessings certain In
(ltionS are established BY States,
Wing their Just powers from the
nse of such States; that whenever
institution becomes destructive OF
liberty and tho pursuit of happi-
}, 1t 10 the right and the bounden
h OF the people TO dissolve such in
[ltion and abolish Il. prohibiting 1t
thereafter from exercising ia
ner destructive functions. We al
hold as further truths corollary to
foregoing truths: That an institu-
n which ever doas evil to man
never good has no moral right OF
(tence; that the people ought ever
be free from the domination ~ an
Hutton which has grown INTO a
lister hearing no cry Of distress ard
Ing no sign OF suffering; that an
Intuition that cannot contine the
cts OF it's own work within the
main OF It's own locality Ia not To-
institution. that 1t Is Il '4iSiuteF =
tation and a misap plication OF the
ction OF government tn levy taxes
IN all the people to repair the pre-
table damage wrought by a few OF
people; that II is never the ieglti-
he function of the state TO Incense a
| to prey upon the lives and prop
! and happiness and liberty Of the
by; that he who would enter
IT Of equity IN search % equity
: vt first Go equity.
Prudence, indeed, dictates that In
h,tions long esta bIished should not
abolished for light and transient
SEES. but with long train Of abuses,
= 10 ~ la u 4s7f NJ IA
Spie which compose the State to
Illsh such institutions ard that with
DELAY Such has been the patient
ferance Of the American people at
instance Of an institution In the
kn of the licensed saloon and COM
|nly referred to as King Alcohol;
such IL now their necessity 20
kltsh said institution. The history
King Alcohol Ii a history OF con-
ued usurpations and injuries and
bngs and rohhertes ard murders
her the guise OF the laws Of It's own
|ation and license. all having IN
bet object the establishment OF an
|olute tyranny and degradation and
h Of all the people. In proof where
let the following facts be submit
to a candid world
He tKing Aicohol) sets at naught
tea cfings OF persons licensed hy
State to convey to the rising gen
ltip7 the best experiences Of man In
|pect H. hygiene and morals.
me prospective life OF this average
knty- year-old moderate drinker, who
In total abstinence would expect
hive forty-four years. he shortena by
|rteen Years. and the prospective
of the hard drinken he shortens by
enty-nlne years,
He performs the task Of q slow
|soner OF his victims.
His poisons rapidly destroy the
lie white disea Sc fighting cells OF
human blood, rendering such
rsan beings the easy prey to the
|st common diseases so that.
IA Fifty to IS per cent OF those
hicted with pneumonia, typhoid
'er, pleurisy. and some other dis
ses, die OF the first attack, If pre-
'usly addicted to the liquor habit:
lh) His peisons are not now, and
va never been, useful as medicines.
He slays In cold blood In this coun-
every year 100000 human beings
4 sends them into drunkares
ives. this being an average Of three
sons to each saloon In the United
ties.
He mains and wounds 500. 900 more
moderate drinking SO that they be-
ne an easier prey to other diseases,
These two groups make a grand
al of 100000 human beings that are
It into their graves every year
lie earlier In life than they would
ve gone but for his domination and
Nence In their lives; and this Is a
mber equal to the total number OF
n killed In all the wars back for a
'iod of 2.300 years,
lie has been outiawed by the North
rolina Medical association In state
,vent.on assembled and has been
by the national convention
alienists a poison directly affecting
brain and other tissues and con-
ced the latter body OF responsible
for a very large proportion OF the
lepsy. insanity. feeblemindedness
other forms of degeneracy.
he completely enslaves his vsctima
that they lose all VIII power
lie brutalizes them so THAI other
20 peacea BILE citizens commit the
st dastardiy crimes upon these most
If to them.
lie passes his dire effects on down
the third and fourth generations.
Is causing, as proved BY careful
entific investigation,
fa) One child in five born OF alco-
ic parents to become insane;
BY One child in three born of al
,olic parents to be hysterical or
leptic:
c) A death OF one child in 1--WE
n to moderately drinking parents.
one in three to heavy drinking
'ents, whereas only one child in
hit born to ahstaining parents dies
infancy;
az Six times as many weakly
ldren in drinking families as in ah-