Health and Temperance by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 16, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 36.

Health and Temperance.

By Editor

Simply Appalling!

The following which we copy from the Oakland Daily Tribune of August 26, is not only suggestive of the downward tendency of the age, but the figures given are simply appalling. And while we help to sound the alarm, we believe that nothing but the coming of the day of the Lord will effectually stay the rapidly-rising tide of iniquity:—

“EDITOR TRIBUNE: The Boston Advertiser is a conservative Republican paper, and its authority is unquestionable. If the following editorial, which I find in a late number, had been in a temperance or prohibition paper, some would have regarded it as of doubtful accuracy. But in the Advertiser it must command the credence of all. And when we consider the awful aggregate of evils that constantly accompany or grow out of what that paper calls ‘our minor vices,’ should we not give heed? . . . If we look at it as only a question of finance, or of political economy, we must clearly see that as a nation we are steadily and rapidly hurrying on to ruin. To prevent it all, patriotic and benevolent citizens should combine their philanthropic efforts. But read the testimony of the Advertiser:—

‘The increase in the amount of whisky distilled and drunk during the year now ended, was 1,600,000 gallons over the amount for 1885, the total consumption of this liquor being 7,700,000 gallons. Estimating the population of the country at 60,000,000, this gives about one gallon and a pint for each one of us, including women and children.’

‘The consumption of beer mounts up to some 264,000,000 gallons, an increase of more than 1,500,000 gallons from the preceding year, which admits of an allowance of eleven gallons to each inhabitant, or counting out the children and one half the adult population as total abstainers, the rest are to be credited with the imbibition of one-half pint daily.’

‘The use of tobacco is also constantly increasing, except in the form of snuff, the falling off in the consumption of that article reaching nearly 20,000 pounds.’

‘In the comparatively novel practice of cigarette-smoking, which has, in fact, come into vogue within less than fifteen years, there has been an increase of 25 per cent., the total number burned being 1,310,000,000, or about 22 apiece all around.’

‘Of manufactured tobacco for smoking and chewing there were 191,000,000 pounds used averaging about 3½ pounds each, and of cigars 3,500,000,000, an increase of 152,000,000 from last year, or about 59 for every inhabitant.’

‘If, now, a calculation is made of what these large aggregates have cost the consumers, supposing them to have made their purchases at retail, we may reach an approximate imagination of the tax which our minor vices lay upon the collective purse of the average man. Taking the lowest prices as 4 cents for a cigar and 10 cents for a gill of whisky, the total will be found to amount to more than $1,200,000,000—not so very much less than our national debt—or $20 each for all who live in our prosperous land.’”