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Protection

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 13, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 47.

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Protection.

IT is admitted on all sides that society may protect itself against vagrancy. Rum is the mother of vagrancy!
It is admitted that society may protect itself against theft, robbery, burglary, and arson. Rum is the mother of these also. It is admitted that society may protect its members against the contaminating touch of prostitution. Rum is the mother of this.
It is admitted that society may protect itself against murder. Rum is the prolific mother of this most barbarous and horrible of crimes. I have passed forty-five years of my life upon the outermost rim of the blood-dragged frontier, and in that time have witnessed or been cognizant of the facts of one hundred murders; and every one of these murders was the fruit of strong drink; every murderer was inspired and driven to his ghastly work by rum. But its sale must not be prohibited, because to do this would interfere with some people's business.