Alcohol Is King by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · May 7, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 18.

Alcohol Is King.

By Editor

It used to be said that "Cotton is king;" and its rule was somewhat despotic, as its right to reign was almost undisputed. In the Exposition at New Orleans it is prominently declared that "Corn is king." We have been somewhat perplexed to decide whether the crown belongs to alcohol or tobacco. Both are domineering and arrogant, but we think for the present alcohol has it. At the Exposition in New Orleans the Woman's Christian Temperance Union had a stand where one could obtain a drink of water, free. They did not ask to sell it. And any one who has ever threaded his way through a maze of tens of acres of exhibition will judge how thankful the wanderer was to come to a fountain of cold water—"pure and free." But now comes the news that King Alcohol arose in his might and declared that cold water was an interloper, a usurper, and must leave the dominion. He had paid for the privilege of being there, and he would brook no rival. So the mandate went forth; water was banished from the Exposition.

The Exposition is a great, a grand affair. Probably the people of the United States do not regret the money which the Government gave to it, but many of them will protest against another like sum being paid for any such purpose, if they are to be deprived of the pleasure of drinking cold water on the premises.

We are beginning to wonder if the liquor-sellers will not soon claim that their licenses give them the sole right to dispense drinks in our towns and cities, and try to deprive us of the privilege of drinking water at all! It is no great stretch of the imagination to suppose it. For who would have thought that when certain parties purchased the right—beg pardon, the privilege—to sell beer on the Exposition grounds, they would claim with it the right to deny all persons the privilege of drinking cold water within the gates? And who would have thought that the managers would comply with their exactions and banish cold water from the Exposition? There are thousands who would hesitate to spend a hot day in those buildings knowing that the privilege to take a drink of water therein was denied them. We believe the management has acted unwisely and unjustly, and we hope a protest, long and loud, may go up against their action.