What Other Virtue? by W. N. Glenn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 3, 1884

What Other Virtue?

By W. N. Glenn

THE great revenue derived from the liquor traffic has been the prominent plea in its behalf, held up by its votaries to the admiration of the public. But it is a noticeable fact that, wherever possible, liquor-dealers dodge even the responsibility of license. In Sacramento, they headed a move to resist license altogether, and in Ventura County they refused to pay, and the District Attorney failed to make a case stand against them in court; it was set aside on account of some "irregularity" in the proceedings on the part of the prosecution. This failing on the part of District Attorneys, where the whisky interest is at stake, is remarkably prevalent in California.

And such instances might be cited all over the country. And they insist upon vending the death-dealing beverages in Maine and Kansas, where the State Constitutions are against it, and not a dollar of revenue is derived from the contraband trade, excepting as penalty of violated law. Illicit distilleries, here and there throughout the commonwealth, are a source of much trouble and expense to the Government, instead of a source of revenue; and large quantities of the "goods" of recognized establishments escape the official gaugers, inspectors, and assessors.

In fact the one good quality so much boasted of by whisky apologists has been forced upon the traffic at all times and in all places; the revenue has never been a voluntary contribution, anywhere, to the public welfare. The large sums of money expended in resistance of license, revenue tax, etc., and the persistent efforts to establish manufactories in hidden nooks and corners where official scrutiny may be evaded, are all against the virtuous revenue plea. And when the single redeeming feature of revenue is shorn from the traffic, the interesting question arises, What other virtue can be claimed for the business? There is nothing in sight but "personal liberty"—the principal upon which the Apaches and the train-robbers operate.

W. N. GLENN.