Intemperance.—Figures and Facts.
By O. A. Johnson
It is astonishing to see how intemperance is increasing in the United States, and the amount of liquor consumed by this so-called Christian nation, besides the immense quantities of tea, coffee and tobacco, which are also considered by many of our most learned men to be highly injurious to the human system, is amazing. It is sickening and even disheartening to those who are trying to raise the standard of morality to see their fellow-men, who were created in the image of God and made a little lower than the angels, debase themselves so that they appear to be but little above the brute. It seems almost impossible to believe, that more money is paid for liquor than for the necessaries of life; and, besides this, it is impossible for us to form any idea of the amount of suffering and misery caused by this alcoholic demon. I will now give a few figures and facts, which, I believe, are taken from reliable sources. “The United States has 3,000 distilleries, 130,000 liquor shops, 390,000 liquor sellers.” “The amount of whisky consumed is about 75,000,000 gallons; wine, domestic and foreign, 15,000,000 gallons; beer, ale and porter, 222,000,000 gallons; all others, including gin, brandy, rum, &c., 30,000,000 gallons, making our annual consumption of alcoholic liquors about 342,000,000 gallons.” Other authorities claim, that 392,000,000 gallons are consumed annually. This will average about 10 gallons per capita per annum. According to government statistics, the enormous sum of $1,487,000,000 is annually spent for liquors, “being $582,000,000 more than is paid for flour, meat, cotton goods, boots and shoes, clothing, woolen goods, newspapers and job printing, combined (nearly $3 to $1).” In 1867, the amount spent for liquors was ten times the value of all the church property in the United States. In 1870, $90,000,000 was paid for prosecutions, &c., caused by liquor. In the same year there were 400,000 more persons engaged in the liquor business in the United States than in preaching the gospel and teaching school. The tax on liquors amounts to $46,000,000 annually. We have now seen how great a quantity of liquor this so-called Christian nation consumes annually, and how much money is thrown away, yes, worse than thrown away, for this soul-and-body-destroying beverage. Now we will consider how many are thought to be slaves to their appetites and regarded as drunkards. Let facts and figures speak for themselves. There are, it is supposed about “5,000,000 men and women, who daily and constantly go to the saloons for intoxicating drink as a beverage.” There are “530,000 confirmed drunkards.” Among them we find gray-haired men, women, and fair-haired boys. A pitiful scene, indeed! And what is the result of this drinking and intemperance? The result! Figures tell us that 150,000 deaths, yearly, are the direct result of intoxication, besides all the misery and distress the drunkards bring upon themselves and their fellow-men. Thus far we have listened to the tales that figures tell. But figures cannot tell us how many hours of bitter anguish the companions and helpless children have suffered on account of drunken husbands and fathers. They cannot tell us how many agonizing prayers have gone up from their wives and children. They cannot tell us how many severe and cruel blows have been received from their hands. They cannot tell us how many affectionate brides have seen their hopes of a happy future fade, as their husbands, who were the dearest to them of any on earth, yielded to the temptation of strong drink and became drunkards. They cannot tell us how many wives and children have been hastened to their graves, from want of due affection and proper care. It is in vain for us to undertake to describe the amount of suffering and misery caused by intemperance. It is beyond our comprehension. If all the deeds done by inebriates were written in a book, how ponderous would it be! How many things that now are hidden, would it bring to light! How many long and sorrowful tales would it contain! How many distressing and heart-rending scenes would it bring to view! But we forbear adding any more. May the time soon come when God will release his people from this world of evil and reward every one according to his works.