Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-24
The manufacture OF spirituous
Liquors.


An esteemed correspondent, after
informing us that our opinion about
the manufacture Of spurious liquor
has given great offence to the temper
ance men in his neighborhood, propo-
ses the following direct questions for
US to answer.
1. Are you really in earnest when
you say you will oppose to "he last
any law that will prevent the manutac-
ture of spirituous liquors?
9. Are you in favor of raising grain
and selling it to distiller or brewer,
to be converted into spirituout liquors?
5. Had you read the fourth resolu-
ton adopted by the late State Temper
ance Convention. when you wrote the
article alluded to-.
We might answer these questions in
a few words. but we prefer taking our
time, and answering them at length.
we viii therefore take them one by
one, beginning at the third. To this
we answer yes. But there is not a
word-not a syllable in that resolu-
ton differing from our position. 1t
condemns s'the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating liquors as beverage. -
We do the same. And yet, in the
language of the article referred to,
this leaves the manufacture unrestrain-
cd, only that the maker shall not keep
q "tippling house, nor sell to those
who do" We are aware that more
than one effort has been made in the
Grand Division, and in the State tenn
perance Convention, to strike out the
phrase cas- beverage, and restrict
the manufacture and sale uncondition-
ally, but in every case the effort has sig
nalIy failed. While intent on Kidding
our country Of tipping houses, the ac-
knowledged source Of nearly all the
evils Of intemperance. and while al
most in reach Of this end, it has not
been deemed advisable to begin anew
and labor for another thirty years, to
convince the world that alcoholic liq-
uors can be dispensed with altogether.
Some contend that they can. We will
not now dispute with them. We will
only say that atpresent, alcohol N one
form or other, Is used in medicine and
the arts; and the considerable and dis
passionate temperance men contend
that while only so used, it can do but
little harm. and hence they aim only
at suppressing its manufacture and
use as a beverage.
But it is said, "While it is made it
will be drank" We may add, "while
tits drank il will be made" and our
argument Is as conclusive as theirs
neither being worth anything.
Our position is, and always has
been, let the manufacture be unre-
strained, onlyprevent the distiller from
selling il as beverage. This is the
law in Massaehusetts-in Vermont
in Rhode Island-in Michigan-and
every place except Maine; and there
the prohibition is just as etiectual as O
law IN Indiana would be to prohibit
the raising Of cotton. They had buI
two distilleries in Maine. and these
were one horse affairs. making III,
neanest kind Of rum out Of potatoes
Such distilleries ought to be stoppet
Internationally. And our position i,
just what we have always understood
by the resolutions Of Grand Division,
and State Conventions, where tn,
phrase as a beverage has been insis te,
spon.
But. says an objector. would you al
low the manufacture for expectation
Reader prepare to be shocked--periect
Iy astonished, for we are going to sa,
YEs.
o dear. says one, with both hand
up-"No man but the proprietor Of
distillery could give utterance to sue
sentiments"
Well now just cool down little an
we will say few things. not for you
benefit particularly, for you are eve
yet too much excited to reason COOL,
1t is just as bad to kill people wit
whisky in New York, as at home, 20
say. Very well, what Of that? The
need some whisky in Cincinnati (,
mechanical and medicinal purpose
do they not9 Have you any objcctiC
10 our furnishing the necessary amour
for that pus &c? o no. Please il
form US now, VI you have cooled {
enough to do it, how you will contr
the article after il gets outof the Stat
Suppose the law provides that il mi
be exported for these purposes al
none else. Would that prevent d
use Iii for other purposes after il g
out Of our bounds7 A moments /
Ilee.ion will show that such n Il
would only lead tothc practice of frat
aud the only way 10 avoid the mischi
Is for every State to seize, and cont
cate. and destroy all liquors kept
illegal purposes. IL would be folly