The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-06-24
FOR PRESIDENT:
ULYSSES 8. GRANT,
THE WHISKY TAX.

THE WHISKY TAX.
Sometime ago there WAS quite a sensation
produced in the country by the report OF Gen
Van wyck, NJ. Q. from New York, In refer
enee to the frauds upon the revenue By tn,
whisky ring. Several members Of the com
lnittee were somewhat startled by what the,
at that time were pleased to consider an II
regular proceeding on the part Of the Genera
III the presentation and publication Of his re
lort.
ar. Van Wyck's report was about the frsi
ventilation OF the immense frauds which this
thoroughly organized ring of plunderers have
been, and still are, perpetrating upon the rev
cnue system OF the country.
Since General Van Wyck had the sagacity
to see, and the holiness to lay bare, the nefa
rious schemes of robbery in which this ring 1,
engaged new developments have been coming
TO the light OF day till the bIindest Of the blind
are now obliged to acknowledge that wha,
hr. Van wyck unearthed, and brought to the
light of day, was but the foreshadowing OF 8
systematic plan of robbery and corruption,
which in Its magnitude 10 both astounding
and wicked to the last degree.
1t Is well, perhaps, for the country that light
IS breaking forth, and that knowledge of
i'auds of the most gigantic nature are known
- have been perpetrated In the interest OF
e whisky ring. II il at least some satisfac-
lion to know that the Committee OF WAYS and
!leans are now so well satisfied of the fraudu.
mt practices in this department, that they
] ave agreed to reduce tho tax to sixty cents.
= were better to reduce 1t to TWENTY-FIVE;
itill, If we can do no better let 1t be nfty-sny
thing that will break up this ring and scatter
tIe myrmidoms OF fraud and corruption and
mus relieve the country from q system OF or
Eani1ed corruption such as no nation on the
Elooe has ever known or experienced.
II there is anything in this land calculated
10 show the imbecility and downward tend.
'ncy OF our Government, and lead all people,
everywhere, to adopt the conclusion that re.
publican governments are failures, u ia this
immense and bare-faeed and impudent Robbery
Which has been introduced by these officials
Under the bribery and the corrupting influences
which have been resorted to 10 the collection
az the whisky tax.
General Van wyck sounded the alarm a. an
carly day, and though he was assaulted by
iItny who affected to disbelleve hls state.
ilents, and who complained that he acted In
~ Unauthorized way, II must now be con.
Used that he was right. He deserves the
thanks of the country for his earnest and
truthful endeayOrs to lay bare the nefarious
nrd "o.rupt rs...I.s. which ,-ers and .,ul are
IN vogue. His constituents and the country
will honor him for his outspoken views. One
hundred millions Of gallons of whisky manu-
hctured last year which tax, at q per gallon,
would have paid into the Treasury s2oO, 900 900,
rays less than 10000, OoO!i
The people will take notice Of facts like
These in times when the nation Is fairly stag.
Eering under an enormous burden OF taxation
nGA debt.
We have just this to say to our Congress,
That 1t must move in this business 1t must
7'ke early measures to break up the whisky
nnd the tobacco rings. 1t must clean out the
iordes OF plunderers who hold Official po,I.
1soHsi In short, our members Of Congress must
come to the acknowledgment of that truth
which General Van Wyck made plain to them
and the country months ago; and a change
1nust be made which will relieve the country
from the control OF irresponsible whisky dis
'IIlers and their tools 10 and out OF Office.
TEE WHIsKY TAx.-The Grand Jury of the
'nited States District Court for Pennsylva.
MA, In their recent prcsentment, added the
weight OF their testimony to the almost uni.
Nefsal opinion that the high tax on whisky 10
Inc prohhc source OF misery and corruption,
while it utterly fails in its object of yielding
an adequate revenue to the Government. The
presentment very truly and pithily says: "The
hiEh tax does not diminish the consumption
III drinking. Fraudulent distillation does not
cheaper Tito consumers for drinking purposes,
neither In the alcoholic form for the arts or
artisans, for medical purposes, compounds,
7!nctures, lotions, &c; neither for cosmetics
and the various preparations OF cologne water.
The importation OF which, from the high priee
OF alcohol, Is vastly increased. These uses
JNst enumerated probably consume as much
whisky As drunk. The money, 1t 10 believed,
intde by this fraudulent distillstion goes into |
The pockets OF these trafilckers instead of the |
J. Inls of the Csnyprnma mt
,cct before Congress that Is more pressing
than the tax on distilled spirits and with all |
Apnest men in the country who are familiar
with the practical workings Of the law, In IA
'or OF Aretorm that is only opposed by the
Ubiquitous whisky ring, there should be no
hrsltation at affecting such legislation as will
break up this terrible source OF corruption.
NoMSATIoNs.- The President yesterday
sent to the Senate the following nomin stIons:
l.. ., Perrin, to be Chief Justice OF Utah Ter
i!'oryi Commander John q. Febiger, to be
captain in the navy; Commander Pierce
crosby, to be captain in the navy John J,
liSsett, to be hrst assistant engineer In the
haYyj Joseph NJ. Simms, Robert NJ. CIark, and
John owen to be third lieutenAnts In the
revenue cutter service.
The question Of whom will the Fourth of
IuIy convention nominate, 10 being involved
still more and more in doubt, from day to dav, ,
We incline to the opinion that the successful
"Nndidate will be some new and unthought.of
man, and that all of the present contestants
VIII be dropped. Z
'ITr MATTERs.-Mayor Bowen resumed the
'"'Ies OF his ottice yesterday, having partially
.'oYered from his severe indisposition. He
anxious to go on with the business OF the
operation, and slight convalesconce Is suE
Client to ind him at his post OF duty. i
1T WAS EXPECTED some days ago that Judge q
Ichard Busted would go for Mr.. Chase for
resident instead OF Gen. Grant. The Tribune ~
lntradicts this story, and says that Judge q
iehard Busted will take stump for Grant, A
''h In the North and in the South. u
FNON SHiLLISGTos, corner OF Four-and-a- n
B III and Pennsylvania avenue we have 1.-THE c
Nnrs"ry," monthly magazine for youngest a
a nIcfs for July.
IT is UNDERSTOOD that Mr.. Evarts will v
Neept the Attorney Generalship, II confrmed b
W the Senate. a