Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-06-10
A DEFENSE OF BEER DRINKING.

The Brewers National Congress has
Just closed Its session at Cleveland,
Ohio. II. II. Reuter- Of Boston, deliv-
cred an able address before the con-
yention on the 9th instant, defending
the habit Of drinking beer. As this
question Is Of interest to the general
public, particularly our German citi
zens, we abstract some Of the best por-
tions. Advocating the middle course
between total abstinence and excess,
which he claimed history proved to be
the only correct one. he said, speaking
Of Massachusetts,, "that owing to po-
litical barter and reciprocal arrange
ments between members Of the Repub-
lican party, aided BY the circumstances
that surrounded last years elections.
and included the Presidential one, it
has become possible for a faction with
political power in itself to so shape
legislation as to place our State under
the most stringent prohibitory law
which puts under some legal ban all
distilled and fomented liquors except
cider. Cider with 8 to 10 per cent.
alcohol Is left to country people to
drink, while beer and ale with 4 to 6
per cent. Of alcohol are taken from the
city jewellers and put under prohibit
tory law, 70 that virtually we have a
law which subjects q citizen to fine
and Imprisonment, which another law
sanctions In another citizen Of the
same State. A law so partial and UNI
jus, can never find support by the peo-
pie at large, and without this support
it will remain to a great extent as 1t Is
ut this moment in Massachusetts,"
lie claimed that to deny that reason
and Judgment are not sufficient to COLI
troll desires and that compulsory absti-
nence Is necessary, at once debases
mar to a lower order Of beings, aud
that as a logical sequence the exercise
Of tho strongest of all cravings and
passions should be put under some
legislative restrictions. He then went
on to say that 1t vas a duty to do bat
tie against error whenever 1t makes an
attempt to outgrow and stifle trade,
and to employ all fair means to
achieve victory, one Of the chiefest Of
which he declared to be the nom
election Of corrupt Ignorant aud fanat-
ical law-givers. He said, speaking Of
party utilization at Is time, gentle
men, that the American citizens almost
As a body. should identify themselves
with the Republican party, and have
reason to point with pride to the re-
suits achieved with their assistance. II
Is also true that this same Republican
party has, In my State Massachusetts,
admitted the doctrine Of temperance,
as represented by prohibitiouists. into
Its Platform, and Its success, which
prohibitlonists have won, Is only due
to the utilization of the Temperance
and Republican parties. l leave it to
yourself to draw your own differences,
and whatever conclusions you arrive
at. bear In mind that it Is not my pur-
pose to warn you from loug-choiced
political associations and convictions !;
but it Is my purpose to arouse my
countrymsn to a proper n and ap-
probation Of their importance, power
and influence within tho Republican
party" and concluded BY saying that
"an earnest effort would be made to
cleanse the Republican party Of the
seeds Of i'll liberty and intolerance,
but II 1t failed, such, infested party Is
no longer the political body Of the
Germsn-American element" His ideas
afford food for some reflection, and In
those States where prohibitory legisla-
tion has to some extent obtained, and
where the total prohibitionists are q
large and increasing body Of voters,
will provoke much criticism and dis.
custom.