Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-05-26
THE LIQUOR BUSINESS.
EXTRACTS from letter of the Hon. Francis Gillette
Connecticut

EXTRACTS from letter of the Hon. Francis Gillette of
Connecticut.
The statistics of the liquor traffic and
its evils are appalling. From the Rev.
enne Department of the United States
it appears that the people of this coun-
try paid for intoxicating drinks last year
$6OO.OOO,O which is double the value
of property destroyed by the Chicago
fire. For licenses there were paid S3,-
650,00O. One hundred and fifty thou
sand retail liquor dealers piled their
work of destruction and death, from
whose doors there staggered forth to die
100000 inebriates, leaving behind them,
of their own umber, 100000 children
to public charity or the poor house
100000 criminals in prisons, and 6Oo,-
900 drunkards following after them in
mournful procession, whose wasting
ranks are recruited chiefly by 10000
young men. Such are some of the bit
ter fruits of the labors of the 100000
engaged in the manufacture and sale of
Intoxicating liquors of this country.
Commissioner Douglass report shows
that the receipts of the Government for
intoxicating liquors for the fiscal year.
ending June 3Oth, 1871, were s3.441,-
5S8.20. Adding to this sum the amount
of receipts from tobacco during the same
year, (Which are appropriately found in
the same classifcation) S34, 8,9O7.l9.
The amount is $4,000, ,495.88, nearly
one-half of the whole annual revenue of
the United States. 1t may be thought
a wise policy thus to tax these prenicious
articles heavily, with view of dimin-
ishing their consumption, but it is no
pleasant reflection to the patriot, that
half his country's revenue is devised
from agencies which are intensely active
day and night in sapping its foundations,
and corrupting all the fountains of its
prosperity and life, the government thus
verifying the old classic story of Acteon
being served by mean dogs, only to be
devoured by them, at last. And instead
of lessening the use, the real effect of
this policy is to throw the burden of
the revenue devoid from the dangerous
source, over from the liquor dealers on
to the trembling shoulders of their mis-
erable customers
From the foregoing facts and statis-
tics, among many more, it appears that
the dram shop is at war with every prin-
ciple of good government. and every fea.
ture of wise public policy. 1t robs
the State of its natural defenders. by
vitiating the blood and wasting the
strength of its citizens, Transforming
stout and brave men into cowardly sots.
1t snatches from the community the
shield of governmental protection, and
exposes person and property, life and
liberty to be destroyed by its criminals
It's baleful fruits are mobs, murders
robberies and riots. Tammany is hid
eous, but behind Tammany are 7OOC
dram shops, melting its villairies anc
backing its villains. 1t quadruples oul
public taxes, filling our poor houses anc
prisons, insane hospitals, and inebratt
asylums, and the courts with criminals
1t vitiates our politicians, who.are hearc
to say unblushingly that one thousand
dollars disbursed among dram shops
to bribe voters on election day, and more
effective for 1.-The party than ten thou
sand dollars expended in enlightenine
their understanding. 1t fosters tn,
gaming house. the brothel, the refuge O
the counterfeiters, the midnight plot ant
the den of thieves. 1t lights the mattel
of the incendiary, drives home the blad,
of the murderer, and brandishes the clul
of the highwayman. 1t grasps the bal
lot box to strengthen and consolidate it.
colossal power. Its rings and league
prevade the whole country backed b,
unlimited resources of money and un
scrupulous audacity to buy up politicians
carry elections, corrupt Legislators, bribt
judges suborn witnesses and debaucl
juries.