Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-29
VOL. XXXI.

are nine III Dumber-Wyomlng, Washing
ton, Utah New Mexico, Montana, Idaho,
Dakota, Colorado, and Arizona.
! In Colorado alone. in 1872, there were
thiruv-six manufacturers Of fermented IL
quors; and the liquor dealers of that one
ter tory paid into the national treasury
revenue tax of S25. $3.50 In the other
territories there were in 1872, of manu-
facturers of fermented liquors, in Arizona,
10; Dakota, 6; Idaho. u; Montana, SO
New Mexico, s; Utah, l6; and Washing
ton Territory, II. The last fiscal year. the
licensed liquor dealers of Arizona paid a
revenue tax on their traffic to the national
treasury of S11, 1,339. Oh of Dakota, ST.
1872, ,21 of Idaho, $40, 146. "a; of Montana,
! $27, ,065.O OF; of New Mexico. Sl5, ,690.50
of Utah, S12.02G74; of Washington Ter
ritOry. S14,66l Go; of Wyoming, $4,692,-
Ca. The aggregate revenue paid to the
national treasury by the licensed liquor
dealers of all the territories for the last
fiscal year, was $l34, ,30G.07.
?. With Congress also rests the control
of the importation of alcoholic liquors. In
1872, the trade in distilled liquors repre-
sented 4 retail value amounting to S27,-
100000; and fermented liquors. an aggre-
gate of Sl64, 800 coo. and is recognized by
the national government as having a le-
gitimate and respectable status. That this
has much to do with the perpetuation of
the harmful social drinking usages of the
country and time is, we think, only too
painfully apparent.
Upon the foregoing we now offer the
following observations:
I. The suppression of the traffic in in
toxicating drinks as a beverage is an is
sue second to none in importance to the
national welfare. Norris this by any means
a mere state or local interest. 1t is ma
tional question, and the sooner the federal
government comes to realize this, and to
act accordingly, the better will it be for
this whole people.
II. Who can doubt that it would be the
policy of a wise and enlightened states
|
edict, from all the territories, as also from
the District of Columbia, all traffic in in
toxicating liquors rs a beverage? As
another has significantly observed:
In the present law relating to the IL
quor traffic with the Indians, which ha:
been for nearly forty years upon the ma
tional statute book, we have an important
/ IL.
tory legislation 1t requires only to be
made universal inste d Of partial in its APP
Dlication' Besides, these territories
ire now in the formative period. They
ire rapidly filling up with a population by
lnd-by to be admitted to the Union rs
states Whether they shall be hencrforth h
'unsecrated to temperance and its attend
mt blessings or to inchriety and its evils,
will depend upon the action If the nation
81 government HO1C.
Let e~e territories. then, by all means,
)e preserved, if poss bic, intact from III,
erog shop system Why not? What con
,titutional provision is there to hinder
Why should not Congress interdict the
m;tnufacture. importation and sale of in
,oxicating liquors for drinking purposes in
lhesc territories. Just as they would guard
the ST re against the introduction of the
clttle-plague, or anything of kindred
terests? As further precedent in the
right direction. we quote with pleasure the
official announcement of the conditions of
sale and purchase recently applied to a
s -, h., In
authorized by act of Congress, as follows
And in all patents of land sold under
the act above referred to, there will be in
serted 4 clause f0rerer prohibiting the sale
of intoxicating liquors on said lands, I'M
der penalty of forfeiture of title thereto
III. Congress should alsorequirc hence
forth of every new territorial applicant for
admission into the Union Gas in the Omaha
Indian Reservation Land Patents a fun
damental constitutional proviSo forever pro-
hibiting the liquor traffic
". The importation of spirtuou5 liquors
should be strictly interdcted, Why not?
Have mt we the necessary authority to do
this? As another has very well said:
"Uur ports are wisely guarded against
the approach from foreign shores of chol-
era, smallpox, yellow fever, and other in
fictitious diseases which would imperil the
public health. Passenger. cargo and YES
sci are vigorously quarantincd, however
great the inconvenience or loss. But all
the infectious diseases combined give rise
to only Il small fractional part of the suf-
fering and death which imported alcoholic
poison occasions. Why should it not also
be quarantined and prohibited an entrance
into our ports hencef0rth?
All the alcohol necessary for scientific
or mechanical purposes can easily be pro-
vided here, and hence its importation is
manifestly wholly uncallcd for
V. Who is responsible for the present
condition of things? Fyr the continuance
OF suppression of the thousands of grog-
shops in the territories and in the District
of Columbia? We reply, through the me.
diumship of his citizenship under the gov.
ernment of the United States, every citizen
of this country is directly responsible for
the continuance of this gigantic evil.
VI. The aim, therefore, evidently O.
every friend of temperance in this land
nay, of every true patriot, of every lover
of his kind, and especially of every Chris
tian citizen, male or female, should be to
promote early Legislation by Congress in
The directions already herein indicated
VII. What can be done? AS suggested
in the previous article referred to, an i'm
partial national tribunal should be prompt
ly authorized by Congress, Isl, to inquire
nto and report upon the liquor traffic, and
is relations to the public welfare; and. Cd,
he results of restrictive and prohibitory
legislation in the several states of the
Union for the suppression Of intemper-
tnce
Finally, we are not, of cour>e, so san