The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-05-28
Another way 10 stop the T1ppIimw
business.

Rev. Mr. Patterson, pastor of church
in San Francisco, is warm Temperance
man. He is strongly in favor Of break
ing up the tipping business
He Is in favor '.of destroying the
g temptations now held out by thousands
q of tipping houses" Rev. Mr.. Patter-
sons plan is unique, though it is not mere
absurd than the legislation adopted with
indecent haste and in violation of the
Constitution and the forms OF law, by our
Mississippi Legislature, in the expiring
moments of the late session. Here is
Rev. Mr. Patterson's plan:
Let the United States Government,
which has now a partnership to the ex-
tent of per cent of the profits OF the
LIQUOR trade, take the whole business Of
the manufSe ture, importation. and sale,
wholesale and retail, into its own hands,
and make it a strict Government monop-
DIV, like the running of the mails, or the
coming of money, or the levying OF war,
all Of which were formerly private, or at
least commercial company operations.
Z
far more than secured, it would be
doubled, since all the profits would go to
the Government. Let the retail price be
lowered below the present figures, so as to
reduce the premium on smuggling, and
to induce the drinkers TO vote tor Govern
ment beer at 3 cents instead of saloon
beer at ) cents. Let the liquor be made
genuine and pure, and free from strych-
nine, and poisons generally. Let 1t be
sold in one place devoted To that eXclu-
sive purpose, in each town, 50 that the
business NAV stand on its own merits, and
no concealment may be possible for those
going to purchase; and let no liquor be
sold to be drank on the premises. And,
above ALL let the Government liquor
dealers have no inducement to cultivate
drunkenness, or to increase the quantity
sold by any commission, or percentage on
the amount sold, but let them be paid
regular salaries like the President, Con-
gress, officers Of the army and navy, and
customs officers.
Rev. Mr.. Patterson thinks his plan
would work like charm; that it would
Danish vile liquors which steal away mems
brains, and substitute pure and wholesome
articles at lower prices. He says what is
true, that the Government is a partner in
the liquor business and denotes a profit
OF per cent. on the large capital $50,
600, 000) invested; and that it should go
the whole swine and run the concern from
the manufacture of the article down to
its sale at three cents glass. We would
then have anew class of holders and a
new source of federal patronage to distrib-
ute.
Ridiculous as the scheme is, it would
prove not less futile in doing away with
drunkenness, than the plan adopted by our
Legislature wise-acres Inasmuch as the
Government will insist on being a partner
in the liquor business with Mr.. Patterson.
it would take care that pure articles
are manufactured AS for our temper
ance champions, they will find that the
true way to overcome the evils of which
they complain, is to address themselves
to the judgment and conscieDces of the
people and to elevate the standard Of
public opinion, so that it will discriminate
between the temperate and proper use of
ardent spirits and the abuse Of it.