The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-07
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION IN
CONGRESS.

In0 proposed (Otn mkb6kOn 20 O0lA0CC
Statistics on Whisky, Ssc.-The Politi-
cal Drift of the Agitation, the Suppress
sion of Intemperance, or Repressivc
Measures from Congress-Chcap Trans
portation Branch OF the Temper
ance Movement.
WASHINGTON, March 9, 1874.
For week or two past the senate has been dis
cussing from time to time joint resolution pro-
vidlng Tor the appointment by the President Of
a commission of five persons to collect statistics Of
the consumption of alcoholic liquors throughout
the United States The commissioners are to
serve without pay, and only some $4,000 will be
required for the contingent expenses OF their re-
searches. The ultimate object of their labors is
not expressed. but 1t is admitted to be some egis
lative measure or measures from Congress for the
suppression Of alcoholic intemperance. The idea
Of the commission is said to come from the Con-
gressional Temperance Society, OF which Vice
President Wilson Is an active and earnest mem
ber The statistics contemplated Will doubtless
embrace the capital and labor employed in
the manufacture of spirJuous and fermented
liquors in every State and Territory OF the Union,
and the quantities of such liquors consumed in the
several States and Territories, the number OF per-
sons In each State and Territory employed in the
liquor traic. wholesale and retail; and the stats-
tics of crime, restitution, disease and deaths re-
SulClQR lEOM LIE incorporate use Oh ALCOHOLIC
stimulants and the resulting costs and losses to
individuals, families, communities and to the
States and Territories and to the United States.
REPREssIvE MEASURES TO BE RECOMMENDED.
The commission will next doubtless recommend
some repressive measures from Congress-some
rigid system Of taxation against the manufac-
ture and sale of spirituous and fermented
liquors from the dstlllery and the brewery to the
corner grocery and the beer garden Such is
surely the Underlying purpose OF the temperance
party in this proposed commission. Their pur-
pose ia to bring the temperance agitation directly
into Congress upon bill bills for the suppress
sion OF intemperance throughout the United
States and II they suppress it in no other way
PHASE OF woMEN,s RIGHTS.
The proposition has assumed already the form Of
o republican measure. There Is O temperance
party IN many OF the States which Is deemed worth
conclllating-in New Hampshire and Connecticut,
crusade Of singing and prayer by the women OF the
West against the liquor saloons Is w0men's rights
movement which cannOtbe despised; Tor behind
these bands of singing and praying women stand
large bodies OF voters who will be heard from In
the fall elections on the temperance issue. Such
Is the DRIFT OF this temperance agitation Like the
abolition movement, having passed the incipleng
stage OF q moral agitation, 1t Is becoming ponti-
cal movement, and Is coming into Congress-.
THE COVERT DESIGN.
Democratic members may cry out State rights;
beware OF trenchlng upon state rights; beware OF
further steps towards q centralized despOtism
Mr.. Schurz may say that this commission for COL
lection OF alcoholic statistics is outside the proper
functions OF Congress; that you may as well in
qulre into the statistics OF diseases resulting from
the consumption Of soda biscuits into the evils
resulting from female extravaganza in dress; but
the liquor commission will be ordered as the clear
ing OF the ground for the suppression OF alcoholic
intemperance so far as 1t can be suppressed by act
OF Congress. There Is no harm in this commission,
In order to act wisely In tue laying of taxes upon
distileries and liquor dealers Congress may need
these proposed statistics; but 1t is movement Of
the Temperance League, and behind it lies their
grand design-the suppression Of intemperance by
cOercive measures from Congress.
GREAT INCREASE OF LIQUOR TRAFFICKRRs.
We are promised some extraordinary revelations
touching the spread OF lntemperance In all parts
Of the United States since the war, IRON the
centre all round to the sea-" We are informed
that within the last ten years, except the New
liquor saloons OF most OF the cities, towns and vii
lagos OF the Union that is perfectly astounding;
that the census Of 1870 does not furnish the needul
statistics upon that matter; that within the last
four years. from year to year, driven by want Of
other employment, or attracted by the profits OF
the retail liquor traffic. thousands upon thousands
OF men, beyond the annual average increase IN the
business before the war. have gone into It, and
particularly in the Western States. are as two to
one against the increase Of any preceding year
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION AS REMEDY.
The want OF cheap transportation in the West
has operated immensely to enlarge the manuiac-
since the war. The production OF wheat and In
dian corn In the Western States OF late years has
been 30 immense, ana mas so cheapened tile arti-
cles, that after the transportation OF these pro-
ducts to the seapoard the profits OF the farmer are
almost nothing. He converts his surplus corn,
where he can to an advantage, into beef pork,
mutton and wool; but the best article for ready
cash into which he can convert his corn 10 whiskey
Dear transportation has thus operated to increase
the whskey distilleries, whskey sellers and wills.
key drinkers over all the West. The Temperance
League, therefore, are with the grangers Tor cheap
transportation, though against the grangers in
going for exhaustive taxation on whiskey. This
Congress Will amuse the grangers in the discussion