The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-02
Beer against Rum,

Perhaps the most noticeably evident eff
feet o. the License law is the increase of
retail trade in malt liquors, especially lager
beer, and the consequent diminution in the
public consumption of the more fiery alco-
holic drinks. No one who has walked the
streets observantly can have failed to mark
the change, while visit to.any of the sa-
looms that now openly pursue trade over
which very flimsy veil of secrecy has
heretofore been thrown reveals the fact
that the harmless beverage of Gambrinus,
leisurely and comfortably taken, has driven
out, to great extent, the hot potstions
gulped down in haste while standing at q
bar. This change may be in some meas
ure due to the influence of the season, the
cool and foaming beer being supposed by
popular but erroneous superstition to have
refrigerative effect, and in part to mo-
tives of economy. Moreover, with no sta
tistics yet attainable, it is impossible to say
hoy far the use of distilled liquors has
been diminished by the increased popular.
ity Of beer. But enough is seen on every
hand TO warran: the assertion that q healthy
revolution in public drinking habits has be-
gun under the license syste1p. In SPRING
field, where the Republican newspaper has
been making inquiries, the same effect4s d.
served, the retail dealers agreeing, in the
statement that never before was swhiskey
so little in demand or the use Of malt r.
quors SO general among those accustomed
to indulgence in stronger drinks. The
same causes operate to produce this result
in other places.
While the question of the absolute gelua
of malt liquors as beverage may be len
unsettled, as is ever likely to be, there can
be no doubt Of the fact that, as compared
with spirits, their use is to be commended.
A nation of drunkards can hardly be reared
on beer or the light wines of Germany and
California, while policy which excludes
these and compels the appetite of stimulents
to satisfy itself with the products of the
still in their various shapes naturally breeds
intoXicalion and excess. If the license
law, by removing those obstacles which pro-
hibition placed in the way of indulgence in
beer, while at the same time it made easy
and profitable the stealthy use of the bottle
can bring about a change IN the character
of the popular drink substituting malt for
alchohol, it will have accomplished re,
form manifostly in the interest Of temper,
ance and morality The prohibition OF all
sales across the bar, which is universally
obcyed, has also an excellent tendency,
The temperate use of liquors. being robbed
of the element of secrecy and also of that
of illegality, which IN itself has a charm for
a certain class of minds, is in much less
danger of merging into excess. while. the
increasing popularity of the miider bever-
ages, possible under no system OF prohibi-
ton, is an efficient aid to the maintenance
of sobriety. The increasing favor with
which the lighter malt liquors are received
in this country is a healthful sign and it
would be fortunate day when the wines
of Lake Erie and California and the pro-
ducts of our breweries should drive out al
coholc potions from general use. So far az
the license law hastens this reform, must
have The approval of all classes OF citizens.
\ --BOSt0n Post. s-sf -