Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-07-28
Beer Against Rum.

Perhaps the most noticeably evil
dent effect of the License law is the
increase OF retail trade in malt liquors,
especially lager beer, and the conse-
quent diminution in the public con
sumption of the more fiery alcoholic
drinks No one who has walked the
streets observantly can have failed to
mark the change, while visit to any
Of the saloons that now openly pursue
trade over which very fimsy veil
Of secrecy has heretofore been thrown
reveals the fact that the harmless bev-
erage Of Gambrinus, leisurely and
comfortably taken, has driven out, to
a great extent, the hot potations gul.
ped down in haste while standing At a
bar This change may be in some
measure due to the influence of the
season, the cool and foaming beer be-
ing supposed by popular but errone-
Gus superstition to have a refrigerative
effect, and in part to motives OF econ
omy Moreover, with no statistics
yet attainable, it is impossible to say
how far the use of distilled liquors has
been diminished by the increased
popularity of beer But enough is
sen on every hand to warrant the as
serlion that a .heathy revolution in
public drinking habits has begun I'M
der the license system. In Springfield.
where the Republican newspaper has
been making inquiries, the same eff
feet is observed, the retail dealers
agreeing in the statement that never
before was whiskey so little in demand
or the use Of malt liquors 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
value of malt liquors as a beverage
may be left unsettled, as 1t is ever
likely to be, there can be no doubt of
the fact that, as compared with spirits,
their use is 10 be commended. A ma
ton of drunkards can hardly be reared
on beer Or the light wines of Germany
and California, while a policy which
excludes these and ,,compels the appe
tite for stimulents to satisfy itself with
the products of the still in their vari
Gus shapes naturally breeds intoxica-
ton and excess. If the License law,
by removing those obstacles which
prohibition placed in the way Of indul-
gence in beer, while ut the same time
it made easy and profitable the stealthy
use OF the bottle, can bring about ;
change in the character of the popular
drink, substituting malt for alchohol
it will have accomplished a reform
manifestly in the interest Of temper
ance and morality. The prohibition
of all sales across the bar, which i,
universally obeyed, has also an excel
lent tendency. The temperate use Of
liquors, being robbed of the elemen,
OF secrecy and also of that of illegality
which in itself has charm for Ger
tain class of minds, is in much less
danger of merging into 'Acess. while
the increasing popularity OF the mildel
beverages, possible under no system
of prohibition, is an efficient aid to tn,
maintenance of sobriety. The increas
ing favor with which the lighter NAL
liquors are received in this country il
healthful sign; and it would be ;
fortunate day when the wines of LAX,
Erie and California and the products
of our breweries should drive out al
coholic potions from general use. Sc
far as the License law hastens this re
form, it must have the approval of al
classes of citizens.-BoStOn Post.