Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-12-10

thus w0ulu nave no eHectiNe lhe, lnciS
for the others loss to the ma
ton of all the effective life to which they
might have been entitled, or 1886 years
each, giving total loss of 3l9,90S
years, with an estimate value Of S4I,-
986, 200. As crime may properly be con-
sidered in one sense but form or symp- |
tom of disease, and as it has been, and |
perhaps fairly, shown that at least three
fourths of the crimes committed in this |
nation may be traced more or less di-
rectly to the influence of alcohol, in our
estimate of the losses of the nation from
alcohol the cost of the crimes committed
annually in the country, and traceable
to the influence of alcohol, should be In
eluded. Also their cost in the direct de-
struction of fproperty, the loss of effective
life by murder and the punishment OF
criminals, and the cost of detecting, ar
resting, convicting, and Furnishing the
criminals. Greatly to my regret have
at hand no reliable data from which an
approximate estimate of these immense
losses to the nation may be computed.
think it is plain, however, that they
must be counted by hundreds of millions.
The loss, too, from accidents by sea and
land annually caused by alcohol, includ-
ing loss of property destroyed, and etfec-
tive life lost by premature death of those
killed, would foot up to millions. Also,
| if pauperism be not disease it certainly
has a very close relation to the diseases
and diseased condition of the system
caused by alcohol, and the losses Of the
nation for pauperism thus caused should
also be included in this estimate. We
have, however, no reliable data from
which we are able to express these losses
in figures. No doubt, however, the an
nual losses from crime, accidents and
pauperism attributable to alcohol would
equal or exceed S1,000000,000.
shall close this paper with few brie
propositions which l shall be glad tt
have freely discussed by the association
If any subject demands the immediate
careful, earnest, and practical considera
ton of every branch of the Government
General, State, or municipal followe'
by wise and efficient legislation, this doe:
Drunkenness is one of the greatest inju
ries to the State, and as such should b
punished as crime Tipping shop
bars and drinking saloons give origin
and promote this evil, and, as enemies
: the State, ought to be absolutely prohil
!, tied While it is right, proper, and Wis
! for the General Government to levy ia
upon the manufacture of alcoholics, bot
n for revenue and restriction, it is not wis
\ Just or expedient for it to levy tax u
:, on the retail sales of these liquors, 70
n however it may be technically conside
ed men do count paying tax to tt
= General Government for selling intox
- eating drinks a sort of justification {
!. and protection to, their business. Th
- tax has been the greatest obstacle to Il
: execution of the prohibitory laws of Il
several states. The government los
:. far more in the moral effect of such
- tax than is gained in revenue. Eve
: business is rightfnlly held responsible f
&c its evil effects. Every State Governme
should at once institute, by compete
= commission, a careful inquiry as to t
! amount of loss it suffers from the traf
= in alcoholic drinks. and should asse
i that amount upon the dealers equitabl
&c according to their sales. Such a pi
!. ceeding in each State would in five yea
! entirely abolish the traffic, and won
81 vastly inure to the benefit Of pub
90 health and welfare. If the General
: State Governments continue, implicit
or directly, to encourage and protect,
-a- even permit, the sale of intoxicati
- drinks, should they not at once ere
N. equip, and officer spacious asylums, whe
,rs they may send for the double purpose
H. punishment and cure those who have
IN come drunkards, possessed of vitiat
~ and depraved appetite? In other wor'
ge does not the principle of selfprotecti
: < require that Government should eth
ve protect their subjects from becoming {
>. ceased or criminals when possible so
, do or provide means for curative pl
Tf ishment for them when they becol
-. such