The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-10

robbery in certain branches Of the revenue
must have increased enormously.
Mr.. FEssENDEN estimated the produo-
ton of whiskey In 1863 ut hV'vo'oVo
gallons, and there IL good reason 10 De-
heve that he did not exceed the marx III
those figures. The internal revenue DOCKS
do not reach up to any such total; they
only show the amount collected and not
the amount produced, the difference be-
tween the two being the amount stolen.
Mr.. SHERMAN aud other Republican SEN
ators interested In concealing the corrup-
ton of their party, deny that there has been
any such production rs Mr.. FEssENDEN be
lievcd there was thirteen years ago, when
lac made the investigation with care.
At any rate, tho returns of the Bureau
of Internal Revenue show an almost sta
tionary condition, which is wholly incon-
sistent with the growth of population aud
the growing consumption OF whiskey.
Since 1863 duty has been collected on but
GIG, 500. 600 gallons or an averageof about
4s,2s2, 600 gallons year. This result, In the
face of experience, is absurd. Everybody
will admit 1t to be less than half Of the
consumption.
Now, instead OF adopting Mr. FEssEN-
DENIS estimate OF 10000, 900 gallons, let us
assume a production annually of but 60
900, 900. In thirteen years the total would
be si5OOOOO0 gallons. or 2290O0,O00 more
than the Treasury reports show. The tax
has huctuated from hfty cents to 81 per
gallon. Averaging 1t Mt ninety GEMS, there
would be "a deficit of revenue Oh this arti-
Gle alone OF S2O6.0O0 90.
In these figures tho estimate made by
Mr.. CURTIS is almost literally verified. one
fourth of the revenue was stolen; and this
was done by an ingenious method of rus
cality wholly unknown to the public plum
dercrs Of a former day, who from time to
time made away with the money In their
keeping, and were easily caught by an ex-
animation of their books and accounts.
These modern Republican thieves seem to
have adopted all the newest improvements,
and to have organized methods TO make
detection dfficult, and often wholly i'm
practicable.
They steal the revenue which should go
into the Treasury, but not after collection.
! The dIstillers aud rehners combine with
the revenue officers on the spot and at
| Washington to defraud the Government
out of the tax, and to augment the pro-
| duction to the extent OF their capacity.
With these advantages they rule the mar
ket, and thus have been enabled by fright
full gains to control the Republican party
in Congress, in many of the States, and TO
effect a lodgment in the White House.
| With these immense resources and an
organization without parallel for power
the whiskey Ring cannot easily be de-
stroyed. Had Mr.. BRIsTow remained in
the Treasury, and been succeeded by a
Secretary such as Mr. TILDEN will appoint
after the 4ih OF March next, the back of
this formidable Ring might have been
broken. Now there Is every prospect
that II will be restored to its former as
tendency during the remainder of GRANTS
term, aud probably with "a greater license
than ever before. BRTsrow and all the
honest officials who prosecuted this class
OF public thieves are driven out, and their
places filed with such men as the plum
derers desire.
The President has already pardoned sew.
eral OF the convicted crew, and others ar,
confidently awaiting release. Indictments
have been quashed by the score, and pub
lie notice has been served that the guilt :
are TO escape and the innocent are to b,
prosecuted. LOGAN and his confederate:
strut about the Senate with fresh conf
dence. aud the attorneys, agents, and pen
sioners OF the Ring in Congress rejoice
with exceeding joy, and gloriiy GRANT AS
| q benefactor.