The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-06
SHALL WE PLANT TEL 4?

whiskey may fairly be said to be our ma
tional beverage. Col Bungstartcr Of Virginia,
high authority on all matters pertaining to
whiskcy. has recently made public some very
Instructive statistics in connection with this in
teresting subject He estimates that in Mary
land Virginia. North Carolina. South Carolina
Georgia Alabama. Tennessee. Kentucky, Ar
kansas. and Missouri. each adult male citizen
absorbs daily, on I'm average. sixteen square
drinks Of whiskey year ia aud year out.
TO tho generous use Of this cxhlarating hoy
erage the Colonel chiefly ascrbes the great ma
tcrial prosperity. the high state Of civilization.
and tho chivalric tone which obtains in those
States.
Lager beer. OF late years 80 popular. is con-
DENIED by the Colonel wanting in all the
moro delicate and subtle elements which have
made whiskcy 30 valuable an adjunct in the
cause OF American civilization. He boldly pro-
claims that if these United States are the great
est nation on the face Of the earth. and can with
perfect ease whip all creation. II is simply be-
cause We are the largest whskcy producing
and whiskey consuming people in the world
Con. lie Due Commissioner of the Agricul-
tural Department at Washington takes entirely
opposite ground: he believes that tea. and tea
alone. has built up the country
In pamphlet treating Of the culture Of the
tea plant In America. the General shows by
treasury statistics that the value Of the annual
importations Of ten intothis country from China
and Japan amounts to .2O0OO0o0 in coin.
The Commissioner proposes to avoid the pay
mcnt OF this large sum to foreign countries by
raising tea at home.
H. points out that all those States. the adult
male population Of which, according to
Col. Bungstarters statistics. nourish them
selves chiefly on whiskey. are admirably
adapted TO the culture of tea. being in
corresponding ATTITUDES with those regions
in China Assam. and Japan in which
tea l. successfully cultivated. Commits
sioncr 10 Due thinks tea can b. made great
American staple; that we can not only supply
tho home consumption. but in the course Of
time compete with China and japan in supply
ing the markets of the world.
4 japanese colony in California are now
planting tea. with what success we are unable
TO say.
Col Bungstarter views with alarm tho pro-
posed planting OF tea throughout the southern
States. In Roanoke county public sentiment is
strongly against the plan. In speech rccontly
made ut Roanoke Court House-durnc which
the Colonel omptied the contents Of two bottles
of Baumgartncrs best whiskey-ho unhesi-
tatinglv declared that the general cultivation Of
tea in the Old Dominion would ultimately re-
suit in the disusc OF whiskcy the consequent
deterioration of the first families Of Virginia.
and the gradual assimilation OF the whole pop
ulation 60 the debased condition Of the Heather
Chlnec.
Amid the most enthusiastic chccrs and cries
of Down with tea. whskey forever the
Colonel descended from the rostrum. stepped
out tho back door Of the Court House. and
walked over to Ryan's grocery. whore he treat
ed the crowd.
The question OF raising ten in this country Is
just at presen, the all-absorbing topic at Wash
ington. The silver agitation. the repeal of tho
Resumption bill. TIL l.ihsoTurkish armstice.
and the Mexican question. are all for the mo-
ment forgotten.
1t is understood that Mr.. Dodge. the statisti-
elan of the Agricultural Department has
espoused the cause Of Col. Buncstartcr. Al all
events. he openly declares in opposition TO
Commissioner Lc Due. that tea cannot be
grown In this country, protests aga inst embark
| INK in the experimental cultivation Of tea. and
! insists that no portion Of the appropriation an
nuslly made to the department he devoted to
developing the theories Of the Commissioner
ancnt the proposed new American staple.
Commissioner lie Due very naturally looks
upon Mr.. Dodge IA the chief obstruction to his
admirable plan, by which every free born
| American will be enabled to raise and drink hi-
own tea. He has courteously asked Mr.. Dodge
90 resign. and Mr. Dodge has as courtcously re-
fused. II Is n mighty pretty fight as II stands
II seems To- us that Col. Bunestart"r l. right
about wliskey. and vet Commissioner Le Du'
| does not seem far wrong about ten.