Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-09-03
Spirit Of Jeffersol1.
LIQUOR VERSUS BREAD.


The following. statistics are taken from
speech delivered in the House of Represent
atives, December 9th. 1876, by the Hon.
Ell. W. Blair, of New Hampshire, on the
joint resolution introduced by him, pro-
posing an amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, in regard to the manu-
facture and sale of Intoxicating liquors.
Figures will not lie, and the earnest and
prayerful attention of the Christian peo-
pie of Jefferson is respectfully asked on the
great subject Of the terrible evils of intem-
perance. The information is drawn from
the census returns, from records of the de-
partments of Government reports, from State
authorities and declarations from prominent
end responsible staticians.
In 1870, the tax collected by the Internal
Revenue Department was upon ~, ,425, 353
gallons of proof spirits and 6,0S1 $50 barrels
of fermented liquors. Commissioner Delano
estimates the consumption of distilled spirits
in 1869, at S0,000,000 gallons.
1t is well known that the great mass of
alcoholic liquor is consumed as q beverage,
and it will fall below the fact to place the
amount paid for at retail by the American
dripker at 75000,000 gallons yearly. But
take the very modest estimate of DR.. Young,
Chief of the Bureau of statistics, who makes
the following estimate of the sales of liquors
in the fiscal year ending juno lst. Isl
Whs!sey, alone. 60 .OOO,O ,OO0 gals a Sc
Imported Spirits, 2,506,O6o gals. =. .o,' 'ooo
Imported ~ = tee Vine, Vine, 10, zoo. COO gals. So
Ale, beer rec; and porter 8 6,506,O00 gals
a SO pcrbbl., ret all. 10000, 600
Native wines, brandles &C.. estilna-
tea 81. .oUU.UUO
Total, S $40, 200, COO
This would pay for loo, 900 900 barrels of
flour, averaging two and one half barrels to
every man weman and child in the country.
Take, now, DR.. Houng's moderate estimate
Of 5000, ,0OO, 600 annually, aud relying upon
the official records of the country, and in
sixteen years we have destroyed in drink,
80 GOO, ,000, 900, more than four times the
amount of the national debt. The assessed
value of all the real estate in the United
States is S9,0l4, $50, ,S25 of personal ST.
264, POS ,907. In twenty-five years we drink
ourselves out of the value Of our country,
personal property and all.
The average is larger since 1872, exceed
ing S700, 100000. Each family by the
O nsus averages 500 persons, and we spend
for liquor at the rate of SS1.74, each. The
loss to the nation, in perverted labor, is very
great. In 1872, there wore 1876 licensed
wholesale liquor establishments 16l 144 per-
sons licensed to sell at retail. 1t is said,
there are as many more unlicensed retail
shops. All these places of traffic must om.
ploy at least one half-million of men,
There were then, 3, 1872 distilleries, which
would certainly employ ivo mon each, say
1860.
The Brewers Congress 10 1874 said that
there were employed in their business H.
Cos. There would be misceilanoously en-
ployed about breweries and distilleries l0,>
| 600; in selling, say 100000. In all, say
| $50, 900 able bodied men who, SO far as dis
| tilled liquors are concerned at least consti-
tute standing army constantly destroying the
| American people. They create more havoc
| than an opposing nation which should main
| tain hostile force of half = million armed
men, constantly making war against us upon
| our own soil. The temple of this Janus is
always open. ..
There are 600, 900 habitu.l drunkards in
the United States. If they lose half their
the nation in productive power, and in wages
| and health to both the nation and themselves
every year.
BY this Same process, 40, 900 bushels
of nutritious grain are annually destroyed ;
equal to 100000 900 four pound loaves
about so loaves for each family in the coun-
try These are startling figures. Truth is
more horrible than fiction. Crime and pau,
perism are the direct results of this traffic
Riot and bloodshed flow from it. Death
turks in every drop of this distilled poison.
The flower of the flock, the big Drained and
g-headed young men of our land. those
around whom the hopes of our country and
tho best love of our hearts cling, are falling
year by year, day BY day, before the mighty
army of licensed destrcycrs. Are you, indi,
vdualIy, doing anything to stop this work
Have you SO much as lifted up your little
finger TO help the cause of temperance in
your midst? Have you encouraged, by
your voice or presence, the temperance organ.
ization= of your country? Arc you willing
to help the cause of humanity by your vote
Your vote against license, against the horrid
traffic in all its hideous forms? For after
all there is but one cure for this curse, and
that is moral suasion for the tempted, Ian. for
The tcmpicr. Around the tempted throw
the arm of love, and over them hold the
shield of prayer; but around the tempters
hold the strong arm of the law; snd over
them hang the sword of justice. Thou art
thy brothers keeper
Very respectfully,
A ". HAWKS