Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-09
The War on the MOonshincrs.
A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLIc
STILLS

The great pressure brought to bear on illicit
distillation in North and South Carolina, Geor-
gla and other states Of the south, where the
business has been carried on with much sue
cess, has had the effect to completely demora,-
lze the distillers who, finding that the revenue
homes and fed to the mountains In North
Carolina the policy was first triumphant, then
followed Georgia, North Alabama and Ten
nessee: where good and substantial results
were obtained. But in South Carolina the
distillers were so protected by their position
In the mountain faStnesses, that they cOnSid-
cred themselves beyond the reach of the law,
and banded themselves together to resist the
officers, and utterly refused to give up their
fraudulent business. Collector Boynton
fully alive to the necessity of suppressing the
many frauds in his district, and being author
lied TO employ the necessary force for the pur
pose. so reinforced his regular deputies with
Especial possee that he was enabled to was ge
vigorous war on the distillers, who found that
Illicit diStliling was too dangerous business
to be pursued, and many were constantly
lying out in the mountains to avoid arrest.
Raum's letter of the 3lst July, lSs distiiie:s
came into court and openly confessed their
guilt; they were released upon recOgnances,
and their sentence suspended Immediately
this policy was attacked by the Charleston
Neics and Courier, and the distillers warned
that 1t was but trick to encompass their
foment further .trouble between the distillers
and the government would have been success
full but for the prOmptness with which the
charge was met by Commissioner Raum,
who, in the letter to Collector Brayton, re.
ferred to above, said: If the facts are as
stated in the Ne,os and Courier that number
Of Illicit diStillers have surrendered them
selves. you are authorized in the most public
manner to announce that the government will
act in the utmost good faith towards them,
and ii they abstain from violations of the law
and contribute to public sentiment favora-
Die to the enforcement OF the law they will
place themselves in position to entitle them
selves to the clemency of the government, aud
have no doubt will receive it,
This letter, together with one to Revenue
Agent Chapman, of similar tenor, was pub
llshed throughout the state, and SO Influenced
public sentiment that the revenue officers
held by the state courts for the killing of a
man named Ladd, have been turned over to
the United states marshal, and over two hun
dred Illicit diStillerS have come in and con
fessed their guilt in order to avail themselves
OF the terms Of the policy, and more are ex-
pected in today.
Collector Brayton, in telegram to Commls-
sloner Raum, just received here, says" The
Vlgor with which the revenue laws have been
enforced. as well as the publicity given to rev.
enue affairs in this district, have accomplished
good. 1t is to be hoped that better public
sentiment will be awakened. 1t is generally
admitted that there never was time when
Illicit dlStIflng was so nearly suppressed i'm
this state. This has resulted from the active
and persistent enforcement of the laws