The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-24
A Temperance Movement Where il is
Most Wanted,

heretofore the evil has been deemed incura-
BILE because so large part OF the public rev.
enuc Is derived from the tax on alcohols. OF
late, however, a vigorous movement has been
begun in favor of materially restricting the
sale of intoxicating liquors throughout the
country and of prohibiting 1t altogether in
those communities where local sentiment
shall approve such step. The facts relating
to this project of reform are set forth by
Nine NovIKoFF in the Nineteenth Century,
and they show that not only are the Russian
people awakened to the necessity of restric-
tive legislation hut that the Government is
seriously considering the question whether
it ought not to risk the diminution of in
come which might result from such an inno-
walton.
1t is computed that in Russia the consump-
ton of alcohol per head is nearly twice MS large
rs IL is in England although the consumption
of beer is five times greater in the latter coun-
try. The outlay for acohol, however, even
If it We're nomnally the same, would involve
n much heavier strain upon the resources of
the workngman in Russia than IN England,
because the Muscovte peasants are much
poorer than the English working classes.
They live on rye bread, oatmeal, cabbage
soup, and salt fish, and the ma jorty of them
never taste flesh except on feast days. They
really have no surplus to spend on drink,
and it follows that the money diverted to
that object can only be obtained by de-
priving a family of absolute necessi-
ties. 4 recent investigation of the subject
in nineteen communes showed that. as
rule, the number of ruined homes correspond
nl u, hn pnrnl,nr ,f ,,i,l,li,. bnpsnc in q
munity. Some of the examples cited by
Nine. NovIKoFF are impressive. Thus three
public houses We're opened in the village of
Jarnovo. which possessed 203 homesteads
more than ordinarily prosperous. Not long
afterward l3 per cent. of the householders
were completely ruined, Is others had no
horse, and So had not even cow AS the
possession of at least one horse and one COW
is deemed Indispensable to the working Of a
farm, it follows that 50 per cent. Of the peas
ants in this place had sunk below the mini
mum of agricultural equipment. In another
village which had proportionately less land,
and which was more heavily taxed by the
Government, but where luckily there were
no drinking shops, only out OF the 50 house.
holders We're without COW. similar con-
trast was exhibited by all the other villages
examined. The results of this and other in
vestigations have convinced patriotic Rus
slams that for the regeneration Of the peas
antry the temperance question is only Sec
ond in Importance to the question Of emanc-
patton. Accordingly an organized crusade
against the indscriminate sale Of intoXicat-
ing liquors has been undertaken by the
National or Slavophile party, and since the
| ~ Az uy . hos ,toip oh
the more or less sincere countenance Of the
Government.
The National party insist that the fiscal
necessities of the Government must give way
to the vital interests Of the people. They
| point out, moreover, that even from the
| point of view of revenue the tax levied on
the sale Of drinks has been pushed to its ut
most limits. The duty has been nearly
doubled since 1868, but that it can be no
further augmented is proved by the fact that
Notwithstanding the increase in population,
the consumption has fallen off nearly seven
per cent At present the revenue derived
from this source is about Sl15,O00,000, and
many Of the st. Petersburg newspa-
perS strenuouSly oppose the temperance
movement because it threatens seri-
Gus curtailment of this sum, and q conse.
Quent deficit in the Treasury. But ac.
cording to NJ. KATKoFF and other advocates
OF the reform, this deficit could be Offset il
two ways. In the first place, if intemperance
could be materially checked, the peasant
could afford to pay larger taxes than he pays
now, while impoverished by alcohol. More.
over, the State could insure itself agains,
loss through the diminished consumption by
l;,i,, tl, -, ~
manufacture of tobacco is monopolized by
the State in France. 1t appears that in Rus
STA, including Poland and Siberia, there are
upward of 1850 distilleries. If the profits
now absorbed by them could be secured by
the Government, q greatly diminished sale
might still bring in the same revenue as is
now derived from duties alone.
That the Government Is disposed to lister
to the representations OF the National party
is indicated by its appointment OF a com
mittee to draw up a scheme Of temperance
reform The plan outlined by them has beef
submitted to board of experts, taken from
all parts OF the empire, and the project, as
amended and sanctioned by this commission
is now published. It's leading feature i.
the establishment of local option. 1t Il
proposed to give the communes the rlgh
to close all places for the sale o
drink within the communal limits. TIL,
introduction of the Gotenburg system
is also recommended, tho commune!
to be permitted to establish communal mo
nopoies for the sale Of drink. II is not gen
orally known that local option and th'
Gotenburg system are already in successful
operation in the Grand Duchy of Finland
There the towns and rural communities an
thorize or not, as they choose, the establish
mcnt Of public houses within their limits
II the vote is for license the sale of spirits 4
intrusted to a Joint stock society, who's
profits, after certain deductions, are EN-
ployed in works Of public utility. We scared,
need remind the reader that under thissyste
the sellers OF spirits have no personal inter
est in pushing the sale Of drink; but, on tn
contrary, their retention Of their position
depends on their enforcing the strict rule
against the sale of intoxcants to drunke
men or to women and children. The expert
cnce OF Finland had made such an impressio
on the Russian commission that many mem