National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-01
WHISKY AND EDUCATION.

Of all the bills introduced in Congress up TO
this date the most important one is undoubtedly
the measure introduced by Senator Logan, pro-
viding that the entire revenue from the mnnufac-
ture Of ana the trade in whisky nbout hfty to
sixty millions of dollars annually be distributed
for school purposes according to their population.
among those States which favor, or rather will in.
troduce OF have introduced, compulsory education
for all children from seven to Twelve years Tho
Chicago Tribune in commenting upon this measure,
holds that 1t would tend to demonstrate some sort
Of pocticnl justice II whisky, which had already
done so much harm, could directly be made sub
servieut TO educating the masscs-that whisky
would become the servant Of the school. But
aside from this poetIcal consideration this bill
takes n decidedly practical turn; for in every
state, and especially on the part of the farming
population,
is alwaysoonsidercd asa rytiresomc burden be.
cause Of its being n direct tax which has to be
paid cash, and any such tax no matter whether
light or heavy, is ill.fyored by everybody called
upon to pny H. According TO Logans bill, how
ever, the school.tnx would in some States either
fall out nliogcher aud be thing of the past, or II
would H. other Stnte, be reduced to n nominal
rate hardly worth mentioning, The revenue
from whisky amounts TO about 81 20 per head Of
the population of The United States, and the share
Of the State Of Illinois would therefore amount TO
about three and onc-half million dollars, which
suin would come near covering the tax levied for
school purposes, this measure would become, Of
course, very material and
REMARKABLE SAVING
to the tax. payer the in Illinois as in every
other state, and the consumer Of whisky would
without hardly perceiying II take the burden of
supporting the public schools of the shoulders of
alone, il carried out, is decided step il the right
directions far better, however, Is the proyiso that
In disposing of the revenue from whisky IN this
manner only those States invorng and introducing
compulsory education should be recognized
There nre up 10 the present time only few sntcs
where compulsory education exists; but If Lo-
btpnlupg
hasten to follow the example of those few, and in
appropriating the revenue from whisky for school
| purposes compulsory education would thus be-
| come u profitable blessing. In opposition TO this
we hear of Two opinions-iirst, the one entertained
| OF the tax on whisky, If not abolishing 1t alto
gcher, and second, thGtth entire surplus revenue
of tue Government, the, revenue from whisky in;
| cludcd, be appropriated for paying the principal
| of the national debt. In regard to the opinion
first alluded to, there is but
VERY SLIM PROSPECT
for ultimate success True that there are a num-
ber Of very good and honest people who would
like TO enjoy cheaper whisky" but their number
Is insignificant and disappears In comparison with
the number of those who firmly believe that the
manufacture of and the trade in whisky cannot
be taxed high enough, and 1t Is equally true that
Ra1 nS Of %Gr Ggh ax Si aS oS RRRsRy RRRs9onA And
If the receipts of the Government, in con-
tnuing to collect n tax OF, whisky, amount from
more than the expenditures, the question arises
what shall be done with the surplus2 Shall ~
| exclusively be USED toward reducing inc nAllOnHl
deDt2 But why? Is it not true that the next
generation is equally participant of the blessings
resulted from successful but costly struggle for
National Union? Is II not highly proper that the
next generation, too, should pay their share of the
dcbt2 Is II not sufficient that the present genera
ton has within seventeen years,
PAID ONE THOUSAND MILLION DOLLARS
Of this debt and reduced the interest deb
from slGO,OOOOOO to S6OOOO,OOO? Would i
. not be proper and sufficient If iron
this timo ON only one-half or less o
the annual surplus would be appropriated for tht
reduction OF the national debt, aud the balance b,
expended IN such manner that the present gen
Grafton could derive some benefit from such cN
peuditures? And If all this be admitted us proper
| the only question would be, shall the surplus rev
enuo be used in supporting the schools or for
| navy? True that the United States is In need o
II navy. But, innsmuch rs We have not the slightes
| reason to commence hOstiitics with any iOrcigI
| power at sea, we can safely say, between n navI
and the schools, always the schools. To Europeai
lnanCieTs the present financial condition of thu
United States appears like n tale
{ FROM THE FAIRY LAND.
for there Is no country across the water able Il
save one hundred millions annually without
knowing what to do with the surplus. The fa
best method Of dispOsng of this surplus is the ont
introduced by Senator Logan. although IL look
somewhat trhgl-ComicAl TO see Mr.. Logan. VIII
since ten years strictly sticks to the cause of tenn
pepncc, abused by the cold water crowd, wh
dcnounCe him MS dCserter from their camp, OF
account of this very commcndablc, wise, an
statcsmaulike measure introduced by him; for
IL Is adopted long lease ol lie Is secured to III
manufacture of aud trade in whisky as n mean
to support public instruction. They Uhe temper
anCe people, however, aimut nothing less than tn
total destruction of the disilleries land breweries
How Senator Logan gets along with them is M
our business to investigate. He went TO bed wit
= them years ago; may he look out for himself ho
. he rests with them"