The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-10-05
IN. Y. Tribune.1
Size Of the Temperance. Question.

Size OF the Temperance.Q Question.
1t does no good for men to sneer a
the agitation in regard to the liquo
traffic. The subject is too importan
to be laughed down. It may be tina
prohibition is not the right way tx
settle it, or that license is not, or tina
taxation is not; these are fair ques
tions upon which a difference Of opin
ion between sincere and candid mer
is possible. But the subject has be.
come altogether too important to be
ignored, or passed over without any
serious attempt to settle it. Aside
from the law-defying spirit which il
has elected, aside from all its mora
and religious aspects, the question
considered purely as one Of dollars
and cents, in its effect upon the Ma
tional prosperity and wealth, is one Of
the most important that can be named
Directly and indirectly, this coun-
try spends in the liquor traffic every
year sum exceeding half the Nation
al debt. The cost of that traffic to
the country, direct and indirect, is
greater than the profits Of all it's cap
ital not invested in real estate. 1t
costs every year more than our whole
Civil Service, our Army, our Navy,
our Congress, including the River and
Harbor and the Pension bills, our
wasteful local governments, and all
National, State, county and local
debts, besides all the schools in the
country. In fact, this Nation pays
more for liquor than for every func-
ton of every kind Of government.
How is a question Of that size to be
put aside with sneer?
AS these statements may seem sur
prising to those who have not looked
into the matter, few figures may be
of service. A glass Of beer costs the
consumer 5 cents, and there are at
least twenty in the gallon, and $40 in
the barrel, so that beer retails at about
S32 barrel, while ale costs still more.
The consumption of beer and ale last
year was about 100000 barrels;
cost to consumers about $3.50, 900.
The cheapest kind of liquor used, Or
dinary whisky, is rarely sold at 5
cents, and averages at least Z cents a
drink; at half gill to the ''horn," :"
this makes $4.4S per gallon. The con-
sumption last year was about 70,O0O,-
900 gallons; cost to consumers about
$313,000,0O0. Adding wines, there is
certainly spent for drink more than
100000, 900, and the entire sum rails
ed by taxes of all kinds, National,
State, county, city town and school
district, is stated on authority of the
Census Bureau to be not more than
about $7OO,00O,0OO.
But the cost Of the liquor drunk is
not by any means the whole cost Of
the liquor traffic. An official report,
prepared with much labor by the Bu-
reau of Statistics Of Massachusetts,
under authority from the Legislature,
states that "a per cent of all the crime
and criminal expenses in that State
comes directly from the abuse of Ii
quor. There are at least one in twen-
ty of the able-bodied men in this coun-
try who are rendered idle by their
habits or incapacitated for work, and
these persons, at the ordinary wages
of workingmen, would earn, if indus
trious and fairly employed, over
$200,00O,00O yearly. The proportion
of persons in hospitals who reach
them because Of excess in drink is
very large, but cannot be definitely
A traffic that costs in actual pay
ment and in loss Of productive labor
more than half the National debt
every year is not to Re ignored by the
It may be assumed that
the entire wealth Of the country has
risen from $3O,OO0,00O,000 in 1870 to
$50. 0.000,OOO,OOO in 1880, about one
half being in real estate. Probably it
does not average profits exceeding
4 per cent. yearly, taking bad invest
ments with good, but at that rate the
yearly interest on all personal proper
ty of all kinds is only 81, 900, 900, 900,
and the direct or indirect cost of the
liquor traffic must be greater.
These comparisons do not constitute
for doing any unjust or un-
wise thing. What ought to be done
about the liquor traffic is not to be de-
cided hastily or without due regard
for the rights Of all classes Of citi-
zens. But the time has gone by in
this country when serious discussion
Of question that involves such vast
expense to the Nation can be prevent
ed by bullying, intolerance, insolence
or ridicule. This very practical peo-
pie, having begun to think about the
matter in earnest, perceives that it is
much too important to be put aside at
The dictation of saloon-keepers. 1t is
certain that the entire savings of the
people and all additions to their wealth
are not twice as much as the sum ex-
pended for liquor and because Of the
abuse of liquor. If any just and rea-
sonable proposition can be made that
will add one-half to the savings and
the prosperity of the Nation, it will
not be put down by sneer, nor de-
feated by law-breaking mob.