St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-04
hurtful; the iniquity of the thing lies in the
deceit practiced on the purchaser

hurtful; the iniquity of the thing lies in the
deceit practiced on the purchaser
In relation to the other articles analysed
by the committee there was everywhere
found a large use of deleterious materials
Glucose is used for the adulteration of sugar !;
lard is Initiated by the use of terra alba, veg
etable oils, and water. Spices are found to
be so universally tempered with that in many
instances not the least element Of the genu-
inc article is to be found in the article sold in
the markets. Jellies of all
kinds are put down as
being almost exclusively fraudulent; candies
are without exception not what they are
claimed to be; coffee, when ground, often
contains no coffee whatever; the berry is
colored, and even an imitation of the berry
is made of dough, and finds a sale without
probable detection. In fine, there is no ar
ticle used for food or medicine, and the like,
which is not found to be more or less depre-
ciated by adulteration.
Very naturally, after having shown that
everything is debased by mixtures the COM
smittee casts about for a remedy. 1t finds
that state and municipal laws do not effect
any relief, and thereupon it falls back on
the general government. A national law is
what is demanded, says the reporter. To the
extent that national law would place all the
states on a level, it would be benefit. AS
the matter now is, one state may enforce
laws against adulteration, and in that
state merchants would be excluded from
markets to which states without any law are
sending adulterated goods. 1t is as if it
were urged that there is no use, for instance,
of forbidding piracy in New York so long as
all the other states are permitted to fly the
black flag. The argument may be good
from the standpoint of mercantile morality,
but it is bad from any other. A thief might,
with equal right, complain that there should
be no inequality in the laws of the states in
regard to the punishment of theft. ''You
have no right he might say, to send me
down for twenty years for
doing what such and such state
only gives ten years for! 1t is dscrimina-
ton of this state against me, and if it be
other states will get all the benefits of the
business" So the adulterators of New York
may say: 'Why do you try to stop our mix
ing? They are adulterating goods in Hin
OILS, and filing the markets with them, and
we can't compete with them unless we can
sell the same kind of goods"
1t is very doubtful if a national law would
be of any benefit. The trouble is in the
apathy of public sentiment. A heavy grocery
firm in Chicago sent out circulars in which
they stated what goods they offered were pure
and what were adulterated; the effort did not
result in any perceptible increase in the de-
mand for the pure articles. So long as the
public is Indifferent as to whether it is served
with pure or adulterated goods, it is not
likely to be the case that restrictive
laws would have any effect The entire
country seems encrusted with Indifference.
1t does not make any complaint when shown
that 1t is being swindled in its supplies Of
food; and it is quite as apathetic over the
failure of rotten banks, the incessant defal-
cations on the part of officials, the hourly
developments of corruption in high
places, and constant evidence of low pub
lie morality. There has to be somethin
besides legislation to secure a reform
in all these particulars. Public opinion must
become aroused as to the condition of things,
and the popular conscience must be quick
ened into activity. This country presents
just now many of the characteristics of the
French people before the French revolution ;
and it is possible that only some such shock
as was administered to the French
people will awaken this country
to a knowledge of its true condition.
The fact that food adulteration is shown
to be universal, and that it causes no pro-
test, is a symptom of a diseased moral con-
stitution. The remedy need not be sought
for in restrictive legislation; the reform
which will efface this indifference is the one
which viii equally eliminate the apathy of
the people in regard to the existence of a
low moral tone in every department OF pub
! lie and private life.