National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-13


and having the right to speak for our pro-
ducers Of the Pacific coast. Our state COM
mission, directed by the laws Of our state
to adopt such measures as we may think
best to promote the development Of viii
cultural enterprise, and TO advance i'm
provemcnt I'm the quality Of our products,
among many other things to that end has
directed me to visit Washington and other
eastern cities, with view to awakening
interest In viticulture as q national In
dustry, and to urge certain proposed
legislation necessary to our continued
success before the officers OF the govern
ment. Our proposed measures were in
dorsed by our legislature, and a commune
cation relating thereto was made by our
governor, Gen. Stoneman, in his letter ac-
crediting me to the President. These ques-
lions are low, by order Of the President,
referred to the commissioner OF agriculture
and the commissioner Of internal revenue,
where action will no doubt be taken at an
carly day.
Congress, however, acts generally In full
sympathy with the public, and IL is for
that reason that we sought an opportunity
OF bringing together in this city the friends
of viticulture as was done last week. "Good
wine needs no BUSH" neither does good
cause, II IL is well understood. We appeal
our efforts and OF their future promise for
The welfare of the people, and in doing so
we appeal for active not negative sym
pathy. Many good measures go by default
for want of such appeals us we make.
Concerning our works much can be said
that will interest all well-informed citizens
who enjoy. sound health and who appre-
ciate the blessings Of nature. Permit me,
however, to take this opportunity to write
some things that may induce others to take
little pride In our industrial achieve
ments, promising them that what we can
show In excellence this year will be sur
passed In the immediate future.
1t is reported Of Noah that, having found
too strong taste Of sinners In the waters
OF the earth after the flood, he caused the
vine to be planted. In my own experience
In travel In this country and Europe have
often found that objection to the quality of
water was considered good cause for plead
ing the superiority OF wine as a daily ALI
ment. In our days, however, we can af-
ford to bless Providence for His good gifts
without searching for excuses, and we Of
California are ready to welcome the vine as
one of Gods blessings to mankind. From
It we know OF no serious injury. even
through indiscretiohs of men, which
claim our consideration, but from IL
we have been taught TO observet the existence
OF social comfort, industrial welfare, and
commercial prosperity whenever its culture
has been generalized. These are strong
statements, but there is nothing in this
country or In Europe to gainsay them. The
most ardent advocates of prohibition doc
trines pretend to say nothing worse of viii
culture than that its products when popu.
lariZed lead to the use of dangerous substi-
tutes; the experience OF the world, how
ever, proves absolutely the contrary In
fact, as viticulture progresses to that ex-
tent, we may say that the cause Of true tenn
perance and social happiness is promoted.
All civilized nations have openly, with
out disguise of any kind, fostered viii
culture whenever 1t has been practicable.
Aside from the noted vine-growing coun-
tries OF Europe, Russia is engaged ener-
getically In developing the industry on her
southern borders, France is extending 1t
into Algiers, England is pushing it upon
the plains Of Australia, and all Spanish
America is emulating the example of Eu-
rope. In all the dark days Of this republic
no hand was raised to Cypress the wine
maker by taxation, except where accidental
errors were made which the country Is,
am sure, ready to correct.
In all these thousand and more years of
development all nations, except those suf-
fering under the blight Of the Moslem faith,
have not only fostered, but have proudly
honored the work of the vine-grower. Dur
has been heard from countries where viii
culture has been prominently engaged in
against its products on behalf OF public well
fare; on the contrary, wherever the ex-
istence and profitable culture of the vine
has been menaced, governments, acting In
full accord with the wishes of the people
and the advice of philanthropic men, have
strained every nerve and taxed public
treasures, with full consent of the
people, to save the vine from destruction.
SO much cannot be said of the production
of alcoholic stimulants produced from
grains, potatoes, and other vegetables in
any single part of the globe. Instead Of
being tolerated as necessary evil, the
product Of the vine has, in all countries,
except under the rule of the Moslempfaith,
been considered positive blessing to man
Kind. 1t has been commemorated in his
tory and in song; 1t has frightened the fire.
side Of the humble laborer, and has added
zest to the feasts of the wealthy; 1t
has been the occasion of miracu-
Ious Intervention on the part of
religious teachers, has been cherished by
the church and enters in the holy sacra-
ments as administered by the Christian
clergy; In all civilized countries 1t is viewed
as the natural antldote for incorporate
excuses, giving good cheer without melan-
choly, enlivening the daily repast without
fear OF consequences, and becoming the
typical means for the pledge OF goodfellow-
ship, Christian love, and family JOY Sim.
pie and unadulterated, 1t has no respectable
enemy; pure and crystal, 1t has public and
private honor, enthusiastic admirers who
own their friendship without shame, and
political supporters who foresee In it relief
from Troublesome dlscord.
1t may be said with all truth that no civ
ilized country in modern times has yet
failed to give ample support to the viticul-
turist. The ROthschilds are proud to own
renowned vineyards; the colonists of Eng
lard at the Cape of Good Hope engage their
legislature to take measures to secure the
advancement of the quality of their prod
ucts; France eXpends hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars annually to save her vines
from destruction by disease, and In our dis
tant state OF California our people, with a
unanimity unparalleled in this country
have created public offices for the encour-
agement OF viticulture and have directed
their state university to give instruc-
ton In the arts and sciences pertain
ing to IL. In our favored state all
varieties OF cultivated vines, excepting the
species vulpina, Of which the scuppeTnong
of the south is most noted, flourish, and
none are neglected, the ambition of our
people being to produce the best results
for themselves aud their friends, the peo-
pie. East Of the Rocky mountains the wild
grapes OF this country have been taken
from the woods and the river banks, and
with surprising skill have been improved by
culture until even our own country, with
its native resources, has attracted the at
tention Of Europe.
few years ago we recorded an annual i'm
portation of about 100000 gallons of wine
from Europe, Now We observe almost the
same, but IN the meanwhile our own native
products have obtained at least the sum Of
thilty million gallons. With thisTlnCrease
of production we find that we have only
whetted the appetites of the people, and
the complaint is not against the quantity
OF the products, but against the
methods of trade and the insult.
cheney of supply. In less than five
years the product Of California alone
VIII be COOUO,OOO gallons, and we shall yet
tho present time, admitting that trade