New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
LIGHT UPON THE DRINK PROBLEM

The drink problem is one.of the chief ques-
tions now occupying the minds of philanthropic
men and women not only in this country but
on the other side of the Atlantic. 1t becomes
more plainly apparent every day that to hold
this evil in check is to stop the breeding OF
innumcrablc other diseases which continually
threaten the life Of society. Two Of the Eng
lish reviews contain articles from distinguished
hands, which illustrate this in an interesting
way. Cardinal Manning and Archdeacon
Farrar treat the same questionable hideous
problems involved in the poverty and misery
of "outcast London"-from widely different
points of view. Both dwell upon the havoc
wrought by the liquor traffic as one of it's most
Iamentabic and battling features. Archdeacon
Farrar draws dark picture Of the extent and
the results of this traffic, which it seems i'm
possible to subject to proper legal control, so
long as it is " strong in the influence of wealthy
capitalists and brewers and gin distilcrs are
freely elevated to the House of Lords" just as
in this country every attempt to restrict the
trade is resisted by politicians who owe their
nominations to bar-room caueuscs, and their
elections to aloon-kcepers' money. Cardinal
Manning declares that "the whole land is
suffering from the direct or indirect power Of
men, women and children" and if not brought
under by the will of the people will be the
"downfall" of England. No one needs to be
reminded how deeply this question is engag-
ing attention in this country. Fortunately, it
has not assumed such gloomy proportions as
in England, and the dcvising of methods for
dealing with it has been successful to an extent
not dreamed of, apparently, in that country.
But these are the subjects of infinite disputes,
and the proper regulation of the traffic is and
probably must remain for years to come. the
chief legislative issue in many States. 1t is the
leading question at this moment in this State.
Under these circumstances, The TRIBUNE be-
licved that it could not make more valuable
contribution to the solution of the problem than
by collecting and presenting to its readers a
careful summary of the liquor laws OF every
State in the Union. The first instalmcnt of this
compilation is published elsewhere in this issue.
So far as we know. no similar compendium rs IN
existence Some time after this work was
undertaken the report made by the Hon. Henry
Edwardes Secretary of the British Legation at
Washington to his Government, was brought
TO our attention This was creditable work.
and testified to the readiness of the British Gov
crnment to learn from American experience in
this matter but it was necessarily brief and
much less comprehensive than THE TRIBUNE's
presentation of the subject. In addition to
giving an account of the existing liquor laws of
each State, we have sought the views of leading
men of all schools regarding their workings.
The method adopted of doing this proves that
we have no desire in this matter but to be I'M
partial At our request the Secretary of State
of nearly every State has forwarded the names
of representative Republicans, Democrats ard
Irohibitionists, whose opinions we have asked
and frankly given. Similar inquiries were ad-
dressed to the Governor of each State. In the
case of New-York, We recognized the special
interest felt in the subject by increasing the
number of representatives of each Of the three
parties to ten making, with the Governor
thiry-onc in all. Here is free speech for all,
surely
The queries. and all these answers. were ad-
dressed necessarily to the moral side Of the
question. The object Of all sincere Temperance
legislation is to repress the evils of drunken
ness and all that good citizens ask is how that
can best be done. IT is in the belief that it
would render a great public service by making
available to every one the exact facts IN -
field where there is much ignorance and con-
fusion of mind, that The TRIBUNE presents
this compilation and it bespcaks for the in
stalment of to-day and others that will follow
il, the careful attention of our legislators ut
Albany, and the friends Of temperance every
where.