Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-08-24
Thc Democratic Record on the Temper
nutc Quc-tion.

nutc Question.
On the 2ith Of january, 1875. the United
States SENATE passed bill providing for
the appointment Of n commission by the
President to investigate aud report fully in
relation to the use and effect of intoxicat
mg liquors within the territories and Dis
trict of Columbia, and recommend such
legislation as might be hest for the prospcri-
ty and good morals If the people in those
territories, which were within the iurisdic-
tion Of Congressional legislation. Upon the
pnssngc of this hill but one Democratic
senator voted for it, while nineteen voted
against it thirty six Republicans voted for
it aud only one against it. The hill went to
the Democratic House and was there pig.
con holcd" forever
Again, on the It'll day Of March, 1879,
like measure passed the Senate by vote
Of 2s yeas, % Of which were the votes of
Republicans. to 10 nays, all Of which were
the votes of Democrats. This hill was also
killed in the House 10y Democratic congress
mem
On the 9Th of February, 1889, Col Joyce,
suspend the rules to pass like Till then
pending in the House. Upon his motion
100 Republicans voted yes aud 90 Demo
Gratis voted Ho. 1t required two thirds
vote to suspend the rules, hence the Demo
Gratis defeated the hill
On Jan Eth 1889. like measure was
before the Senate aud Mr.. Bayard, now
Secretary Of State in Mr.. Cleveland's cnbi-
net, rcsorted to hlihustering TO defeat it.
Upon the various votes and motions appcr
tanning to this measure, the Republicans
voted solidly for it and passed it, hut a
Democratic House buried it in the rubbish
Of a committee room.
Other like measures have since been at
tempted by Republicans in Congress, and
defeated by Democrats.
This is the record Of the Democratic party
on the temperance question in one import
ant direction, rs shown by Mr.. Martin in
his speech on Monday evening but it is not
all there is to be said on this subject The
whole effect Of the Mills bill 50 far as it re
ates to the government supervision of the
manufacture Of distilled liquors, and their
taxation, is to favor the distillers and
make the evasion of the law easy. For in.
stance, section % Of the Mills bill does away
with the provision Of "A minimum punish
mcnt for violation Of the internal revenue
laws, and leaves it to the Judge 70 innict the
very lghtest that he may choose. 1t lis fur
Their provided that illicit stills seized shall
| - L.. -
now, be taken and stored lin n safe place
until sold A still further sweeping pro
vision gives the commissioner of interna
revenue authority to remit any penalty foi
violating these laws.
But these are not all or the worst feature
in aid of the liquor interest The distilla
ton Of cider brandy, which is blightinl
curse ON so many Of our remote New Eng
land communities il directly encourage,
10y cXcmpting distilers Of brandy from np
plies, peaches, etc, from the provisions %
the internal revenue laws Except AS TO tn
tax" Moreover, the business Of the large
moonshiue distillcrs is aided and encourage,
by provision that
tn" Secretary of the Treasury may exempt al
grain lay. FROM On, operations Of the provision
of this Title relating to- TIA" manufacture Of spirit,
except ns To tine payment of the tax, which Ia
shall then be- levied and collected ON the caulcit
of said dl>tillrricS; md spid distillrrcs may, u
the discretion of sad secretary, then be- run an
"prrat"d without storHko"UErs, or st"rkc"pcl
and gnug,rs '"
Worst of all, the bill proposes to remov
entirely the government tax ON liquor sci
0 crs The 10th section reads
That all clauses Of section i9ii Of the rryi~,
statutes and all laws umrnlatory thereof an
| all other laws which impose any special taxes M
| ON manufacturers Of stills. retail dealers in liquor
n aud retail dealers in malt liquors, are hereby r.
" | prulcd.'
n Who will deny that it is better to have II
I law at all, than law which is SO drawn q
, to court open defiance or treatment wit
f contempt:
One thing more. The attitude Of IL
@ Democratic party in Vermont has been cor
4 Stantly hostile to the prohbitory law whic
represents the general temperance sent
IS ment of the people of the state. Not onl
l. has it been condemned in party platform
, hut at succeeding sessions Of the legislator
+ for years the Democratic members hay
tried to have the law repealed aud liccn,
law substituted for it,
Comment is unnecessary. On this simp
Fl. statement Of facts in three different dire
f., tons, what does it appear to candid me
Is that the attitude Of the Democratic part
! is toward the cause Of temperance and /.
:. briefly in this country