The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-06-19
Tempersnes Reform.

n
The moral effect of the temperance
agitation which has been going on for
the last fifty odd years has unquestlon-
ably been very beneficial. 1t Is trus
that the drinking habit has not been d.
mlnlshed, for a greater quantity of
| liquid stimulants and intoxicants per
capita Is now consumed in the United
States than ever before. But, on the
other hand, the quantity of ardent spir-
Its per capita which is consumed in this
country has been gradually diminished
Tor many years, while the increase in
/ quantity of malt liquors used in proper
ton to population has been immense.
/ Upon this subject much light is thrown
| by recently published report of the
Government Bureau OF Statistics. This
report shows the amount of spirits,
wines and malt liquors respectively con-
sumed in the United States since 1910,
and the results are tabulated by decades;
aud this is the story they tell: In 1910
there were consumed 252 gallons of
spirits, whisky, brandy, gin, rum and
alcohol; 1.20 gallons of wines and 1.36
gallons OF malt liquors for every inhsb-
liant of the United States. From that
time to 1851 there was steady decline
in the use Of spirits to 1.21 gallons per
/ capita, and in the use of wines to IS gal
Ions per capita. But in malt liquors
there was a tremendous increase in
consumption, II % gallons per ca oita be-
| ing consumed in 1887. Since 1887 there
| has been a slight increase in the use
of spirits and wine, but a larger one in
the consumption Of malt liquors. BY
comparison of total quantities of liquors
consumed it appears that in 1910 Ait
gallons were drunk per capita, while in
1890 1906 gallons were uses, 10
is remarkable that OF this ar1Nuns
| 1906 gallons, over so per cent.
was composed of beer, ale and
other malt liquors This marks a
wholesome change in the drinking
habits of the American people, and il is
distinct gain for temperance. They
do not drink any less than formerly; on
the contrary, they drink much more.
| But these statistics show that they are
gradually giving up the use of the fiery
alcoholic intoxicants, which are more
| decidedly promOtive of drunkenness
and OF habits of intemperance. and are
substituting therefor in a greater and
| greater degree the milder stimulants
centage of alcohol and seldom lead to
drunkenness. There has undoubtedly
been great and growing increase for
the last four or five decades in the pro-
portion Of people who never drink at
all, or but very rarely. Among them
are the constantly growing number of
total abstainers from principle, and the
still greater number who do not drink
because it is not the fashion in their
circles OF acquaintance or who abstain
from motives of prudence. either be-
cause they fear to form habits which
may get away with them, or because
modern science has taught them the
harmful effects OF habitual drinking,
even in a moderate way, upon the
health. Then there is a large class
who drink but seldom; that is to say,
upon social occasions only. 1t is safe to
say that very large proportion OF the
ardent spirits drunk in this country is
consumed in Difference to that most idi-
otto and harmful of social usages-treat-
ing: that is to say, they are not drunk
to satisfy any desire for this form of
stimulants, but because they are in
v1ted to drink by friends as matter of
social courtesy or hospitality. If this
social habit OF treating could be done
away with there would be an immense
falling off in the consumption of all
stimulants, but especially of whisky
and wine, the favorite social drinks of
the well-to-do-classes.- st. Paul Pho
peer Press.