The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-14
Our Government and the African
Liquor Traffic.

Our Government and the African
Liquor Traffic.
To the Editor of the Press:
AS the author of the resolution unani-
mously adopted by the Portland Methodist
Preachers meeting and criticised in the
PRESS beg permission to name few things
showing that your wise and kind suggestion
that ministers should take care to ascer-
tain the facts of which they speak was fully
understood and faithfully practiced before
you pronounced it. When distilled dam
nation" in the form Of gin, rum. brandy,
whiskey, Old Tom, absinthe vermouth is
being shipped into Africa at the rate of
millions of gallons from single port in a
single week; when whole races of men,
women and children are being destroyed
body and soul by the twin diabolism, the
slave trade and the liquor traffic. the Port
land Methodist Preachers meeting makes no
apology for saying that the refusal of the
United States Senate to ratify .the Brussels
treaty for the suppression of those Infamous
trades in the bodies and souls of men is an
insult to the Christian sentiment of the
American people.
The PRESS objects to the assertion that
the Senate refused to ratify the Brussels
treaty, and produces the assertion of Acting
Secretary Wharton that sowing to the late
hour in the session at which the signed Gen.
eral Act of the Conference reached the Sen.
ate 1t was not practicable to consider the
treaty before adjournment" OF course the
bare assertion without evidence coming from
such source as the State Department is en-
titled to respect as an opinion: Neverthe-
assertions with facts, / inquire when was
the Brussels treaty slgneds Answer, on
July 2, 1890.
When was it laid before the Senate by
President Harrison? Answer, on Jan. 90,
1S9l-over seven months after it was signed
by the representatives at Brussels.
When did the winter session end? An
sWer, ON tue ID OF March about II O'Clock
p. m. 1891, or thirty-three days after the
treaty was laid before the Senate.
Why did President Harrison call the at
tention OF the Senate to the necessity of
early action? Because according to the terms
OF the treaty it must be ratified by every
power represented on or before the 8th of
July 1891 or the whole plan failed. 1t goes
without saying that in many cases, and in
this one certainly, non-action is negative ac-
ton, involving the same responsibility.
There are different ways of refusing and the
Record shows that one way well-known to
congress Is TO refer to committee from
in the abolition controversy-so again
and again more than ten times in
the last Congress. Bills and resolu-
buttons for protection from the rum fend
were brought before both Houses and acted
upon by neither. For years the matter of
appointing commission to INVESTIGATES the
effects of the liquor traffic has been urged
upon Congress with the usual reference TO
committee !nni which committee quietly buried
record. Near midnight of March Sd, 1891. the
House took up the Investigating" matter
and defeated 1t by vote of 81 to 119 with 113
not voting. Nobody will assert that this
last way of refusal is any more effective in
the result, than the other, though it is much
more honorable.
Now 1t was by nOn-acti0n that the Senate
refused to ratify the Brussels treaty, know
ing as it did that non-action at that time, &C.
cording to the expressed terms and limita-
tions, OF the treaty itself would render il
utterly void
According to Mr.. Wharton's letter the
Senate did not consider the treaty at ali.
c mIs words are WHY S was not practical to
hour at which 1t reached the Senate it was was
not practicable to consider it." There were
eight months between the signing of the
treaty at Brussels and adjournment of Com
gress and during most Of those months Con-
gress was In session. In his message at the
opening OF the winter session, Dec, 1890.
President Harrison called the attention of
Congress to the Brussels treaty, naming the
suppression OF the slave trade as its object,
and mysteriouSly emitting any mention OF
the liquor phase of the treaty.
President Harrison sent the treaty to the
Senate six months after 1t was signed ana
thlrty-three days before Congress adjourned.
Mr.. Wharton admits that the Senate did not
consider 1t. Ii the records of the 51st Con-
gress show any attempt in the House or Sem
ate to consider or act upon that treaty, why
is not that record produced? 1t is greatly
needed, for this nation Is covered with
shame by the failure of the Senate to act
upon the case, and the records of the closing
hour of that Congress show no evidence that
the Senators thought that their non action
was for want of time. An eyewitness saws
of the last night of that session:
AT 11.15 committee was appointed to
notify the President and inquire whether he
had any futher business to communicate. At
1I.4O. that committee announced that the
president had no further communication to
make. Then Vice President Morton gave
his parting speech which was concluded
thirteen minutes after II. This shows no
great haste even at the last.
AS these Senators knew that the Brussels
treaty would expire by limitation before an
other session, what other conclusion is war
to that result. And this conclusion is
strengthened by the antecedent action or
nonaction in both the Senate and House ex-
amples A Joint resolution looking towards
constitutional prohibitory amendment,
laid before both Houses, is not acted upon
by either. A bill to prohibit Importation,
expectation and Interstate transportation
introduced in both Houses, not acted upon.
bill to prohibit the manufacture and sale
OF alcoholic liquors, except for certain p1r-
poses, before both Houses acted upon by
neither. A bill to prohibit the sale and