Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19
Observation-Disclosures 10, 1898.
whiskey-Drinkers VS.. Beer-Drinkers.

WnlSkey-DrlnKerS vs. Beer-DrlnReTS.
Whenever our beloved country starts
out TO levy a new tax human nature
begins 10 assert itself in It's most posi-
tive phase. Each man thinks and makes
bold to say that not his but his neigh
boris property 81 tho better meat for the
tax collector, and that he himself IL labor
ing under as great a load as no can carry.
At the same time he slyly i~ntihates that
Jones and Smith. 50 far from being hurt
by an increase OF tax IN their property
interests. would-it they only could know
it--be benefited.
in tnls mode OF argument more than
in almost any other. we perceive the
truth Of tho ancient observation that
'thero is O good deal OF human nature
In people"
whenever thare Ia n departure from
tits rulo Of eontuct It becomes a wonder
stclI as we have IN the tacit admission
OF the whiskoy trade that It can stand
az fnoreAss OF taxation from 90 cents to
G,z5 on ths gallon, Whether their sub
r~nissivensss ID tho matter proceeds from
pvro patriotism or a sincere conviction
that wa ehould ell DO better of II we
reduced The si0s OF our drinks we 90 not
know. but either way II 10 commendable.
The boer-brewers met tho proposition
60 increase the tax on beer with shouts
Of Indignation. 1t was moreover repre-
sentcd that n tho rate were Increased as
threatened the brewers would be con-
piled to raise their price on the retailers,
and that then the retailers would be
forced 20 put up tho price on consumers
or elss provide themselves with glasses
or mugs which look as though they
would hold a quart, but can be easily
drained at n swallow.
it thus appearing 70 the understanding
Of tho solons at Washington that II an
Increase were put upon beer zach person
who drinks that foaming fluid would
utter n prolonged malediction upon the
taxing powers thai be. it has been pretty
well deci6cd to leave the beer and beer
rinkers alone and pounce upon whiskey
and whiskey-drinkers. upon whose tract
ability they know that they can more
safely count. II is certain that this plan
Will put millions into the Treasury OF the
United States government, and so far
as wo can see IL will not be fought very
violently. but why the whiskey-drinker
should not DO as influential in politics as
the beer-erinker we do not understand.
With G~fty-hve cents per gallon added
10 the cost OF whiskey the retailer m M
take his choice OF dispensing an inferior
article, or putting thicker bottoms In his
glasses or raising the alto per glass.
The prevailing rate in Virginia cities (as
We learn from Sam Jones's sermons) is
ten cents per drink, though there are
SHORTS" TO be bought for five cents.
1t would be impPacticsble. we should ina
Cine. TO make any raise of less than FIVE
cents per glass. which. in the one case
would be an increase Of 100 per cent. and
in tho other of 20 per cent. Tall figures.
Unless the modifying influence Of whis-
sey be greater than that OF beer. or the
whiskey drinkers be moro amiabie men
naturally, we should suppose thai this
increase would create rs much Indignation
as tho othsr. But we can see that that
is not tho expectation. StM we do not
know how the government will get its tax
and the drinker his accustomed drink
at tho old piaos at the cid price.
Perhaps we man have to adopt the plan
SO comrTon IN London Of dispensing
whiseey IN half-giil glasses at stalls In
each bar-room. where en-. by consulting
the plaeards hung on the walls. may
approach @ bartender who win give him a
three-penos drink or another tender who
will give q ~four-pehee drink. or another
who will give him a ~nine-pencs drink
measured out In a half-glll measure.
This plan wot9d. We confess. be hostile
TO miSed drinks. so beloved OF Americans,
but we should know that "straights' or
''grog'' are supposed to be healthier. In
deed M Of the most amiable gentlemen
we ever knew-ons whose nose and
cheeks bore a perennial bloom-in the
sunset Of his Jolly life said that IL he
could live his time over he would never
put n sugar in his whiskey. That. he
thought. had done him a good deal Of
harm. whereas he could not perceive that
the whislSey itself had ever hurt him at
all.