The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-07-24
w. CT. u. COLUMN
CONDUCTED BY MRS. NJ. L. HOBBS.
Russia Abolishes Saloons.

By far the most III portah' W
lence Of this trend of European
public opinion is to be found IN the
action that Russia has now taken
In all the history OF the modern
Temperance movement no pupilc|
law or decree has ever attempted
Iany task so gigantic or OF such ia'
reaching importance as that w,'lci
Russia's new law has undertaken.
For Russia has determined upon
|nothing less than complete gov
lernment monopoly Of the manuiac-
lure and sale of the liquor supply
Ifor the entire empire. somewhat
more than two years are To pe al
lowed for the system t. attain com
pleteness. 1t is to be put IN force
in eight provinces on the first day
&. Iof July. 1896; in seven other prov
Iinces on the first day Of July, 1871
and throughout all the rest OF TN
, on the first day OF January
ISgs. Saloon keeping as a privat
business will be altogether abolished
IThe French attempt at monopoi
Iof wholesale supply has been base
very largely upon considerations {
nublic revenue. 1t does not appea
J. That the new Russian policy rests
much upon financial motives as VI
= lon a desire to rid the Russian pee
a. ple once and for all of the demora
izing influences OF the liquor tran
%. as privately conducted. A Russls
= journal, the Vedomosti, makes u
y. following comments by way OF
Y. .lexplanation, which is understood
Ibe virtually official =
7, "The object Of government m
nopoly of the sale OF liquor Is pr
nal cipally to do away with the abus
~ Of liquor dealers, who ia
he advantage of the disposition
drunkenness. To say nothing
n the fact that the liquor dealers
generally also usurers who mana
to enslave the population, they,
y. to encourage drunkenness ana
make a saloon necessity TO
Ineople. They gladly deal on a CT
,iiviii iiii h basis. and take all kinds OF hou
, o. hold goods as security: Inc l. l.
nare to be sure, prohibits this, but II
notorious that the saloon keel
u obtain most of their incomes
eyading the legal restraints. =
{. ernment sale, on the other ha
aims at the substitution for dru
enness Of a normal consumption
liquor. Equally important Is
influence of government monol
; ana anon the improvement OF the q
tank ,ty of the liquor manufactured.
. Oyerproduction is one OF the gr
est evils of capitalistic indus
> The chief difficulty is in deterr
.- ling the amount of aproduct ne
sary for consumption and Justly
tributing it among the compe
A, manufacturers. The liquor mono
is and makes the government the mi
1894. of the market. Henceforth p
/ m Of spirits will be determined, n.
- the competition OF the distii
- but by a Just estimate OF the
q and risk in production" !,
- The Russian Empire Will
IA great advantage over the OH
of South Carolina in carrying o
policy of a State liquor mono
ga In Russia regulations OF TINS
. do not meet with serious reslst
cm The Russian law will be eniorc
- the letter. 1t is not for Amer
''Sss. %. 10 approve of the autocratic lol
! government, but we may nev'
ended less be glad to see autocracy
ist on assert itself in behalf OF the tr'
teres sts of the people. The
ment for political freedom IN
,staehas had no worse enemy tina
drunkenness Of the people,
r. has helped to keep them poo,
a. M the graded and ignorant. W.T.,
nan. III llmprONeu sCiooi =,
he pur- and the elimination oil the
lsiness, aloor Laener we may conf
sith the '"'oo ~ IL Russian pea
ne it to expect INA, ''ie nu eel 6
will gradually become iltted J. !
at Isaac Government. Since the aDoll
all may serfdom, Russia has taker n
w;,, be of domestic policy so import
re at ali this abolition of the private
y, - traffic.
ison TIP.
office. Every true follower VI