The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-04

Jupiter, in his modern form Of the
state, to stop the consumption of intox-
icants by choking off the manufacture
and sale. we have had a very striking
lesson in the reforming power Of eco
nomic penalties for violations Of eco
nomic laws, which, in common par
lance, are termed hard times" If the
figures Of the consumption of liquors
in the United States during the six
years from 1890 to 1898 Justify any con-
clusion or tender any counsel, 1t is
clear that all sincere prohibitionists
should cease invoking the states in
reference and hail hard times as the
best deterrent of indulgence Of the hab-
it's they so deplore.
From the summary Of statistics re-
duced to a per capita basis, given in the
statistical abstract Of the treasury de-
partment for 1895, we gather some in
teresting facts that seem to bear out
our theory Of the economic value Of
hard times as an aid to temperance. if
not to prohibition or teetotaHsm. In
1890 we find that the per capita con-
sumption Of distilled liquors was IA
gallons for each Of the 81, 622, 25O persons
then forming our population. BY 1892,
iean friends to note the point where
prosperity ended and adversely be-
gan" the consumption had risen to
1.5 gallons for each Of the 65. 400. O0O
souls then estimated to inhabit this
country. By 1898, when the actual
crash came, the thirsty among us had
raised the limit to Isl gallons. Then
began steady fall to 1.33 gallons in
1894 liz in 1895, and 1 gallon in 1895.
although in the last year the popula-
ton had grown to 71,263,OOO. Had the
same proportion of gallons to popula-
ton obtained in 1892, the average
amount for each person that year
would have been g Of a gallon instead
Of Is.
From the same authentic source we
fall to get confirmation Of the theory OF
the increase in the use of the milder
liquors, wines and beers with the De-
crease Of spirits. We find that the aver
age use Of malt liquors was 1857 gal
Ions in 1890, and rose to 1908 gallons IN
1893, when the penaty for violated laws
OF nature fell upon the nation and tho
consumption fell to 1895 gallons in 1896.
recovering to 1915 in 1895. The de-
crease In spirits was not made IN nv
drinking beer, thus indicating the ef-
feet Of financial depression quite forcI-
pIy When we turn to the column Of
per capita use of wines we find the
same illustration. In 1890 the average
amount used by each individual was
40 Of gallon, rising to AS Of a gallon
in 1893, thus outfooting the rise in pop
ulation. Then the tide turned and tha
consumption Of wine fell in 1894. to Al
of gallon; to % in 1895, and to .26 In
1896.
But there is a reverse side to the
shield. A bill has just been damned
through the house largely increasing
the taxes on and consequently, the cost
or articles essential to the well-being Of
the people because 1t is alleged. there
is a deficient revenue. We have taken
the mask off this pretense and shown
the private motives that are forcing
this abominable bill through, but the
pretense serves it's purpose. It is one
or those singular condolences that
causes producing a decrease Of induI-
gence In habits whose effects all admit
are injurious contribute to the pretext
urged for an increase in Injurious tax
alton. All will have to pay more for
their clothing because some bv drink
ing less. diminished one source Of rev.
enue and thus gave opportunity to
those who wanted legislation to make
clothing dearer Had the resumption of
all liquors been the same per capita in
1896 that it was in 1893, the internal
revenue would have been 1853, 0O0. 900 in
stead Of SAT 900, 0O0 Of which loss Sill
10000 Is officially attributed to decreas-
ed consumption of liquors, the remain
der falling chiefly on tobacco. We
would not be understood as arguing for
an increase in the use Of either for the
sake Of producing revenue. We only
present this as one Of the effects of
hard times, and are willing to admit
that its Inconvenience are compensat-
ed by the 9th 9dVanta ens