The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-05-06
TEMPERANCE AND HARD TIMES.
Some Significant Figures and Deduc-
lions TherefrOm.

lions TherefrOm.
1t is trite saying that there is no
great loss without some small gain"
says the Detroit Free Press, and it's
truth is illustrated by some facts and
figures which the American Grocer pub
fishes in a recent issue. The loss in the
case is due to hard times, and the gain,
according to the Grocer, is in the di-
minished consumption of all kinds of
beverages, especially spirituous ones.
The Grocer's figures show that II ,2G3,-
600 people used less spirits in 1896 than
5S,6S0,000 did in 1887, the amounts be
ing, respectively: For 1896, 71,O51, SIT
gallons, and 71,O64,733 in 1887. About
1000, 900 gallons are used annually in
the arts, manufactures and medicine,
which leaves about 6O,000,000 gallons
for use as a beverage.
There was a falling off, too, last year
in the consumption of beer as compared
with 1891 and 1892 equal to about one
gallon per capita. In domestic wines
there was a falling off as compared with
1858 of about One-half though the popu-
lation had meanwhile increased more
than 10, 500, 900; while Ill imported wines
the falling off as compared with 1898
was fully one-half, and as compared
with 1892 more than 1900 gallons. The
Grocer tabluates it's results as follows:
Beer (domestic( .$53S, $50 81
Beer Gmported). Observation-Disclosures. 5000, 52I
Whisky exclusive of quantity
used in arts. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 2IO9OO,0G9
MINES (domestlc2 ...'..''............ X l99,3I1
Wines Imported. ...............s+. 2O,53O, $50
Grand total ...........,.........$ 1856, 1893. s22
Estimated cost in 1892 on the same
Estimated cost in 1891 on the
same ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1884 ,Sl3, ia
The Grocer attributes these results
to the hard times, which have, in its
judgment, made the people more alb
stemious than formerly; and it cites
the fact that there has been at the same
time with the falling off in the con-
sumption of ardent spirits falling off
in the consumption of tea and cot
fee. 1t does not lay stress enough, how
ever, we think, on the, change in the pop
ular estimate of drinking. While there
is still great consumption of ardent
spirits and a fairly good patronage
of the numerous drunk cures" with
which the country is dotted, it certain
ly is not as fashionable as it Was 20
years ago to drink to excess. During
tine war and for some years thereafter
it was scarcely considered disreputable
for a gentleman to get drunk on occa-
sion, but it certainly is so considered
now. We find this view of the matter
Endorsed substantially by the Boston
Transcript, which reproduces most Of
the Grocer's article, and says:
Hard times may have 4, slight effect
upon the drinking habits of the people,
and there are things, notably the BIZ
cycle, which exert a beneticent influ-
ence; but we believe that the habits of
the people are vastly improved upon
what they were only a few years ago,
and immensely better than they were
25 or so years ago. The fact is, as it
seems to us, that thetrend of sentiment
and of practice is toward the abstcntion
from intoXicants. There is still liquor
enough, and more than enough, drunk
by our people, but it is as nothing to
what they used to imbibe. We are on
the right road, and we verify believe
that the day will come when thu drinker
Of alcohol viii be the exception rather
than the rule. There have been very
rany foolish attempts to hurry matters
unduly. and there have been some laws
which have helped nightly toward the
emancipation of the people from the
reign of King Alcohol, notably the edu-
cation of youth in the public schools as
to the physical and chemical effects of
liquor drunk, the laws closing the sa-
looms upon holidays and election days.