The Republican journal., 1898-09-01
The Liquor Question.

y
Recent statistics show a very decided
decrease in the per capita consumption of
distilled spirits in this country. The
figures bear out the results of observa-
tons in the various trades and profess
sions. The writer has been acquainted
with newspaper work and newspaper men
for more than two score years, and can
readily recall time when a sober printer,
reporter OF editor, was something of a rar
ity. 1t was not reading that made a full
man, then. A certain amount of stimulant
was considered essential, and if the
amount was exceeded, as it often was,
resulting in entire capacitation, why
some one else did the work, or it was left
undone. In two daily newspaper offices
we have seen the wrecks of these hilarious
days, pensioned by the propretors, while
the work they once did was delegated to
younger and sober men. No man to day
can hold his place in an overcrowded pro-
fesson, and withstand the strain and
stress of daily journalism, who is not only
equipped with brains, but, if not total
abstainer, is temperate in all things. A
travelling man reports like change in his
guild. The drummer who habitually
got full over night and smashed things for
which he paid next morning; who carried
liquor with him and ''set 'em up liber-
ally for his customers, has gone out of the
business. And in many other directions
it is evident that habits have changed or
are changing,
The labor department returns show that
in 1860 the average per capita consumption
of spirits in the United States was nearly
three gallons. With the gradual intro
duction and use in the decade from 1870
to 1SS0 of malt liquors, the consumption
of spirits declined, until in 1896 it was
that is to say, of the intensely intoxicat
ing liquors the people of this country
taking man, woman and child, are now
using about third of what they used in the
wear before the outbreak Of our civil wal
The wine consumption seems also to be
on the decrease. In 1850 the per capita
consumption was 30 of 4 gallon The
tendency Of this was upward until the
year 1855, when the amount consumed
was about 81 of a gallon. But in 1891
the per capita consumption was 81 of a
gallon, i'll 1886 Is of gallon, and in 1896
20 of a gallon; that IS. the smallest per
capita consumption in any year of which
we have record, this seeming to show
that the decrease in the use of distilled
spirits has not been accompanied by an
increase in the consumption of wines.
With malt liquors the conditions are
somewhat different, In 1850 the per cap
ita consumption was a little over three
gallons; in 1896 it was about l. gallons,
and in 1898 it was moro than Ii gallons,
In that year the highest per capita con-
sumption was reached, and since that
time the tendency has been downward
Whether this result is due to the pro-
hlDltOry laws, or TO the gradual upDulld-
ing of a public sentiment which en-
courages resistance to the abuses of alco-
holic liquors, is not easily determined; but
it is safe to say that both have had their
effect, and that the creating of such pub
lie sentiment is due in large degree TO
the advocates of prohibition. At all
events the showing is a very satisfactory
one. 1t is interesting in this connection
to note that the countries held up to us
as models because of their use of light
wines aud beer i'll place of distilled spirits
France and Gelmany-are drinking
more and more spirituous liquors, and in
France the amount of drunkenness is
plainly on the increase. Why this should
be so we have no means of determining;
but perhaps they need in those countries
the temperance agitators and educators,
the Maine law advocates, who with us
have labored so earnestly and persistent
ly.