The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-08-03
Economic Aspect of the Liquor Prob
lem.

This is the second volume issued by the
committee of fifty learned men who have
undertaken to give us the bottom facts as
to the liquor problem in all its phases.
The first volume treated of legislative as
poets. A third will take up the physiol-
ogical effects, and the fourth will discuss
substitutes for the saloon in large cities.
1t is not pretended by the committee that
the results reached are absolutely free
from error. The personal equation will,
of course, enter more or less into the re-
turns But the investigation has been
pursued in the spirit of scientific research
and great pains seem to have been taken
to check partisanship and eliminate the
effects of predisposition whether on one
side or the other. We are favorablv i'm
pressed by the candid, truth seeking
spirit of the director, Mr.. Faruham, and
the wisdom of the plans adopted for arriv-
ing at correct returns. The conclusions
arrived at are of much Importance, and we
lay them, in brief form, before our readers.
OF the poverty which comes under the
view of the charity organization societies
about % per cent. can be traced pretty
directly to liquor. OF the poverty found
quor. In the case of the restitution of
children not less than Is per cent, was
found to be accounted for by liquor habits
of parents, guardians. and others. The
percentages are doubtless smaller than
some would expect, but the examiners
were charged not to attribute the poverty
to drink unless the connection was direct
and immediate: that is. unless drink led
to loss of employment, or prevented the
person from getting a situation. or unless
he was known to drink to excess. The
proportion of poverty that would be elm
mated if the moderate drinker spent pro-
perly and productivity what he wastes in
drink would. of course. be very much
larger
The investigation as to the causes of
crime covered Is, 4O2 convicts in seven
teen prisons of twelve States. Intemper-
ance figured as one of the causes of crime
in nearly so per cent, but it was a first
cause in only 81 per cent, and the sole
cause in l. per cent. 1t is the one most
prolific sources of criminal condition
Unfavorable environment and lack of in
dustrial training are both responsible when
taken sipglv for less than half as MANY
causes as intemperance: but taken topeth
er. and when they are in combination. they
are found to be the cause of the criminal
condition of nearly twice as many of our
convicts as intemperance itself Jufayor-
able environment comes second among the
causes of crime.
The Negro was made the subject of
special Investigation. and the survey es
tablished three important facts: ~ That
COMPARATIVELY few negroes are habitual
drnukaris; (2) that intemperance is ac
couutable for only a small part of the
necro's backward condition: and (3) that
only in exceptional cases is inebrietv a
barrier to his steady employment, Evil
dence of an alarming increase in drunk
enness is wholly wanting. but it is OBJ
served that the drink habit has the firm
est hold on the Younger members of the
race. Negroes are cornwall by nature
and DELIGHT in the social side of drink
ing. Abstinence from principle is rare,
Once in a while they get drunk, but rare
lv 90 off on prolonged sprees. Steady
tippling in the cabin is practically M
known. The effect of a debaucb wears
off with singular rapidity. and does nor
seem to weaken them to the extent of in
them for work.
The saddest CHAPTER in the book is that
which tells of the outraueous manner in
which the Indians lave been. and are be-
ING DESTROYED. by the fire water of the
Whites. The Indian drinks solely for the
effects produced by liqn3r: he has no ~
cial pleasure in it. he simply wants to oct
drunk. He is utterly l,4werless in the
presence OF LIQUOR. helpless before the
And those who shonld pro.
tect him are largely false to their trust and
with his enemies for his ruin.
And so LONG as the Indian Bureau is a no
litical machine. where the beucbmen of
the party. often drnnkards themselves
are provided with a place. very LITTLE GOOD
is likely to he ACCOMPLISHED The law
hes been wholly inadeduate and is very
amelv enforced. its enforcement often
the merest farce. and vain appeals have
been constantly made both to CONGRESS-
and the President to do sometime The
first ADEQUATE law dealinr with the sale of
liquor to the Indians was passed by Con i
yress Jan. 30. 1897. but whether it will he
enforced any better than those preceding
It, is very doubtful. A change ip the svs7
tenn is greatly needed.
The most interesting chapter is that
which deals with the social aspects of the
saloon in great cities. The reports on
his come from workers in social or col
ege settlements such as Hull House.
chicago. the South End House. Boston
he South Park Settlement. San Francisco,