Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-09

America faces today the mightiest
domestic and foreign problem of her
eventful history II is a problem in
volving her present welfare and fu-
ture destiny The decision of the
question now confronting the people
OF this fair land is one which
effects not only our moral but indus.
trial, commercial and political well.be-
ing through all the future ages. II is
the challenge of patriotism. II is the
call of duty America must be free.
II is written in the plan OF God This
nation shall not be deferred. Fifty
years ago the constitution was amend.
ed and several millions of slaves were
set free. The day now approaches
when once again the constitution must
be amended and the curse of ages
abolished. ! es, America shall be free
Let the shout of victory ring loudly
as the conquering forces of righteous.
ness march on to victory. Ii is the
challenge of patriotism we hear:
Comrades of the long war strike,
Strike through your binding tears
Strike with the passion of the years,
Strike till the rum foe disappears!
George Washington and the Whisky
Ring. .....' ....- -.
To judge well of the disreputable
character of the liquor traffic, one
should occasionally refresh his mem.
Org with the historical facts growing
out of the relation of the rum-rule
to our government The whisky ring
has caused our authorities more trou-
BILE and expense than any other one
factor needing political control
George Washington in his day found
the traffic a nuisance and a menace.
In 1894, during his second term OF
office, finding that he needed more
revenue for government expenses, a
law was enacted imposing a tax on
certain manufactures, including whis-
ky. Whereupon the brewers and dis
tillers of Pennsylvania refused point
blank to pay the tax, tarred and feath-
cred an officer sent to collect it and
gave a second one tremendous flog.
ging with beech rods, leaving him
dead in a pit to which they had con-
signed him. They then proceeded to
arm themselves in order to resist the
washington was Obliged to send an
army of $1,000 men to quell the insur.
rectiOn and not until the whisky dis
tilIers and their tribe caught sight OF
the rifles, being. convinced that-if any
shooting was to be done Washington
could do it great deal better than
they could, were they dispersed and
brought into subiection ..a-.ag
Attempt to Defraud the Government.
Nor can we easily forget the scan.
dalous attempt on the part, of the dis
tillers of st. Louis in 1872 to defraud
the government by keeping back part
Of the internal revenue tax on whisky
and other distilled liquors In the
course of the next two or three years
this nefariOus scheme spread far and
wide with organized branches OF dis
tillers and brewers in several large
cities. Three years later the notorious
plot was brought to light. more than
200 persons were indicted, while the
stealings from the government in one
year had amounted to $2,000,000 and
more. .. ~.
Uncle Sam Wears White Apron.
The fact is distressing one that
the mythical Uncle Sam should be a
partner in the traffic in booze. Mr..
Lincoln never intended that the law,
which was enacted for purposes of an
extraordinary revenue, should be other
than that of war measure Again
and again he stated after the war,
then we shall tackle the slavery of
church building to attend to matters
pertaining to the social department of
the new house