The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-08-04
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE
BONE DRY IN 1777.


debate July 10. He said in
the Senate:
Mr.. President, lest we forget arise
to recall to our minds a resolution
that was passed by the Continental
Congress on the 9th day of February,
1777. Indeed judging from the votes
that were cast in this chamber on the
seventh day of this month fear that
it had slipped the minds of many of
us.
1t will come as distinct surprise
to some Congressman that the ques-
ton of food conservation, which we
have hitherto prided ourselves upon
as the very most recent invention, de-
manded attention in 1777. And it will
certainly startle some to be reminded
that in that connection the Congress
went its limit, without presidential in
reference or correspondence with the
Anti-Saloon League, for bone-dry con-
servation of foodstuffs
Resolved: "That it be recon-
mended to the several legislatures of
the United States, Immediately to
pass laws the most effectual for
putting an immediate stop to the per-
nicious practice of distilling grain, by
which the most extensive evils are
likely to be derived, if not quickly
prevented"
That was passed one hundred and
forty years ago Nobody had ever
seen kerosene lamp, or a cook stove,
or steam boat, or locomotive, or a
postage stamp or dreamed of tele-
phone, automobile, flying machine or
submarine. Those were slow and
dreamy days. But Congress passed a
more sensible and more effective con-
servation bill (within it's limitations)
in five minutes than this Senate living
in these days of enlightened progress
has been able to pass in five weeks.
And incidentally, to the boundaries of
its limitations, it passed more states
manlike bone-dry law than the Senate
seems to be willing to enact.
But they had some distinct advan-
tages-that was before the adoption
of the Constitution, and before the
unconstitutional ghost was stalked at
every legislative feast. And they had
some disadvantages = unfortunately
they could not enact any law binding
upon any body, and their resolution
met in the legislatures the fate that
great things often meet at the hands
of small men.
Some critic may urge that the
measure was not bone-dry since it did
not mention brewing. At that date
beer had not discovered America. The
government has no record of the beer
industry prior to 1840-sixty-three
years after the adoption of this reso-
lution,-and then the per capita con-
sumption was but 1856 gallons, or less
than one-twelfth the per capita con-
sumption of last year
This was the urgent and heartfelt
appeal of earnest men for immediate
action forbidding the Transformation
of their Strengthening grains into a
poison which was certain to bring a
flood of social and domestic disorders.
They were without the modern knowl
edge of the physical effect of alcohol
upon the human system and the
physical economy They were with
out the guidance or the experience oe
charitable, correctional and penal in
situations They did not have the
testimony of judges of every court,
of peace officers of every grade, and
of cities and states of every section
all witnessing the destructive and
corrosive civic and social effects of
drink. And, sir, it was before the adj
vent of the saloon. 1t was before
drunkenness was looked upon as a
weakness; it was before the ministers
of Christ either stunned it or looked
upon it with marked disfavor; it was
before the employer of labor dis
eliminated against the drinker; it was
before the insurance companies
frowned upon alcohol; it was before
the church demanded total abstinence;
it was before the school taught the
effects of the poison; it was before
there was square inch of prohibition
territory in the Anglo-SaXon world
That Congress was a world-renowned
gathering that is remembered today
with more generation, respect and
love than many, perhaps than any, of
it's successors Are they remembered
for their wisdom? For their time
they were wise men, but wisdom &C
cumulates with the years. There is
not man in this chamber that does
not know more of electricity than
Franklin, who knew more of it than
any other of his time. But, sir, they
are not remembered for their learn
ing. Are they remembered for their
oratory? There were but few orators
among them, and this chamber holds
the equal of their best. Are they re-
membered for their literary attain
ments? Their literary men though
great were few.
There is one characteristic that
elevates that congress to an eminence
of fame approached by no other-it is
the sublime courage with which they
faced the vexing problems of their
day.
In face of death they dared to fling
Defiance to tyrant king"
But that was the small beginning
of their courage. They dared open