Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-07
Temperance Waves tot Haze Swept Over Washington
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him down. Against it what genius
can guard, what magnanimity shield
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Among other notable speeches at
the 1912 meeting was one by Senator
Felix Grundy, eighteen years sena-
tor from Tennessee and later attor-
ney general of the United States. He
said the object of this society was to
make men sober, to keep them from
destroying mind body and soul; to
render them effective agents in pro-
noting the happiness OF their fam
lilies and the well-being of society.
These objects were enough, Their
accomplishment would be sufficient to
fill the hearts Of the philanthropists
with joy, even. to overlooking, All
beyond this was error. By attempt
ing more they would weaken rather
than strengthen the cause. Let it be
understood" said the senator, that
this society attaches to no religious
sect or political party, that its labors
are to benefit men without distinction
by the promotion of virtue and So
briefly. Politics and religion and cleo
tons should find no place in their
proceedings"
Representative George N, Briggs of
Ohio called attention to the compare
tive impotence of previous efforts to
promote temperance among congress-
men, such as the movement of 1884,
which worked against the use of
strong drink, but winked at wine;
they denounced ardent spirits, but
welcomed "the mocker wine as a
friend" but which caused sorrow
and contentious and redness, of eyes
and wounds without cause" The wine
drinkers were just like the cider
brandy drinkers of Connecticut and
the rum drinkers of Massachusetts.
A sympathetic communication was
read by the secretary from John
Mitchell, president OF the Washington
Temperance society of Baltimore,
which, it was stated, numbered 1000
reformed drunkards."
First Word for Temperance.
There is none of the popular his
tories of the United States. or in any
history of the people of the United
States which treats of their social life
in any respect mention of the fact that
temperance had its advocates in the
First congress.
!. The first champion in the federal
congress Of the cause of temperance
was an Irishman-born, Representative
Thomas Fitzsimmons of Pennsyl-
vania. His word for it came about
with consideration of the first article
in the first schedule of duties as ten
tatively proposed by Representative
James Madison of Virginia. The ar
ticle was man. A blank space was left
to be filled by the house after con-
sideration. A lively debate at once
occurred on the duty to be placed
on imported rum. Fitzsimmons led
the contenders for a high duty, and
when Mr.. Lawrence Of New York OBJ
jected that too high duty would
yield no revenue, the Pennsylvania
member replied that if it were so high
as to be prohibitory, so much the bet
ter. Lawrence said the high duty
would be temptation to smuggling.
at is an article of great consump-
tion," he said, "and though not a
necessary of life, yet it is in such
general use that it may be expected
to pay a considerable sum into your
treasury, when others may not so
certainly be relied upon"
certainly be relied upon.
"As the gentleman has said" pur-
sued Fitzsimons, at is not an article
of necessity, but of luxury of the
most pernicious kind. 1t may be OBJ
served that lessening the consump-
ton is not the object the committee
has in view"
Mr.. Madison said he would tax the
article as high as would yield col
lectable revenue. 81 am sure" said
he, "if we judge from what we have
heard and seen in several parts Of the
union that this article should have
imposed upon it duty weighty in
deed"
Speaking for the manufacturers OF
New England rum, who used mo-
lasses as an ingredient, on which a
proportionate tax was proposed, Rep
resentative Goodhue of Massachu-
sets talked very like present SEN
ator from New Jersey-Mr. James
MARITIME.
IF the manufacturers OF country
rum" said Goodhue, "are to be de-
voted to certain ruin to mend the
morals of others, let them be admon-
ished to prepare themselves for the
event. but in the way we are about
to take, destruction comes on a sud
den; they have not time to take ref
uge in any other employment what.
soever. If their situation will not
Operate to restrain the iron hand Of
1 policy, consider how Immediately
they are connected with the most es,
! sential interests of the Union; and lei
me ask you if it is wise, if it is recon.
cilable to national prudence, to take
measures subversive of their very ex.
istence? For | do contend that the
very existence of the eastern states
depends upon their navigation and
fisheries, which will receive a deadly
wound by an excessive impost upon
the article before u.s."
Goodhue had eloquently argued
the importance of maintaining the
New England fisheries, whose prod
ucts were exchanged for those Of the
rum-produeing islands, notably ia.
maica rum.
Internperance Common in Republic
1ntemperance was no rare thing in
the early days Of the republic. The
revolutionary government managed
somehow out of its slender resources
to supply the patriots at the front
and even at Valley Forge, with alco,
holic spirits. Wine was in common
use on the tables of the officially i'm.
portant and Of the socially distin.