Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1887 — “Honest” John and the Whisky Tax. [ARTICLE]

“Honest” John and the Whisky Tax.

At the Commonwealth Club dinner George William Curtis delivered an ornate address eulogizing Eatonian reform and the mugwumps, and significantly describing John Sherman as “about the purest and ablest man in public life” at the present time. There are other illustrations in plenty which go to show that whatever Republican or mugwumpian antipathy there may be to Blaine is rapidly crystallizing into friendship for Sherman. The cool, calculating Ohio man is deemed the most available club wherewith to knock out the magnetic man from Maine—if he is to be knocked out at all. Mr. Curtis and his friends feel decidedly uncomfortable. Not being allowed to boss the Democratic party they are pining to get back into the Republican ranks; but they cannot consistently go back or be taken back next year should Mr. Blaine be the standard-bearer. That is the mainspring of their sudden love for Sherman. Is it true that Mr. Sherman is “about the purest and ablest man in public life?” It is a query which will by no means command a unanimous affirmative. The most seiious smirch on Mr. Sherman’s record is that which he acquired near the close of the war when the heavy revenue tax was levied on whisky. The act of Aug. 1, 1862, imposed a tax of only 20 cents a gallon on whisky. Toward the close of the war the need of increased revenues gtew imperative, and by the act of Ji ne 30, 1864, the whisky tax was raised to sl. 0, with a provision t at it should be $2 per gallon on and after Jan. 1, 1865. Congressman John Sherman voted tor that bill, but before doing > o he is credited with having quietly organized a big whisky synd ca:e to corner eveiy gallon that could’be secured. Many persons made fortunes at that time by taking whisky out of bond while the passage of the. proposed law was yet in doubt, but to Mr. 'Sherman is attributed the unenviable distinction of deltber-

ately organizing a whisky pool and then hastening back so that his voice and influence in Congress might lend success to his big speculation. Was not that a far more discreditable tri n (action than any decision given in favor of Little Rock by Speaker Blaine? And can our mugwump friends strain at the gnat while they swallow the camel?— New lork Graphic.