This Bill is, I repeat, a law of guile, spoliation, and tyranny from first to last. There is a general impression that it will never be executed entirely. They will content themselves with spoliation, for the present at least. It is hard to persuade a people who have had religious worship gratis for fifteen centuries, that they must now pay for the privilege of attending Mass, while their Government subsidizes opera dancers and singers, of whose services not one in a million ever avails himself.
While the Socialist majority, or bloc, are revelling over perspective spoliation and sacrilegious confiscations, the handwriting on the wall is dimly perceived. The enemy is at the gates—nay, within the walls—while legislators are discussing “with what sauce they will eat the curés,” though they have not yet digested their copious repast of congregations.
Yesterday the reports of the Chambers on Separation were unusually tedious, and the rendu compte ended with this phrase: “To-morrow amnesty for the bouilleurs de cru and wine frauders.” This heartless Government, that flings aged and infirm congréganists out of their homes without mercy for age or sex, has, at least, one tender spot in its make-up. It is for the liquor traffic in all its forms. Falsification of wine is carried on to such an extent that it is impossible for grape growers to make a living. I dilated recently in these columns on the anti-clerical propaganda by means of an immoral, irreligious Press, and the multiplication of these drink-stands to an extent which is simply appalling.[8]
New York, with three millions, has 10,000 liquor saloons. Paris, with two-and-a-half millions, has 30,000 debits de boissons.
The Gaulois recently published some figures which I think are accurate.
Fifty years ago 735 hectolitres of absinthe were consumed in France; to-day 133,000 are consumed.
Fifty years ago 600,000 hectolitres of alcohol were consumed; to-day 2,000,000 hectolitres are consumed.
The intermediate figures show that the increase has been in almost geometric progression in recent years.
In 1880 the consumption had increased from 735 hectolitres of absinthe to 13,000. In 1885 it was still only 112,000.
In 1905 it was 133,000.