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Show I IN THE DAYS OF SLAVES AND RUM George Washington was the subject id" controversy In the United States senate on Wednesday when Senator Koran sought to prove that the great Washington did not accept a bonus. Jtorah was successful in showing tha'. j Tor his services in the revolutionary way the general refused remuneration H of any kind, but Senator Watson pro-H pro-H tented proof that in ihe Indian wnrs Washington waa cin a cash bonus, and a land grant. Then B letter was read addressed to Captain John Thompson, a sailing! master, in which Washington said: i H With this letter comes a negro, j H Tom, which I beg the favor of you to I sell in any of tlio islands you may go to for whatever he will fetch and I bring me in return for him one hogs-1 head of best molasses, one hogshead j I oi best rum, one barrel of tamarinds, j I two small pots of mixed sweet mean and residue, much or little, in good old spirits." This was a mixing of tdae, slave trader and rum and, without further explanation, might be accepted a? a severe indictment of the Father of his country. But times have changed since then. Negroes were property in those days, to be sold as are horses or mules today. High-minded and low-minded dealt In slaves, f Furthermore drink lng was not discouragrd or even looked on as injurious-. Wine, taken in moderation, was supposed to bo good for the stomach's sake. Now that is all rejected and alcohol in any form is being thought of as a poison to be avoided An Ogden man has a copy of a Idler Id-ler referring to an old family reunion in Pennsylvania, in which reference is made to George Washington celebrating cele-brating the victory over the Hessians, by issuing an order to supplv the men with rum tor their evening meal. Even as late as the Civil war manv of the commanders Indulged in strong drink and General Grant was complained com-plained against as an excessive drinker. |