1880 13,347,111 1894 33,362,373 1881 14,311,028 1895 33,589,784 1882 16,952,085 1896 35,859,250 1883 17,757,892 1897 34,462,822 1884 18,998,619 1898 37,529,339 1885 19,185,953 1899 36,581,114 1886 20,710,933 1900 39,330,849 1887 23,121,526 1901 40,517,078 1888 24,683,119 1902 44,478,832 1889 25,119,853 1903 46,650,730 1890 27,561,944 1904 48,265,168 1891 30,021,079 1905 49,522,029 1892 31,855,626 1906 54,651,636 1893 34,591,179 1907 58,622,002 1908 58,814,033 [Sidenote: A REVOLUTION IN DRINKING HABITS] The lesson conveyed by these figures is irresistible and as such is accepted by all impartial students of the drink question. Prof. Henry W. Farnam says, in his preface to “Economic Aspects of the Liquor Problem,” published under the auspices of the Committee of Fifty: “Since 1840 there has been a steady substitution of malt liquors for distilled liquors in the consumption of the people. While there has been an increase in the total quantity consumed, the substitution of light drinks for strong drinks has brought about a diminution in the amount of alcohol consumed per capita. Moreover, though the _per capita_ consumption of malt liquors has been nearly stationary since 1890, the consumption of distilled liquors has fallen by nearly one-third in that time. How far modern methods of production have influenced this change, how far it is due to German immigration or other causes, cannot be stated with certainty. The fact remains that our progress has been in the direction of moderation.” Although the statement that the per capita consumption of beer has been nearly stationary since 1890 is no longer correct, we have nevertheless quoted these words because they reflect the views of unbiased students as to the rôle of beer. A comparison between the consumption of beer and spirits shows at a glance that, as a nation, we have progressed in the direction of true temperance at a rate and to an extent unequaled in history. Instead of being at the head of the list of hard-drinking nations—as we undoubtedly were fifty years ago—we now rank foremost among temperate peoples. By a singular coincidence, our Department of Commerce and Labor lately published comparative liquor statistics almost simultaneously with several official and private publications of foreign origin, dealing with the same question. In all these documents one important fact stands out in bold relief, and that is, as the Department of Commerce and Labor expresses it, that “this country is well-nigh at the end of the list of spirit-drinking countries.” We may be permitted to quote the official table: Countries Spirits Beer Wine Gallons Gallons Gallons