Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-27
For the Enquirer.
total ABSTINENCE"-"
ANCE IN ALL THINGS.

Essex county, IN winch me WrneI MAKES du el-
fort 10 prove, by formidable array OF statistics,
that The Total Abstinence principle is OF most
dangerous tendency, and that its prevalence would
cause one halt OF our population 10 be Clothed IN
rags and the other TO cry Tor bread II may not
be wholly Improbable 10 your readers 10 analyze
somewhat carefully this monstrous production. 10
show 10 what extent the judgment may be infiu-
cnced by pref udice, and The impotency OF Error
when opposed 10 truth.
When We first read Ms article we were great
r. puzzled 10 understand the cause OF that strange
perversion OF mental vision under which ne was
evidently laborins, and which led 10 the yet
stranger blunders in his Ia.iocination. After
second and more careful reading Of The article,
with view 10 its analysis, we are enabled 70
solve the mystery. an" assumes that "whiskey,"
or some such slimulant necessary for all classes
in society. Let Us point out few Of his bunders.
When we speak OF Total Abstinence" as the
only safe guide" we thought we were always
understood by men OF plain, common sense, as
having exclusive reference 10 intoxicating drinks.
II has been conclusively proven, again and again,
that the temperate use Of these is very unsafe
We appeal to the myriads Of myriads who COM
menced as temperate drinkers, and ended their
career in the drunkards grave. But, for the es.
pecial benefit of an" we will now state, most
explicitly that we have never yet recommend
ed Total Abstinence as remedy Tor 'elut.
tony" or for The excessive use oi tea and col
Fee When speaking and writing in favor OF
Total Abstinence from all intoxicating drinks,
as the only eficciual safeguard against their
incorporate use our efforts have not been
directed against glultony and against The abuse
Of tea aud coffee, any more than against
Sabbath-breakng, lying and swearing. Sill, as
much as any other class in the community, We
regard these as evils and are willing 10 make
proper efforts 10 remedy Them. In morals, as IN
medicine We are in favor Of adapting The treat
ment 10 the disease. Properly applied, ms"
rule Of action, Temperance in all things" is
good one, but not as he applies il. The temperate
use OF alcoholic drinks Is entirely unsafe. To
his 0m thing, then, the rule does not apply
Hence we infer that The rule must not be applied
too literally. There are exceptions 10 The rule.
But, when an" will seriously undertake 10 prove
that EVERY THING must be used temporarily IN
the sense in which he Is the advocate OF the tenn
perale use OF rtiskev, we will prove 10 his entire
satisfaction that upon The same principle We
ought TO use Opium, Arsenic and every oher pol
son 10 be found in all The kingdoms Of nature.
Iii by no means conceded as assumed ny IN,
that whiskey, or any such stimuant as lea and
coffee, etc., is necessary 10 sustain The system IN
the healthy and vigorous exercise OF all lis nnc-
tions. OF their use as medicines, Il IS not now
our province 10 speak. II, then, Total Absli-
nence could accomplish its object by abolishing
The use OF alcoholic drinks, il does not follow, as
a legitimate result, that the consumption ot tea
and coffee and tobacco would be al all increased.
II is moi in evidence that this is the case. Fiom
the foundation OF our government there has been
(as a general staemenD a progressive increase in
the amount OF tea and coffee consumed, as welas
OF every other lurury. Why, then, did not an"
extend his tabular statements 10 a period anterior
10 the commencement Of the temperance reior-
nation? How unfair 10 argue from such partial
data! The alleged conDexion between the lem-
perance reformation and tie increased consump-
ton OF lea and coffee, is mere assumption, I'M
sustained by a shadow OF e"idence. II is true,
IN" proposes TO show, by statistics, that this
connexion probably exists, and this TOO, in the
same sentence in which he very frankly &C.
knowiedges that lie is mo, acquainted with The
statistics Of the abslinent societies. Histabular
statement exhibits large increase in the num-
her Of Jareis OF 1rhissep imported from the inle-
rior into the city Of .New Orleans, curing peri
cd of ten wears, extending from 1887 10 1916 in
elusive. This table is Introduced expressly 10
show 10 some extent, how one slimu.ant is substI-
,u,ed for another, as a result OF The Temperance
reformation lie Immediately adds, "Had the
abstinen societies succeeded 10 the extent desired,
douh, whether The advantages anticipated would
have been realized. Temperance in all things
appears to be the better way" For what other
sIimuant this increased amount OF whiskey was
substituted, m" has no, informed US. We are
equally ignorant OF the real connection OF The
Temperance reformation with This increased inn
poraicn OF whiskey into New Orleans place,
By the way, most strangely chosen 10 illustrate
The legitimate tendency OF The Temperance move
nent. Why did not IN" seek his statistic IL
Massachusetts, or in some other section IN WHICH
The otaI abstinence principle has operated us rr'
culiar results? Why select New Orleans! ana:
when selected, what connection between Ms
statistics and The question al issue!
Bu, admitting, Tor arguments sake, maj some
simuIant is necessary Tor all classes OF soe,e'y
has whis;;ey any advantages over Tea anu eo'ee'
an" asks, how can len and coffee ehisf ih'o se-
neral use among ali classes II some SUNNI
liant is To be used Two or three sih'es cay as
hr u,e. his wkiskey, and as others use Their tea
and coffee. cal az" make it appear that whisNey |
can be afforded 10 every member Of The family |
eieoncr lban tea and colIee7 We would be
Greatly disappointed il he should make whiskey |
annpar the cheaper slimulant. Where, then, is
he evidence that the success OF The Temperance
cause would s'clohe one hall oil our population
win rags" and "cause the other halt TO cry iol |
bread ~ How preposterous, to talk abont our |
peoole starving because The grain in The country |
is no longer made into whiskey!
Though ensrossing "N.'s" mind so complete |
IL, The mere cost, in money, is not me Cniy cle- |
ment 10 be taken into The estimate. how does |
The mural influence of the one class oil stimulans |
comnare with that of the olher7 In this view OF |
The case, on which side does the advantage lie |
lie, the mind but bring into review The inca'cu-
liable amount Of evil enlacd upon our race by
the Incorporate use of intoxicating drinks-the
crimes, the poverty, The want, the disgrace, tbe
suffering, physical and moral the ruin, tem-
moral and eternal-and then answer the ques.
lion. whether lea and coffee have produced |
results which, by any BIT mad Imam, could |
be compared TO those produced By alcoholic |
drinks And yet AN" seems not 10 have |
caught even a glimpse OF this feature OF The
question; or, rather, he seems 10 think whisky |
Inc more innocent! II an" would calmly and |
ispa ssionalcy contemplate this subject in all is
bearings, he would no longer lake up his lamen- |
lions that The people of these United States paj |
money enough for tea, and coffee, and sugar, 10
buy ono hundred and fifty millions Of gallons 81
arhlskcv, instead Of spending their money Tor al
equivalent in alcoholic drinks.
an" appcnds postscript 10 his article for The |
purpose Of accounting for The cause Of three |
luurIhs Of the crimes committed. lie Is not sa- |
listed with the way in which II IS accounted Tor |
by total abstinence men, Whossy 'hst 'nec-'oufihs !
Of The crimes committed are caused By intempc- |
rance. "Ns" impression is, III there be any |
one cause for threc-tourihs Of all lie crimes COM
miucd, il is the neglect 10 impress upon The
minds Of children the necessity and importance |
Of correct principles" But, as simple qaes
lion of laci are not the former right in the EST
marc which they make2 We, too, believe II The |
duty of parents 10 impress upon the minds II
their children The necessity and importance Il
correct principles: One Of these principles is 10.
tai abstinence from all alcoholic drinks, exctp |
for medicinal purposes. Nor can we see any in
between enforcing This principle |
and the discharge Of every CHER parental duty
Nothing is better established, in my judgment
than that intoxicating drinks are worse than nse-
less 10 those in health even though used tempe.
ralely. Those, then, that remain temperate all |
their lives are injured, rather than benefited, by
these slimuan,s. Where are the advantages 10
The len thousand evils which in