The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-04-14
What can be done .

What can be done!
The alarming increase of ntemperance with
its consequent immortality and suffering, has
led many, who have heretofore been quite in
different to its prevalence, to inquire what
can be done to arrest its progress, and save
the drunkard from his deplorable condition,
and many of our young men from the fate that
inevitably awaits them. This question, "What
can be done ?" has been asked and answered
thousand times before, and efforts, varied and
unremitting, such as have not been expended
In any other. direction, have been put forth,
and yet the evil is undated. As one drum
kard is hurled into adishonored grave another
stands ready to take his place, keeping the
ranks unbroken, while the monster is unsat-
isfed.
We have had in this city, during the past
winter, able and stirring lectures, as well as
regular weekly meetings, in which the evils
of intemperance have been portrayed in a
most vivid manner, and the danger of tamper-
ing with the drunkard's drink presented with
such distinctness and cearness. Many who
listened have resolved, If not to avoid it en-
tirely, to use livery cautiously. But the young
man has gone from the lecture, thoroughly i'm
pressed with the truth of what he had heard
and taken his glass of ale or wine without the
most distant thought that he was in any dan
ger Of acquiring an appetite that will control
in any manner his action, or lead him to in
dulge in glass more than his judgment APP
proved and his reason consented to. He does
not intend to be drunkard and is ready to
listen to all that is said about the evils of in
temperance and give it his most unqualified
assent He does not know that while in the
indulgence Of the use of liquors moderately
he is in the beaten track to drunkard's end.
Unless he can be led TO see the danger of
drinking intoxicating liquors in any quantity,
or under any circumstances, he will soon
learn that he is standing on slippery place,
but too late, perhaps, TO save himself. While
lectures that excite the feelings, may, like
an alarm of fire, awaken the sleeper, but in
order to act Understandings it will be neces-
sary for him to know where the fire is and
have some means Of getting water upon it,
1t Is necessary for him who drinks intoxica-
ting liquors at all, TO understand that drunk
enness with all its Consequences, is but the
natural sequence Of moderate drinking.
Efforts are being made TO enlist the chill
dren--to interest them in the subject SO that
they may avoid the first steps to intemper-
ance This is certainly very wise and inn
portant movement. If no new drunkards are
made, In twenty or thirty years drunkenness
will be known only in history. But the chill
dren being subject TO the will and caprice of
the parents, are not expected TO act indepen-
IDENTIFY of them until they are old enough to
go to the places where the milder drinks are
kept for sale, so that the education of the pa
rents must be considered an important requi-
site, for the protection of the children.
The Legislature has passed an act explani-
tory OF an act, placing ale and strong beer in
the same category with other Intoxicating
LIQUORS. If ale and strong beer are intvxica-
ting, which nobody can deny, then it seems
highly proper that the Legislature should so
state the case as to place it beyond the power
of biased Judge to let the violator of law
through the constructions he may be disposed
to put upon the law, although clearly in vio-
lation of its true intent and meaning.
In addition to the eloquent appeals that
convulse with laughter and melt into tears
in addition TO the organization of the children
into Bands of Hope-in addition to organi-
cations for the profit and amusement of older
persons-in addition to the law prohibiting
the sale of Intoxicating liquors except for
medicinal and mechanical purposes, there
should be scientific lectures upon the subject,
showing the physiological and pathological
cause of the demand for liquors controlling
the judgment and conscience and overriding
every consideration that is capable of opera
ting upon the mind. The fact should be
made as clear as sacred writ, and it can be,
that no man whose system is governed by the
laws that govern other human beings, has a
right to presume that he can drink intoxica-
ting liquors in any quantity and under the
most prudent regulations and in the most
guarded manner without being in danger OF
becoming SO controlled by them as to lose
all regard for home and friends, business and
health, and with the drunkard's dreadful end
staring him fully in the face, still persist in
ablest men of the country fully demonstrates
the fact, that they cannot be regulated. Le-
gal suasion and moral suasion, law and gospel,
have alike failed in fully accomplishing the
desired object, and it remains for the light OF
science to come to their aid. Let it be ap-
piled to this particular subject and make the
fact as glaring as it is indisputable, that there
is no safety in using the intoxicating draught
in any form, by any man who claims to pos
sess only human power We are pleased to
learn that DIR. Dio Lewis, of Boston, has con-
sented to give a lecture on this subject in the
New City Hall, on Sunday evening, 18th inst.
and presume, judging from the position he
occupies, that he will show, on pathological
principles, why one glass of liquor creates an
ungoyernable demand for another We have
no means of knowing what view he takes Of
the subject, but trust the lecture will be one
of interest and profit.