The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-04-27
GRAPE CULTURE.

We have often expressed the opinion in these
columns that II vine culture should become 80
general In this country as to afford an abund-
ant supply of good, pure wines for our citizens
at cheap rates rs in France, Italy and Germa-
ny 1t would do more to prevent drunkenness
and promote temperance than almost any other
one thing that could be devised. This is no
hasty view Of the matter, adopted without due
Judgment, founded in the philosophy Of human
nature and fortified by c,reful and somewhat
extended observation of the habits of people In
various climates. That there is implanted in
the constitution OF man some need Of On Occa-
sional stimulous or sedative and On instructive
craving for il which has caused every people
known to history to search out and possess
themselves ofartcles that would produce thcss
effects, will hardly be questioned, as matter Of
fact. There are times when the great majori.
ty Of every people need or think they need
something to quicken the circulation and ex-
Nitrate and elevate the. feelings or to calm and
soothe them, according to circumstances, and
they possess themselves of it. The use Of hash.
eesll, opium, tobacco ten, coffee, fermented and
distilled liquors, &c., &C., in different coun-
tries proves this. But whether there be any
necessity for the use of articles Of these classes
for the use of these medicines Of tho feeling
medicines of the mind as they may be called,
or not, the fact that they are universally used
in some form cannot be gansaid, neither can
il be denied that the progress of civilization up.
pearsin no wise to have dispclled tho DISPOSE
ton 10 use them. On the contrary tho more
advanced the people of country the moro
common their use in some form becomes. How
universal is the drinking of tea and coffee in
this country for example. Every evening or
afternoon gathering of ladies must have some.
thing ut least as enlivenipg as tea or coffee, to
cheer up and make the spirits flow. And oil
attempts to eradicate and destroy this penchant
for stimulants and sedatives have proved utter.
ly ahortive. Neither moral precepts nor le-
gal penalties can do it. Nay, they cannot en-.
tirely restrain and prevent gross abuses in this
direction; ut least have not done IL Us yet,and
to eifcctually accomplish 1t is the great purpose
Of the temperance reform.
Now we maintain that to furnish our peo.
plo with an abundance of palatable, pure, wine,
ut moderate cost would do more to dispel the
evils of intemperance and promote health and
general sobriety than all moral or legal sua.
sion. The people will have "sonething to
take'-in some form. That is human nature,
at least thus far in its development. We can.
not change that nature; our only course,
therefore is to guide and elevate it. Pure wine
is beyond question the most healthful and pa.
ntable social beverage. Before 1t, drunken.
ness would disappear in this country as it has
in France, Italy and in the wine districts of
Germany, where un intoxicated person is sci.
dom, II ever seen. We do not cay that our
people may not, in future generations, attain
u general moral elevation in which intoxicat-
ing liquors will have no temptations for them
but We do say that an abundance of good wines
would produce substantially the same result,
long, long before any such point of moral pro.
grcss can DO reached. If ever; and that this
change in the habits Of our people would vastly
MD and quicken the moral progrcss.-Port-
land Argus.
We clip the above from the Portland Argus,
without endorsing all the remarks therein con.
tanned. We believe that the habit Of taking slim
ulants is unwise, uncaed for. and leads to untold
aud uunumbercd evils, and We never omit to re-
buke It on all proper occasions. Bht there are
times when pure wines properly made are benef.
cial, and regarded rs a strictly medicinal article
and used as such, should be easily accessible. Mr..
Bly, Of Saco keeps such an article of his own do
mestc manufacture. which is always reliable, and
knowing the gentleman personally we can vouch
for his recommendations.