Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-26
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BEJE'R4TE

M 4NhiNtNi' Minc 10 comparatively scarce
and costly in price. In Continental Europe,
il is precisely otherwise. Stating these two
facts ~ basis of argument, it has long been
allcgcd that in Europe drunkenness is much
less common than with us, and that there
fore, one OF the best and readiest methods
uf Temperance reform, here, is to make wine
plentiful and more cheap, till ii comes with
10 reach Of the mass of people for their Gus
tomary beverage. While it is entirely true,
thai = great majority of the earnest temper
ancc rct,rmcis are not Of this belief, but re-
jet alcohol in every shape as poison phys.
icallv, and an injury morally and mentally,
sill there are many besides who have unim-
tied confidence in this cheap wine theory.
1t IS therefore, very satisfactory TO have ti-
comparison Of the habits o! Americans an |
Europeans, upon their relative sobriety anil
happiness Dr. Holland. Of the Springfield
HpuDtic0a, who is travelling in switzer
land, has taken notes upon this very matter
and in a recent letter from Lausanne, after
speaking Of the vintage and its scenes.
says -
sTheic il 40 question that The people
would he better, healthier, happier and
much more prosperous, if there were not q
vineyard in the Canton. We have all been
told in America, and fully believed it, that,
II people could be supplied with cheap
wine, they would not get drunk that the
natural desire for some sort OF stimulant
would he gratiiied in way that would be
moi oni. harmless to morals, but conducive
10 haiti. ] am thoroughly Indeceved. a.
The people drink their cheap, white wine
here to drunkenness. A boozier sci than
hang around the mullitudnous cafes here il
would be har 10 find in any American city.
The grand difference in the drunkenness OF
an Ann ricin and Swiss city is found in the
fact that ihc man who has wine in him il
good Daturcd, and the man who is equally
charged with whisky is u demon. There is
no numbering, no fighting, no wrangling. -
The excitement is worked off in singing,
shouting and all sorts of insane jabber."
The consequences of wine drunkenness.
then, seem 10 be less serious than those pro-
duced by whisky, just as it is considered
that adult, rated whisky makes a drunken
man more drmoniac ihun pure spirits. Di.
Holland goes on thus
$50 this question is settled In NV mind.
Cheap wine is not the cure of intemperancc
The people here are just as imtempcrate as
they are in America, and, what is more, there
rs no public sentiment that checks intemner.
ance IN the least. The wine is fed freely to
children, and by all classes is regarded as
| perfectly legitimate drink. Failing to find The
l solution nf a -, IL.
Main law, failing to preceive il in the yariou.
modes and movements ofrcierm, with many
Others have looked with hope to find 1t in /
cheap and comparatively harmless wine
but, for one, | can look in this direction
hopefully no longer. | firmly believe tina
the wines of switzerland are of no use eycep
| to kecr out whisky, and that the advantage
Of The wine over the whisky are not YER
obvious. Ii is the testimony of the best mel
| IN Switzerland, those who have the hiebes
good of The people at hcart-that the in
| creased growth Of the grape has been stead
lily and corrcspondingly attended by the in
crease of drunkenness. They lament tn,
planting of new vineyard as we, at home
regret the opening Of a new grog shop.
This # decisive testimony And one @
its strongest characteristics to us, seems Il
be when 1t points out the effect on popula
habits the lack Of public sentiment agains
intemperance. and the use Of wine by chill
dren. Generally speaking, we think tn
feeling in Ills country IS to train our chill
bred in the litter disuse of alcohol in AM
form, It Is The mature generations whicl
give as trouble But if the Consequences 0
cheap wine are to be The inebriation and cor
rup'ion Of the children ol the country surel
temperate habits have nothing TO gam b
more vineyards. If easy drinking bring
universal drinking, surely we had better hav
hard drinking and not 80 many at it.