Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-12-12
Wine Drinking in Switzerland and
temperance.

Som of our Vineyardists, particularly
those having an interest i'll the propaga-
tion of the vine through the sale Of grape
plants, have steadily maintained that
such extension of the grape growing in
terest, and the consequent abundance
and cheapness OF wines would have
the effect 10 dry up intemperance. Many
without reflection, tacitly admit the argu-
ment, that more thoughtful minds looked
upon as not well founded. We gave
last week, an article from the pen of II.
e., 0ppoSiRg this idea by his own obser-
vation and convictions.
We give below al article from the pen
Of DIR. Holland on the same subject,
drawn from his observation among the
Swiss. 1t is to the same effect. and not
little forcible against the argument of
our grape root dealers.
In nletters written from Lausanne, ,Switz
land, he gives the following interesting
information concerning the effect OF light
wine drinking Oh the habits OF the pco-
pie:
eve have all been told in America,
and l fully believe it, that if people
could be supplied with a cheap wine,
they would not get drunk-that the nat
ural desire for some sort of stimulant
would bs gratiiicd in a way that would
be not only harmless to morals, but con-
ducive to health. | am thoroughly I'M
deceivcd. The people drink their cheap
white wine here to drunkenness. A
boozier set than hang around the multi
tudious cafes here it would be hard to
find iii any American city, even where
they enjoy the license of the Maine law.
The grand difierenc i'll the drunkenness
OF an American and Swiss city is found
in tue fact that the man who has wine
in him is good natured, and the mai
who is equally charged fith whisky is
demon. There is no numbering, no fight
ing, 10 wrangling. The excitment is
worked off in singing shouting and all
sorts of insane jabber. Then the steady
old white wine toper comes into blossom.
If you can imagine Il cauliflowcr of the
ordinary rtd oaLbagc gccoloryou can achieve
very adequate conception of faces that
are not uncommon i'll all this wine grow
ing region. SO this question is settled,
i'll my mind. Cheap wine is not the cure
of intcmperance The people here are
just as temperate as they arc i'll Aneri-
ca, and W lat is more, there is no public
sentiment that checks intempelance in
the least The wine is fed freely to child
ren, and by all classes as 4 perfectly legiti-
mate drink. Failing to ind the solution
of temperance question in the Maine law,
failing to perceive it in the various modes
and movements Of reform. ], with many
others have looked with hope to find it
in q cheap and comparative harmless
wine, but, for enc, i can look in this dir
estion hopefully no longer. l firmly be-
lieye that the vines of Switzerland are
of no use except to keep out whisky,
and that the advantages Of the wine ov-
er she WHISKY are not very Obvious
II is the testimony Of the best men in
observation-disclosures who have the high
est good of the people at heart-that the
increased growth OF the grape has been
steadily and eorrespondmgly attend by
the increase Of drunkenness. They la
ment the planting Of a new vineyard as
we at home regret the opening Of a new
grog shop. They expect no good of it to
any body. They know and deeply feel,
that the whole wine producing enterprise
is charged with degradation for their
country.