New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-14

greatest devotssIto stfong dlink, win pre-


greatest devoteeito strong drink, win pre-
tend to denysbut the question whethe
this apparent need Of human nature is t.
be utterly suppressed, or, if partially graf
fled, how that qualification is TO be regu
lated so as to promote the best interests
of the individual and society, is still re
garded as an open one, One thing, how
ever, seems to be established by thai
surest of tests, experience, and that is
that legal restrictions on the sale Of
liquor, whether in the direct form
of prohibition, or the indirect one
OF enormous taxation, is imperative
as promoter of temperance. Those who
love liquor will get it, no matter what ii
costs; and those who thrive by the vices
of Others will find means to evade an I'M
popular law. Neither does the continued
agitation of the temperance question, by
means of sensation lectures, total absti-
nence societies, and other such artificial
| means, seem to produce any permanent
| good results. Such societies are mostly
composed of such as do not care for
| strong drink, and join "for an example. "
The members keep true to their pledges
for timei but they soon see the absurdity
of restraining those who have no inclina-
ton to excess for the sake of those who
have no disposition for restraint.
Temperance societies, as they are
called, do good Just SO far as they infu-
ence public sentiment against intemper-
ance. This, to o considerable extent,
they may do in small places. In large
towns, however, like New Orleans, they
seem to be utterly i'm otent-a circum-
stance partly owing, no doubt, to the fact
that they seek to promote their object by
inconsistent means. Temperance means
moderation. 1t does not mean total absti-
nence. A man who has become so COM
pletely the slave of his appetite for alco-
holic drinks a, to be incapable ofself-con-
troll after having once tasted liquor, is a
subject for medical treatment No pledge
will restrain him. A man, on the con-
trary, who retains the mastery over him
self though fond of indulgence of that
kind, will be more restrained by dread
of public censure than by almost any other
motive. And just here is the trouble in
our city. Public sentiment is too lenient
in this regard. The habit of treating"
IN public houses, practiced by some
among the most respectable men in the
and the federation with which |
this habit is regarded, has a most per-
nicious effect on public opinion. To be
''high," to have been ION a
spree. to be elevated by wine or liquor"
provided man keeps his balance and
a gentlemanly demeanor, is
looked upon as a venial matter 1t is
only when such habits are habitual and |
carried to excess-above all, when they |
nave incurred the penalty of reducing
heir victim to poverty, that they become
lisgraceful
1t is to be sincerely hoped that the re-
lewed efforts now making all over the
country for the promotion of the cause of
may be directed more wisely
han those which have preceded them;
hat they may recognize the natural de-
ire of man, savage and cultivated, for
he excitement produced by stimulants,
nd the resultant fact that their use can
lever be abolished, and that therefore
he course of wisdom is to promote tenn
'erance in their use. Success in this
natter, however, can only be obtained by
nlisting in the cause such force of pub
&c opinion in large cities, as well as in
illages, as shall restrain those addicted
0 intemperance.
In our opinion, this cause, in addition
D the restrictive effect of public opinion,
nil be best promoted by the encourage
lent of innocent amusements among
Dung people at the season of life when
ne craving for excitement first begins to
e felt, and by the introduction and gen.
raj use of light, cheap wines. The
eaker but more palatable juice of the
rape is, in our opinion, the strongest
eapon that can be brought to bear upon
lie more powerful juice of the rye, and
i'll in time be sure to conquer it.