Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-06
Intemperance-Facts Based upon Fig
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AT a temperance meeting recently held
in Philadelphia, Thomas M. Coleman,
Esq, delivered an address in which he al
luded to the fearful loss of life caused by
indulgence in Intoxicating drinks. He
said that when the population of the
United States did not exceed IS, 100000 OF
souls, it was estimated that the deaths, in
consequence of the use of alcoholic and
fermented liquors, amounted to $4,000 an
nuaily. This estimate of deaths is still
given by writer's and temperance lecturers
Notwithstanding the fact that the popula-
ton Of the United States approaches 40
600, 900, and, also, that thousands of dis.
tillcries have beeh erected in the last
twenty years, and the places for the whole
sale and retail of liquors multiplied to a
fearful extent @s2EM ~
When the estimate that sixty thousand
died % nually was made, lager beer was
scarcely known, and the importation of
wines and other liquors but trifling bust
ness In, view of these facts, the state
ment would not be extravagant if the
deaths from the use of alcoholic liquors
were fixed at one million annually. What
loss TO the enterprise and industry of the
country "a loss that this country ought
not to sustain, rich as it is in territory, in
mineral wealth, and in everything that
needs strong arms and clear brains to de-
velOp. t.xY
In calculating or attempting to show the
fearful loss Of life through the agency OF
alcoholic beverages, we must 60 beyond
the ordinary statements to be found in
prison reports, or in the records Of aims.
houses or coroners' offices. We must ex.
anime the mortality list of the health
officers, and ascertain from them how life
destroyed by the absence Of pure air,
nourishing food, etc, in consequence OF
the incorporate habits Of parents, aud the
dissipation Of the young just budding into
manhood '''''t ~ 'ttff5
3. A few statistics obtained from these re.
ports will illustrate and make plain our
meaning. Philadelphia is conceded to be
one of the most healthy. cities in the
United States, containing all the elements
which should insure long life; but, with
all its advantages, thousands die from the
unbounded license given to-ithe sale and
use Of alcoholic liquors. During the past
four years the deaths in this city have mum
bered 60.162 and Of this number IL, 15O
were under one year of age, and 32,l50,
More than one halt, were under twenty
years of age, ,rs
1t is well known that there are many
diseases incident to children that prove
fatal In hundreds Of cases, but b 1t not
fair to infer that out of from four to five
thousand that die annually under one year
Of age in this city, at least two thousand
of them would pass safely through the or,
dinaSy sickness Of childhood and reach
years of maturity if it were not for the
dissipatst habits. of their pareatS, Which
prevents them from providing not only
proper places for .habitation, but nourish-
ing food in sufficient quantities 70 sustain
life? - ~ ~
Even among those who have wealth
and all the comfort il brings, their children
are sent to their graves by the administra-
don OF soothing syrups and Qthet concoc-
J tens having alcohol as their principal in
gredicnt. ~
The speaker then referred 10 the deaths
in Philadelphia from 1861 TO 1870, the
total number being l4O2i9. OF this num-
Der 37,70i were under one year, end 10, 21S
under twenty years of age. Among the
diseases that were fatal to children under
one year Of age, we can mention the fol-
lowing as having occurred in 1861, when
the deaths numbered about the same as in
1859. Deaths from commissions in 1861,
345; in 1869, 429 deaths from cholera in.
fantum in 1861, 400; in 1869, 665; from
debility in 1854, IA lin 1854, 374 There
~ 4 steady fpcfase in the deaths Of child
rem by diseases which are sggravxssd and
terminated fatally, because OF poverty ne
elect aad dissipation.
Again, It will be noticed That more than
one half OF the deaths occur among those
under twenty years of age. This cannot
be attributable to pestilential or epidemic
diseases, for the same thing occurs 1very
wear The cause may be traced to The hab-
its of parents, and the want Of watchful-
ness over the conduct of their children. i.
Mr.. Coleman then referred to the loss OF
/ lffe among those who have gr0~ht0 man
hood, in consequence of the use Of alco.
holic stimulants, and stated that cdreful
calculations have recently been made from
data furnished by two societies sof work.
inumen--one 81 them cOmposed OF total
sbStsiners, and the other OF those who
assalcoholic nquonl to . gfesAerpr less
p~T rayfSf8tfg x.IfH11