The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-08-22
The humbug of Cider Intoxication,

The advocates Of the oppressive and
absurd cider law Of Maine insist thatthe
use OF cider causes intoXication and tends
to make drunkards of those who use it.
The history of New England farm life
gives sufficient contradiction to this
theory, for a better or more temperate
| class of agricultursts are not to be found
in the world. Wine contains much more
OF the Intoxicating principle than cider,
and yet the universal testimony of those
best qualified to Judge IS that in the wine
districts of Europe there is no intoxica-
ton. Prof Louis Agassiz, the eminent
naturalist. born in Switzerland recently
testified to this effect before committee
Of the Massachusetts Legislature. We
copy his testimony on this point
q. How extensive, and how constant. is the
use of wine, as beverage, among the people of
Switzerland?
A. 1t is the usual beverage 1t is a part of
the allmentation OF the country. 1t is so COM
pletely Il part of the alimentaion of the people
that anybody who is not able to supply himself
with II Is considered AS a pauper. and deserves
to be supplied with it, Wine is given rs one of
the charities extended to the poor of the coun-
try, and he pauper who comes destitute to the
clergyman's door receives meat and wine.
z. Then it is Is much used as any beverage
is used in any country, and also as the food of
the people?
A. Yes, sir
q. What observations did YOU make. as a
European. born, bred and educated in Europe.
of the moral and physical effect, if any, pro :
duced upon the people by this authoritative use
Of wine?
A. do not know of a more cheerful popu-
laion. nor of more temperate and steady class
OF people. than are the peasantry and the cili-
zens generally of Switzerland. | believe that
the use of the natural product Of the grape,
without the addition of alcohol, which is entire
~ unknown in Wlne-making countries, is one
Of the conditions which secures that cheerful
disposition Of the people, which is the charac-
terlstic OF the inhabitants of the warmer part Of
Europe.
@. Have your observation extended to the
neighboring countries:
A. Yes, sir; | spent eleven wears as Il student
IN German universities and in France. and
have had opportunities to become familiar with
the mode Of living, the diet and the habits OF the
people; and believe that there is an acknowl-
edged difference. which is chara eriZing
te .lure of the population of those parts of Ger
many where the use Of beer is common, as COM
pared with those parts Of the same country
where the use of wine is common, and As con
trasted with those parts OF Europe where the
use of distilled liquors takes the place of the
ordinary use of WINE, The peasant of Bavaria
lives upon beer and bread and a small quantity
of meat; but the principal food Of the inhab
tans of southern Germany is beer and bread.
The effect Of such Il diet il, perhaps, a greater
disposition to dizziness than is olSel we'd in those
countries where wine is a part OF the alimeHta-
ton. When speak of wine a. II part OF the
Authorization, wish it to he understood that it
Is equally so. There portions Of France
and some parts of switzerland where bread and
VINE constitute the TODD of the people, In the
huuor-drnhin9 parts of Europe find intern
perance, but lntemperance Is unknawn III the
winC-2rowing countries. 1t was when | went
to England, for the first time in 1884, that
learned what drunkenness was In England and
IA Northern Europe intemperance is at home,
but il unknown i'll other parts of Europe where
the grape is grown. | hail with joy-for am
temperance man and friend of temperance
Il hail with JOY the efforts that are being made
to raise wine in this country. and | wish them
all success | believe that when you can have
everywhere cheap, pure, unaduterated VINE,
thai You will no longer have need Of either pro-
hbitory or license laws
z. If understood you correctly, the use of
such wines does not engender any morbid APP
petite, resulting in drunkenness?
A. | have never seen any morbid appetite
engenderel from the use OF, pure wine, any
more than the using of other food engenders Il
morbid appetite for more food, or fol food that
is injurious.
What " inc is to Switzerland cider is to
New England and the present fanatical
attempt to outlaw that beverage will Ger
tainly fail