The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-03-27
Wine and Crime.

1t is thought that the alarming increase
of crime within twenty years results very
largely from the adulteration of liquors oil
all kinds 1t is a we'll known fact that it is
almost impossible to obtain pure liquor
in this market. Even those liquors that
are marked as imported, are generally
made within sight of the warehouse
where they are sold. Every kind of
spirits is adulterated; and while some of
the compounds are of the most deadly
sort, and most of them deteriorate the
blood, and when taken in any considera-
ble quantity deaden the conscience and
madden the brain Delirium tremens
very rarely heard of twenty years ago, is
now a disease of common occurrence;
and the quantity of liquor which a gen
Grafton ago could be taken with compar-
ative inpunity, producing only agreeable
eXhileration, now causes intense excite
ment, frequently ending in violence,
crime, insanity and death. Our grand
fathers drank rum and wine freely, and
carried strong constitution and vigorous
health nearly if not quite to the century
line; men drink their portion now, and
find themselves in the gutter or the
madhouse, if not arraigned for crime.
The facts connected with the adultera-
ton of liquors of all sorts are curious but
taken in connection with the effects of
most of our liquors upon those who use
them freely, they present a subject for
serious consideration. There is an un-
doubted connection between the univer-
sal adulteration of liquors and the sta
tisties of crime, to say nothing of the
increase of insanity, and the shortened
lives of generous drinkers. 1t is not the
wine that bubbles over in vice and runs
into crime but the poisonous compounds
the deleterious chemical com binations,
which palmed off as wine. Pure wine,
as DR.. Holmes says, is food. 1t IS an
open question whether any pure liquor,
taken in moderate quantities and under
proper circumstances, is injurious to the
health, constitution, or conscience. Some
of the best medical authorities insist that
the moderate use of alcohol is positive
advantage Certainly Is not the pure
spirit that works the mischief, but the
nauseating and maddening, and death
dealing staffs that are sold in its stead
Our people ask for stimulants and are
treated to insanity. They crave refresh
ment and inspiration, and are mocked
with inebriety and madness.
1t would certainly seem that the first
step in true temperance reform is to
Danish all adulteration of liquor, making Q
it a criminal offense to sell any sort OF
fluid chemists can concoct for wines. But
some of our total abstinants cannot toll
crate the idea of adopting such a com
nonsense and rational policy as this
They insist that the more poisonous the
liquor people have to drink the better;
for so much the sooner will they be
frightened from the use of liquor alto
gether. They urge that the more mad
dening wine is made, and the more yio-
lence it excites, and the more graves it
fills with premature and unwept victims,
| IL l.. L.
the cup and bowl. Better for theory,
perhaps but it is better for morality,
better for mankind? Men have always
craved stimulants, and have always had
them. Under some form or other al
| choholic stimulants have been used by
every people There seems to be nat
ural and ineradicable want in the human
system which nothing but wine can sat
isfy; n want which some persons do not
| generally experience but which the ma
jority do feel, and even the rest are con
scious of at times. The total abstinance
! theory certainly seems to clash with sci
/ encc and fly in the face of history. But
whether us sound or unsound, we con-
tend that the health, the sanity,
| the morality of men are Of meal
culably more account than any theory OF
reforming extremists, and we have no
right to imperil these for the sake of ac-
cumulating evidence in its support and
terrifying people to accept it's conclusions.
! Besides, all thinking men must sec that
| the crimes which all deplore are caused
by the chemical substitute for wine, and
not 10y wine itself.
1t is the first step that costs and counts,
In this temperance reform the first step
has yet to be taken. We may agitate
about prohibition, and bully and bribe
Legislators into passing this and that and
the other measure TO restrict the sale on
interdict the use of wine, until dooms
day and without avail; because these
things do not begin at the beginning, but
imply state of things, n condition of the
public mind, set OF tastes and habits, a
physical and moral constitution which
10 not exist and are not likely TO exist
for century 10 come. They pertain to
the ideal, and not to the actual condition
of men and world. And one reason why
the temperance movement has been Sc
unavailing heretofore, Is that il has deal
with the abstract and the impossible a.
though they were practicable, We wan
now to strike blow where it will tell
We want to take the first step towards
the goal. And that step is to prohibit nj
and every adulteration OF the liquors
that our people drink We should max,