New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-22
t-------------- - 49,. DuOUT u
k,ETrERS FROM THE PEOPLE
rpp RESPONSIBILITY OF TEMPERATE
DRINKERS. ...-.-.


DRINKERS. .-..-.
,,ovpous "FoOD"-PREyENTIoN BETTER
yr.v c1rRE IN TuE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
A TEMPERANCE STORY
% tb> Edffor OF Ths TrtbHhe.
s,p. In THE TRIBUNE OF April Is aii
oIe under the beading Is Alcohol Poison T. writ
Ten by Edward Curtis, NJ D. AS 1t is your pf"c'oo "
Act both sides be heard, will you give an oh'o "oiaau
pnace 10 say few words in replyf The o9eo' OF DE-
Curtis appears to be TO show that i"'o '0'e"'V"0 "
archaeological chemistry prove that'
within certain limits of dose, alcohol Is transformer
1--WE ordinary food in the system without producing any
Ennripus effects and yielding useful force LOT tue
gas of the economy mast be considered IS food III
Sny philosophical OF the word And an ,h
Soint 10 know, and little understood Is thht Hs
toodacon is attended with no exciting or intohlSa,,ng
Influence, but the whole e'ot IKE that OF oruina
Eood IA seen IN the maintenance or reStOratlon
Ing 10 circumstances, OF that balance Oh Iuno|on o
But il taken IN greater quantity Than can De utLea
~ food the excess OF alc0hO acts as
EOison producing wel-known tram OF pci'u'o"'i0"
tof function. - y. a..
After reading the whole article felt like asking, II 1t
he So what doth your arguing prove Would the Doctor
have us adopt it as necessary article OF food as an OF
knary beyeragef Are there not articles OF dio1 SUM-
ient to give strength and 10 furnish Oil the Ioce heooS
lary TO run the living machine" without using ohe
(which beyond certain limits of dose acts as poison
Snd by s "injuriously disturbing influence prouuces
I'm unnatural perturbation Of the normal working OF
The functions" and with sufficient increase OF dose pro
Guces dangerous drunkenness ~ III We use IL as an
ordinary beverage, how shall We be snre that IL VIII al
WAYS remain within those certain safe limits III Is
needless to say that, its constant use that limit
would be extended and taste acquired that would dc
nand constantly increasing quantity. Has II not been
often asserted and without contradiction that is from
the ranks of temperate drinkers that the great army OF
runkards is recruited saall we, by Its USE run the
risk OF seeing our husbands brothers. or sons or even
ourselves, for women sometimes exceed the limit OF
safety laid drunkards grave for the sake OF what
little food" we can get from limited doses OF alcohol
Uoomany drunkards tell the fearful danger what
if IL IA necessary TO use It as medicine In some dis
eases SO is strychnine thus used Does that prove
r1oud be best safe little every day with our
food Is there any more wisdom in running the risk Of
being poisoned in the than the other, even II
one should prove fatal in shorter space Of time
Iwould also like TO ask Thurow Weed if it would not
be better in the temperance movement to act upon the
Hrincipe that prevention better than cure II 1t
would not he better TO reform temperate drinkers SINCE
u no man ever drank at all, no nah Would become
drunkard and the work of reforming drunkards would
soon come 10 an end Is man who opposes total az
sunenoe from all that lntoXIcates because ne WNhos
20 within certain safe limits intoxicating drinks as
beverage. consistent temperance man Alas God
only knows how many the first social glass has carried
TO drunkard's grave. shall there be any compromise
with that which works such sure destruction
IN the same number OF The TRIBUNE, the Rev Dr
John Hall has article consistent and intelligent
Temperance" Is man consistent temperance man
luenoe In favor Of using alcohol as beverage Does
chat under the head of personal duty r. Is there
anything unreasonable IN supposing that they who OPP
pose total abstinence in favor OF temperate drink
fngs Is IL reasonable 10 expect "pubc cooperation
against drunkenness" from such No wonder there
was Failure Of subsequent cooperation" To all such
would recommend the spirit OF the Apostle, when he
said, II me make my brother offend will eat
ilesh while the world standeth, lest make my brother
10 offend"
The following Is not original fancy sketch but is
written from memory as nearly as possible, from an
article read not long poor who had INDUCED
an the OF drink unti his family In
and starving for at last Overaken by that most
horrible of all diseases delriumtemens. Withhe return
OF reason OF his utter ruin, with the fearful
pleadngs of his wife, awakens IN him desire 10 escape
the chains that bind him. and he promises her he
will sign the pledge If his minister will With all haste
he is for and goes 10 the man. ndugDg IN wise
reflections the folly OF using intoxicating drink be-
yond the power of sefUOntrO As he enters the abode
OF poverty and attempts show the wTetched his
guilt in bringing II an upon himself he eagerly inter-
rupts him, eXclaming 81 know 10 all save me from
It. have promised poor wife will sign the pledge
az the minister Will; and God helping me. VIII keep
It," Can you imagine with what eageruess the wife
waits TO reply and feel that her husband j.
eayed3 minister hesltateS clears his throat and
saws: "Wel my friend think it Is the very best thing
Won can do you certainly must leave of the use OF in
foxicating drinks or you are ruined man. But II
think for me II not necessary that should sign the
Dledge have sufficient secOntTOl 10 avoid its use IN
thin wasted hands. Here JIM take the little brow
lug; get it filled quick. Toe minister SAYS 1t Is not
NECESSARY to sign the pledge" The next morning the
man is dead gone 10 meet a drunkard's doom. Have
asmnerste drinkers no responsibility NEsTA.
Chester OHIO, April II, 1874.