, 1874-04-19

J. do Armas Cespedes, a Spanish writer OF
considerable reputation, both in Spain and Cuba
has contributed an article on tho present temper.
| ance crusade to the Gatory, which is peculiarly
| Interesting, because it presents tho views Of a
dis:nterested foreigner. Tho writer accepts the
proposition of the crusaders that the vice Of in
toxication is alarming1y prevalent in tho United
states' and adds that, during half contury OF
effort, no important advancement has been made
| in corrcctingit. On this account, however. },o
doe7 not believe that all practical effort should
cease, and entire dependence be placed mon
] prayer. He thinks there arc ways, Which aro
not the ways Of the roformer, that may prove Buc-
cessful. Ho assumes that there is something in
tie physical organization of man which demands
stlmulants, and in all nations, from the highest
to the lowest, the secrets OF, nature hare been
! invaded to obtain them. To prevent this crav-
ing, and to suppress intemperauce, rrohibitory
Legislation has been tried in VAN. It is tbere-
fore, impossible to abolish tho use of liouors-
but it does not follow that thcir use cannot DO
regulated. Upon this point the writer saya:
Neither Americans nor Enstshmcn drink rooro
spIEita than tho French, s7anards or Ialiane. s.o
t'sties Provo The fact and yet, in England aud thc
United staes is 100 per cent more Drc7
aleat than in France Spain, or 1ay long residence
IN all Of tho countries referred TO- md some studv
OF the question: has led the writer 70 the conclusion
that there are two causes for this The first of fhpso
Is that tile English and Americana especially the lat
ter, do not know how to drink and the second t,+
In both England and the United States tho ouors ara
most e1eczab1e in quality.
To modify this evil there must be- radical
change in the habits OF the people, This the
writer does not deem Impossible, BECAUSE Ameri-
cans have no inconvcniont prejudicee, and adapt
themselves readily to circumstances. His first
step towards this result is liberal legislation tn
reduce the price OF liquors and improve
their quality. He believes this legislation
would result in tho abolition Of the
manufactures of poisoned liquors to a GER
tain extent. There is also the consolation of |
knowing that this is branch Of industry |
which it is not very desirable to rrotect. !
AZ to the question Of revenue, the reduction of t
the duties on imported liguora will DO followed |
bF such increase in the quantity imported that /
the revenue will not materially be diminished. |
Larger imports would substitute pure liquors
for "du1teratcd. On this point, be says: sim
fo1lcatlon il very infrequcnt in those countries
"here good liquors are chesp and abundant, and
"eere they are used in every household as
as not seldom the result of religious
p'ecept~ on the other hand, in those countries |
"nete '. spirits are dear and bad, and drinking
@nen 10 considered sin, into1ication takes tbe
p'opofe'ons p OF national calamity which
1ntea@ens to destroy the foundations Of society
IL inc nrss' the people are taught how to uae
good liquors; in the second, dear prcea and
'oc'a1, II not legal, prohibition, haYe ONLY sue
'eeded in teaching the people how to abuse hsd
'nes." E1-AaroE Medills letter from Nnp1es.