The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-12
THE WINE QUESTION.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
| noticed in your issue Of May 10Th an
article from the pen of Chas. Louis
Kuhn, which l think ought TO be me,
and answered by the temperance ele-
ment in the State. l have not now the
time to give this matter the attention
its importance demands, but l wish to
call his attention TO a stirring article i'm
recent number of the Herald Of
Health, from which copy the follow
ing extracts:
lis the free and common use OF alcoholic
wine calculated TO lessen the amount 0f iniein-
perance: And This question may be consid-
cred In the light OF reason alone, or In that OF
experience.
"Firsi, then, is II reasonable 10 suppose that
the use OF intoxicating wine will check inicIn-
perance: : How can il, when the inebriating
principle Is in II as really in rum, gin,
brandy, or whisky, and produces the same ei-
fects, only requiring a little more TO he taken.
The combination I'm which It is found in wine
does not change its nature or operation Ia the
least. \ given quantity OF alcohol in wine pro-
duces exactly the same effects as II it wcTe I'm
brandy or whisky. The man who drinks feg-
mented wine takes alcohol into his system, and
he drinks II for the sake OF the effects the alco-
hol produces II creates the same habit and
appetite that the use OF IL does In any kind ol
ardent spirits and all experience proves That
great multltudes Of those who begin the uss ol
wine are led on TO that OF more fiery pOtations
The drunkard's appetite i As readily formed
and cultivated by wine as hy ardent spirits OF
any kind. Reason, then, teaches the mllacy
hat free and
OF wine will diminish drunkenness.
"If now we turn TO the consideration OF facts
and look at the question in the light Of expert
ence. We shall arrive at the same conclusion
In the first place, then, we know that intemper
ance was a fcarfully common and destructive
vice among the ancients who inhabited wine
producing countries, and who knew nothing o
cur modern ardent spirits, as distillation wa'
not then practiced. The Greeks especially were
I famous for their drunkenness, and Plato de
clares that, during the period OF the feasts o
Bacchus, there could not be found sober nIaI
or woman in all .AiiIca, district celebrated fol
its wines.
AMOR IS there less evidence that intempcrancs
prevails in modern times In wine-productn4
countries aS II did In ancient days"
Rev. r. r. Dennen also writes from
Cairo, Egypt, to the CongregdtiondiisI
as follows:
"rhc people are poor and wrc;ched, and with
out ambition. The new life, which seems L
have stirred western Italy and the cities alon:
the Mediterranean shores, has not touched thi
valley or the shores OF the Adratic. Why Il
thise Does the cause lie In the enervaiing eli
mates Partially, perhaps. Does II exist IL
the fertility Of the soil and the ease with whici
| - o.. l..
cause to be sought ia the product OF the soil
Possibly. Who ever knew a land that produce
wine 10 grow men and women : Does not
blight from God rest on a people who perver
the energies OF the soil TO the production OF tina
which destroys manhood and womanhood
The whole extent OF country, from Savoy il
France 10 BrIndisi on the Adriatic, Is n crap
held. The people throughout this whole exten
are miserably poor aud degraded. The Egvp
iian and Arab are their superiorS. 4 wine-pro
ducing and a wine-drlnking people. although
Ia a good measure free from drunkenness. az,
so soaked and sieeped Ia the juice Of the grap
as To- become almOs; vegetable. The Darwin
ian theory is reversed. Give a man win
enough, let him grow the grape and drin
freely OF the juice; II l,s docs not relapse into
monkey or a mollusk. he viii yet become Ia
+ poorest specimen of the genus homo"
1 hope, Mrs. Editor, that you will
publish these facts for the benefit o
Chas. Louis Kuhn and all others VIII,
may be led by his article 10 conslde
wine growing or wine-drinking eithe
elevating or necessary.
MRS. W. II. MCFUNE.
Sheridan, Oregon, June 4, 1871.