National Republican., 1876-11-01

hCCtuliae uoCo nm AO kOOtp
for he gives himself such curses, admoni-
tions, warnings-aye, and even promises
after almost every excess as no other advo-
cate could administer. Why does he not
cease drinking, theni Simply because 1t is
not made disreputable to drink and be never
intends to getdrunk. When he deliberately
goes and gets drunk alone, it Is because his
manhood is gone. He has no respect for
himself or for any one else. If he ''takes
little too much" in company, upon con-
vivial occasion, he is not thought any the
worse of for it, and he says to himself:
"An gentlemen do that; Senator So-and-
ESQ and Representative That were worse
soft than I was" Then he goes home
and deceives his wife, mother, sister, family
and friends, as he has tried to deceive him
self, and they pity him, and innocently or
purposely lie for him. He has nervous
headache or congestive chill, poor fellow,
or a bilious attack. Next comes his physi-
clan and looks serious; murmurs under his
breath: Marrow escape from spinal menin-
gifts" which in that case Is the Latin for
'too much rum" If he dies the editor,
who very well knows what is the matter,
speaks. of rare genial qualities-his own
enemy, possibly, but should be canonized
for all that The preacher In like manner
rehearses his virtues at the funeral and at
the grave, in order to spare the feelings of
his family in presence of Others, and to all
public appearance he dies saint. His name
is without single stain of reproacb. But
among his boon ompanions-who, though
gojns The The G, afc ---h'sng to ad-
NIT it even to themselves-his memory IS
toasted over their Bacchanalian cups, as
they whisper to one another, "He has been
going too hard for while back"
If the above reasoning is correct, the
man who uses alcoholic stimulants at all is
unwise. Every time he Indulges in their
use as beverage he commits an outrage
upon nature. He runs the risk of disturb
ing the equilibrium of his intellect aud
Judgment, and to the extent Of his iudul-
gence he draws upon the future of his
power for usefulness. This draft must be
paid at maturity. What ne overdoes at one
lHuSl uC OOupCuSdtCu oOOaC4 Va iatSi.
As oTerexertion of the system at one time
increases the demand for recuperation of
the vital forces, so the intensity Of action
caused by undue stimulation is followed
by a compensating reaction. Hence the
debility which follows debauch. Nature
will not be cheated. Hell forces are all de-
signed to labor in harmony. Astheir power
is unparalleled, so is any disturbance of
their operations fraught with mischief
The unnatural stimulants taken into the
stomach must have deleterious effect upon
the physical organs of digestion, which re-
plenish the vital forces, and, in turn, upon
those of generation. And the results may
be transmitted to children and children's 8
children. In this manner the evil liable to
flow from the use of stimulants is altogether
incslculable. ..r. .." s.-..-.-.- ...s
But there is more immediate and there
fore perhaps more appreciable view of this
matter which should be presented 1t is
the effect of this indulgence upon our every
day life. Do we wish to have anything
overdone? Would we employ physician
whom we knew was likely to make an ex-
travagant diagnosis and prescribe an ex-
cessive remedy2 Or a lawyer who would
endanger our cause by overstating and
overproving his case? Or do we chose to
deal with merchant who exaggerates the
qualities of his wares9 Do we trust in a
mans promises who is given to making
such as he cannot reasonably expect to full
fill Certainly not. We wish to have the
simple unvarnished truth in all these cases.
In the selection of agents, clerks, servants
and counselors we desire sober and reliable
men, and we prefer men of kno 1n sobriety.
because we want reliable men. We want
men with clear heads, sober judgments and
steady nerves and hands. We want WELL
balanced minds. The machine to work
faithfully must be set in line and well gov
erDed, subject to no disturbing influences
or uncertain movements. 1t must lot
work spasmodically 'by fits and starts"
but steadily, truly and with exsctitude;
the power given, we can then tell what it
will do. .-a.
Drinking men understand these things,
and promise themselves after every excess,
which causes neglect OF business or errors
of action. that they will not be caught so
again. But this promise can be kept in
only one way, and THAT is by totally re,
framing. They cannot foresee the effect
of the first drink. Therefore, the first
drink is the one of all to avoid. 1t is the
first drink that clouds the vision and warps
the judgment. Men frequently say that
they know "when to STOP" "when they
have got enough" show much they can
stand" &c, &c. This Is not so. The first
drink commences the decentralization, and
with each succeeding one bravado and ap-
petite drives judgment from her legitimate
seat until finally reason herself is de-
,throned, and the manhood Is temporarily
banished, while bestialitY runs riot In the
fields consecrated to the divine attributes.
Then it is that q person is eft for treason,
strstegem and spoils." Under the in
fluence of single drink man will do
what and 60 where he could not be per-
suaded to do or go without it. And so de-
grading and demoralizing is this influence
that the measure of reckless impudence, care
lessness, foolishness, cruelty or crime thatits
victim may be brought to commit is only
bounded by the quantity INDUCED in, and
the attendant circumstances of association
and surroundings. 1t is not safe to chal-
lenge him to do anything. Ten to one he
will attempt it, however dangerous or
wicked.
Having depicted some of the evils of the
indulgence of unnatural stimulants, we
are brought to the discussion of the proper
remedy. As already indicated, there is
but one, and that is abstinence. Then
comes the vexed question of the proper
and effectual way of insuring abstinence.
Many of our friends insist that here again
there is but one, and that is prohibition.
Here we must differ. Prohibition Is i'm
practicable for two reasons-its impracti-
cability and its demoralizing tendency. 1t
is impracticable because that the manu-
facture is necessary for other uses than o
beverage and because it is impossible to
keep watch and guard at all times over