The Newtown bee., 1878-08-01
Correspondence.


 Editor of he Bee:
 Allow me in behalf of many-and, I believe, the 1aWorjty-of your readers to protest against the recent discussions which have appeared in your columns, on the subject of Temperahce. Tho provcrb that "igure5 cannot lie" should be .tdcts cannot lie. We ask mot what are the figures, for, as the articles alluded to have demonstrated, it is cX- cccdingly difficult to express the results of a great social evil by the use of the ten digits, no matter how they may be lation, and different authorities riH give different results; and, in such large numbers as those in question, and in the case of all evil whose roots strike deep, whose branches spread wide and whose fruits are found everywhere, no one can be even approximately accurate in the statistics. 1 then e 'ider each writer honorable in his presentation of the ease. I accept the figures each has given as imperfectly representing the deplorable evils of intemperance but ask that all personalities and side ieoae'' and even figures be left out of the con- tOversv, and the attention of the peo- pie be confined to the .facts universally admitted, viz. that insanity IS produc- ed; that millions of property are annu- ally wasted; that conscience IS deaden- ell; that business IS neglected that fam lilies gre made wretehed; and that crime is committed as the result of the use of intoxicating liquors as bereFoJe. No one ca1e deny these fuels, and upon them the cause of temperance rests as upon an immovable foundation.
 Now what is our duty as citizens in view of these facts? In the same paper which contained the articles which call ed forth this reply-which We wish to be, and hope is, fair and just to both sides-occurred this beautiful and sug- gestiye sentiment, "The one that pities starving birds should scatter crumbs as aceU" And shall we not pity and help the millions of human beings, any one of whom is of "more value than many sparrows '-whose happiness, comfort, health and life are imperiled; some ot whom are actually starving, and aH ei whom are suffering more or less from the evils of intcmperance-shal we not, I say, pity and help them :? And how can we help them? Not by a war of words, or an array of figures; not by taunts and reproaches against them, ol those who give or sell them drink, ol ! differ with us ill opinion--but by kindly persuasion; by personal effort and sac rilice; and above all by our erample. Ht who pities the drunkard and his family and in aoords deplores all the woe anc : wretchedness caused by the use O l liquor, and pct drinks himself-eue1l mod : erGtely- -withholds the one eratmb of {
 helpful example which every one witt : ordinary humanity should give to thu : tempted and fallen.
 Upon this ground, chiefly, we would rest our arguments for temperance, O . for abstinence from the use of liquor ai
 beverage-not apon .fgTes, but upoi : fads, and upon that God-like principle , of humanity and pity will prompt tn . truly humane and pitiful-all lovers 0 e their race and of God do that whicl T is helpful to the weak and the shining 5 and not to do that which, indirectly a
 least, will harm others, and perhap h bring lifelong sorrow and eternal rui !. upon neighbor, friend-ourselyes; fo Drunkards shall not inherit the king d dom of God" and "It is good neithe e to drink wine nor anything whereby tn $ brother stumbleth, or is offended, or
 made weak.
 VI In conclusion, to say nothing of tn If harmful example. the liquors of the pre- d ent day, as is well known, are so gene r- ally adnlterated with poisonous ingred d ents that health, as well as character, sr invariably injured, even by modera ,r drinking; and moderate drinking is g
 often the step to intoxieation and il :. temperance of the lowest form, tn ;e none who regard their health and hont iyl and the claims of society. their famili' as and their God, upon them, will take tn !, la first step. J. P. H.
 Newtown, July 18th, 1878.