Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-02-15

Is being diseussed in Jour ccIamzs a
psesrni. propose 10 submit a feW
lboughts ID The subject. slsll spesk
ps;bcipzIlg upon the effects Is alcohol
upsa u stem.
I am well aware that many persons
axe under the impression that the mod
crate use Of wine and alcohol i not IN
furious 10 the system. IL j. principally
10 combat this view that I write this
communicsiion, and 10 sustain my views
on this point ] shall quote from The
highest medical authorities. Wine.
ubees, -sls and sseh -diel driaks contain
alcohol. II y the characteristic Of al
cohol 10 prevent chemical change 10 or
gsnic substances. Digestion - ehemi-
cal ehsnge. and 50 long as the alcoholic
mixture Is mingled with the food that
change il suspended. lis true The abb
sorbsnis of the stomach soon remove
the alcohol into the circulation. but this
is not accomplished until il has exerted
deleteSious iniuence upon The nerves Of
the stomach. preventing and diminish
ing The sensibility of that organ, and the
consequences Is that the food j. rapidly
transferred without beng prnpeFIy d.
gested and the system il deprived Gifts
proper nutriment if nothing worse &C.
curss-Brown on Hygiene, p. 159.
The above opinion as 20 the injurious
effects Of alcohol 10 fully sustained by
90 less eminent an authority than thai
of the late Prof. N. z. Smith, whose
opinion on all matters relating 10 the
mGferia mediea has always been regard
ed by the medical profession and others
zstheufterxucc Of the highest wisdom.
Prof. Smith upon being introduced to .
meeting of the State Temperance ALI
ance in May. 1875. said /:
! q He had ptacsised medicine and sargery for
fifty years, and since the first year had re-
gnf6ed alcohol No the great enemy, the vice
gerent Of the devil. Any man who takes any
quantity Of II save through the advice Of phys
ician land physician was very unwise 70 pre-
scribe it) does himself q very great injury"
After speaking of its effect upon the
duration OF human life he said (:
sr Any one who would exterminAte alcohol
wonld be the greatest bcnefcior Of his race since
the days Of Jesus Christ"
The above opinion needs no comment.
/ know IL is the opinion Of some, even
OF the medical profession. that used
medicinaiiy alcohol is often beneficial:
but even admitting this, il mighnbe so
used without granting licenses for It's
indiscriminate sale. At any rate, its
general use kills more than il ever cures,
entails more, misery than iteyer pro-
duces happiness, does more harm than
good. il productive Of and is the FIRST
head and spring Of more crimes and vio-
lations, of law than any other single
agent knowE to man. Ph,lasophically
considered therefore, tits, as Professor
Smith well says, the great enemy OF
man and vicegereRt Of the devil. / Of
ten hear persons says that the pas
sage of the local option law would take
away mans rights, forgetiul that there
are community as well Is individual
rights, and where the rights or supposed
rights Of the individual clash with those
Of the community, the former should
yield TO the latter ss matter OF public
safety. But what right does it take
away The right of men to get drunk
and spend for a beverage which cor
rupts and enervates their noblest attri-
butes that which should be appropr.a-
ted TO supplying the wants of their Jam
lilies. Is il the. right to loiter around
stores whilst in state OF intoxication,
as SONS. do, and by obscenity and pro-
family corrupt youth and render it On.
pleasant for . customer to entersthe es-
tablishment B. If these be the rights
which It takes away, they are rights
which the Individual might dispense
wihito advantage, and which should on
all principles OF justice yield. to the
higher rights oil the community sai
But IL has been said that the law
would be evaded- and more whiskey
,would be drank after its passage than
before. To this Ireply; atleast re-
move the temptation and the oppor-
tunity. That thing opportunity, Diie
opporfHnifg, has been the ruin Of
many We. should not be indifferent
to that divine injunction, Lead us not
into temptation Further. Wise leg
islators could easily throw around tbe
law such Safeguards rs would prevent
violations and eyasions. Let heavy
penalties be provided against The Civ
iag as well a. the selling of the bever-
age By merchants. Provide against its
being labelled bitters and sold 1T City
cents q bottle, Letsno vessels be al
lowed TO- anchor in the bays, rivers and
haEbors hasingit on board Tor sale. Let
such and other similar precautions be
provided and we would hear of but few
violations or evasions, Of the law.
.EsIn conclusion. / have Q word to say
10 oor forsner advocates IN theleause Of
temperance who were wont 10 write
,suchsstisfi6g aad eloquent articles IN is
behalf, and that al q time when the cause
was apparently forloEn. Surely they
will not prove Indifferent now that the
dark clouds are about to be dispelled
and hope CLEANS with q silver lining in
Inc distance. w hat has become Of our
friends and co-workrrs in st. Inigoes'
and Psluxent q Wake up, gentlemen
To the reseuel The foe xaunas in the
field. NJ is gallantly holding the fort
bat needs succcr and assistance. - Or f
you are NOT Is yet;prepaFed 10 entert the
lists, II least be disciplining your forces
so as to be prepared Cor the decisive on
set next Fall, when itis expected this
lnomentous question will be submitted
10 the decision offhe people. +.