Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-20

EDITOR LEDGER:-A short time
since an appeal was made to revive an
interest in temperance societies. Ex.
perience should by this time have
taught temperance advocates that. as
applied to the masses, their societies
are a failure and therefore, that, there
must be something wrong about them.
So long as character varies, no one
rule of conduct can be applied to all,
Some have no control over their ap.
petite for liquor and hence total alb
stinence is essential for them
while others do not feel the
necessity or, are not disposed
to submit to such extreme measures.
1t may be accepted as a fact. estab-
lished by custom throughout the
world, hat the masses will have some
kind of a social beverage. That being
the case, the efforts of humanitariaus
should be directed to popularize the
most harmless. There are two classes
Of liquors, viz, distilled, which in
cludes brandy, whisky, rum. gin, etc.
and fermented, which embraces beer,
ale, porter, wine, cider, etc. While
the distilled liquors are nearly of the
same strength, whisky is the demon,
because almost universally used in
this country. The evils resulting
from the use of beer and other fer
mented liquors are trivial
compared with those from dis.
titled. Much of the whisky
manufactured is intended to intoxi-
cate, that they may spend money
recklessly. Most persons may spend
the whole evening drinking beer and
not be as much effected as from two
drinks of whisky. Instances occur
daily where persons intending to take
only a glass or two in company, with
no idea Of committing an excess, are
so much effected by the poisonous
liquor that they become reckless and
intoxicated. And it often occurs that
persons who abhor intoxication, un.
Intentionally disgrace themselves.
The intoxication produced by whisky
5 sofa wild, furious character while that
from beerisof aquiet form. The differ
ence in expense is also important. Beer
being five cents and whisky ten to ff-
teen a glass, it makes a vast difference
in a company OF five or six during an
evening.
Observation shows that intoxica.
ton is rare in all countries where beer
and wine are the customary beverages.
The inhabitants of all our rural dis
%tricts, for the want ofsome other bev.
erage, are becoming addicted to the
use of whisky TO a fearful extent.
Pure wines and cider are, undoubt-
edly, more healthy than beer, as q
constant drink, and, if it Is possible.
our legislators and county officials
would act wisely to encourage the cul.
%tivation Of the grape and cider apples
by premium or otherwise. The clergy
and the press throughout the country
will be remiss Of their duties, il they
fail to use their influence for the samt
object. If whisky can be substituted
by beer, wines, cider, etc., a greai
work will have been accomplished
Pecuniary distress and the demorali
zation Of families, by the beastly in
~toxication of fathers, will, in a greal
measure, be relieved.
For these reasons, we would sugges
that, besides the total abstinence so
c%ieties, conservative temperance soci
cites be organized, whose member
should be permitted to drink ale, beer
porter, wines, cider and all fermentet
liquors, but prohibited from drinkinI
any distilled liquors, as brandy, wills
kp,rum, gin, etc. CITIZEN.