The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-09
Moderate Drinking Too Expensive,

Moderate Drinking Too Expensive,
To tho Editors Of the n. P. Farmer.
Though we were to admit for the
sake of argument, what few if any
believe, that the moderate use of in
toxicating drinks is a good thing, yet
1T must be admitted by our opponents
that TT rs too expensive. even though
1T was beneficial; that the moderate
use Of any intoxicant Is, If we may
use the expression, imnnoderate]y be-
yond the means of great majority
OF tho people. For a glass of whisky
daily would probably be called moder.~
ate drinking, and if moderate drink
ing is good for one of the family,
why not for all! But for family OF
five, at ten cents glass, the cost for
a year would be SlS2.5O. Or if the
lord of the house should lie content to,
enjoy this luxury alone, the cost
| q
comparatively, who are addicted to
the habit of intemperance have this
amount Of money to spare. OF this
class, a large number, no doubt. are
in want of many of the necessaries Of
life. For such, at least, moderate
drinking. though not 50 bad as drunk
enness, is yet great evil which
might, and therefore ought to be
avoided. The saying is more or less
in use, ''that Of two evils, we should
choose the least the supposition
being, perhaps, that it is necessary
to choose one. And in case of some
Unavoidable difficulty or calamity, in
reference to which the word ma.
sometimes be used, the choice of the
least possible one would lie wise and
right. But it can never be right to-
choose any evil, which is evil in the
worst sense of the word: That is
morally wrong. Why should anyone
deliberately choose anything which
is wrong! OF two moral evils, we
should choose neither. OF course,
there are degrees in sin, and it is not
80 bad te drink moderately as to drink
immoderately. 1t would he better to
spend a small sum during the year in
the daily use of strong drink, than
the way many do, that is to 80 with~
out part of the time, but occasionally
:'going Oh 4 spree,' spending per-
haps, five, ten, or twenty dollars in I.
day, and getting crazy drunk.
think that it would be better for :.
man, if he VIII drink whisky, to
drink it at home, than in saloons,
gambling dens. or similar places.
But it is not very self-sacrificing or
noble for the head of the family to-
enjoy this luxury alone, if it IS bene1
fetal And though some may claim
that moderate drinking is good
thing, they cannot very well claim
that it is the only good thing there is,
in tire world. IF it is heaIthful, it is
not the only safeguard against dis
ease. For laboring people, good
fresh beef once or twice 4 day is very
healtl1ful. \ family of the average
number would use about three pounds
q day, perhaps, which at ten cents u
pound, would cost $109.50 for a year,
the same As a daily glass of whisky
for three persons. But with their
pre:ent resources, comparatively few
families can afford both, and not
many can afford either. But if there
was to be = choice between the two,
there is not 4 shadow of doubt, with
all that it's friends claim for strong,
drink, that 30 FIR as regards nutri-
tion, health, or any proper stimulant,,
the beef would be thousand times
better than the wi i;ky, or other
strong drink. But good clothing, and
good houses are very conducive to
health and comfort. It would he
very nice for many men, and their
families, to have horse and carriage
and ride out occasionally, who can.
not meet the necessary expense.
Many would be benefited by stopping
a few months at the sea shore, or at
some mineral spring, e.ho have not
the means to go, and therefore think
best to stay at home. Many parents
would like to give their children =
liberal education, but being unable to
support them at academies, they try
to content themselves with the best
advantages ut their command, and
other things too numerous to MENTION.
which would greatly promote tlte'
} health and happiness Of the family,
multitudes of people are quite con-
tentedly doing without because they
arc beyond their means, and in most
cases where the head of the family
, takes strong drink. The mother:
wife and children are still farther
deprived of the comforts and necessa.
ries of life. 1t is necessary, there
fore, to prove much more than simply
that the moderate use of any intoxi-'
cant is hcalthful, and beneficial, to
prove that its use at all as beverage
is in any degree justifable. It must
first be proved that this use Of money
is better than any other investments
which man can make for himself or
his family, and this, but very few
. people would seriously undertake to-
do. The most that is c1aimed for
moderate drinking ,'y its friends, is
that it is prevent :tivc of drunken-
ness. But this remedy, if it is REM
edy, is unnecessary, because it is NOT
necessary to choose between these
evils, for neither of them come upon