The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-08-24
IN. Y. Observer.1
Why Drunkenness is q Vice.

uOW IolIluS OVtT Gue GUILTY. ua'
come to our knowledge, than the dis
cussion on the nature Of drunkenness
lately read by Rev. DIR. John E. Todd
Of New Haven, before the last Gen
eral Association, held at Middletown
Conn. during June That intelligent
body was so much impressed by the
force and clearness of DIR. Todd's ar
| guments for insisting that drunken.
ness is not a disease, but a vice, and
should be dealt with as such, that the
very unusual course was adopted OF
ordering ten thousand copies of the
essay to be printed for general distri-
button. 1t would be impossible, in
the limited space at our disposal, to
give anything like complete notice
| Of all the points in the scholarly
treatment of this difficult subject,
eompactlY as they are stated. The
best. we can do is to give our readers
some idea of the train of thought fol-
lowed in this most salutary contribu-
tion to the literature Of temperance
reform. The pamphlet, it should be
explained, is based on the recent work,
entitled 'Habitual Drunkenness and
Insane Drunkards,'' by DIR. John c..
Bucknill, an English physician of
high standing.
DR.. Todd's first difference with the
prevailing opinion of the present day,
that drunkenness ine it's last stages is
disease, is in addueing satisfactory
medical testimony to invalidate the
loose theory that microscopic exam
ination of the brain of the drunkard,
afcer death, reveals structural changes
in the nerve-cells Of the brain which
account for an irresistible craving for
drink. To the objection that there is
a limit to dissipation beyond which
the power Of resistance is so small as
to be Of no practical account, he cites
the numerous cases of men who were
very far gone in drunkenness, subject
even to periodical attacks. but who,
under the influence Of pride or some
kindred motive, have abruptly ceased
drinking for years or permanently.
The whole testimony OF temperance
orators and societies Of course sup
ports the view that the ability to con-
troll the appetite is dependent entirely
upon the will, and if this is not exer-
cised it is because the man prefers his
excesses to anything else. AS to the
will, DR.. Todd exclaims:
"Put a drunkard in circumstances in
which it is difficult for him to get
liquor, and see how weak his will is
There is no men Of such desperate de-
termination and force of will as the
drunkard who is bound to have his
dram. The very difficulty with the
drunkard is, that his will is so strong.
If his will were weak, it would be
easy to influence him not to drink. 1t
is just because he is so determined to
drink, that it is impossible to save
him." Likewise, says DR.. Todd:
"There is meaning in the universal
testimony of drunkards.
When they come out Of their spells
of debauchery, if they have any moral |
sense at all left, they are always
penitent, remorseful. What
on earth are they ashamed of, or re-
about, if they have only had
an attack of disease? Men are not
ashamed of having had the typhoid
fever, or penitent for having had the
All, the drunkard knows
that he is guilty and not unfortu-
nate
On the point Of inherited tendencies
to drunkenness are furnished some
facts which, if capable Of substatia-
ton, prove conclusively that the pop
ular ideas on this subject are very far
astray. In the last annual report Of
the New York Christian Home for In
temperate Men there were, it seems, /
out Of 176 confirmed drunkards, class
iied as treated in the institution, only
% who had Incorporate parents. 1t
is claimed that medical testimony is
precise and abundant on this point,
that inherited tendency to drunken
ness is comparatively rare and slight
The arraignment which this author
has given the drunkards, the persist
ency, force, and sarcasm, with which
he scouts that maudlin sentiment
which is often poured out upon these
unfortunates, because they are sup
posed to be of peculiar tempera-
ment,.' is well illustrated by the fol-
lowing admirably graphic and concise
picture Of the mean estate of the vol
untary victim of alcoholism;
"He has poured poison down his
throat to the loss of health, property,
respectability, influence, honor, man
hood, mind and soul; he has brought
untold suffering and misery upon his
family, grief and shame upon all his
friends, pernicious influence upon
the whole community; he has made
worse than beast of himself, a ship
wreck of time, and hell Of eternity;
and he has done this for the sake of
little sensual qualification, deliberate
ly, knowing all the time what he was
doing and, certainly until the very
last stages, perfectly able at any time
to change his course" ;" There is no
confidence to be placed in such
mans professions or manifestations
of love to his family. No doubt,
when he comes to himself he processes
a great deal Of contrition, and mani
tests great deal Of tenderness to-
wards his family, and sheds great
many tearsi drunkards are apt to be
sentimental, emotional, demonstra-
tive, snivelling, soldering, slavering,
sappy; and this they call-love! The
men who really love their families
don't get drunk.
"Gifted, brilliant, witty, lavish,
genial, agreeable, fascinating, the
men often are, no doubt, who become
victims Of conviviality and good fel-
lowship; but their excellencies are
apt to be superficial and false, their
generosity is often recklessness; their
affection is often an unmeaning dem