The Republican journal., 1882-01-26
Moderate Drinking.

The Prog. Age condemns the methods
OF the advocates of temperance as i'm
practicable, but is both impracticable
and inconsistent in the remedy it proposes
for the great and growing evil Of drunken
ness. The Age proposes TO prosecute
and punish any person who sells liquor to
a drunkard OF a habual Incorporate
either to himself or to his proxy !" but
We infer from the tenor Of the article
quoted that there is otherwise to be no
restriction on the sale OF liquor Modcr
ate drinking is to be encouraged immod
crate drinking trowned upon. Few are
born drunkards, and moderate drinking
is the first step toward drunkenness.
Why should a man be punished for sell
ing liquor to an habitual drunkard, and
yet permitted to sell that which makes
drunkards of those who would remain
sober and industrious citizens if not eN-
posed to temptation2 If any distinction
is to be made it seems to us that il would
be better to reverse this proposition to
confne the sales strictly to hahitual
drunkards, and punish those who sell
liquor to others. There is, however, but
one solution to the problem, and that is
to put a stop to the selling OF liquor alto
gether. There need then be no discus
sion as to what to do with the habtually
incorporates for if they could not Get
liquor they would perforce cease 10 be
Incorporate.
If the zeal Of some Of the temperance
agitators and workers nutruns their dis
erection, that is no reason why we should
throw open the doors Of rum-shops and
invite the "moderate drinkers to partake.
There are bigots in the pulpit and on the
press as well as in the temperance socie-
ties but that is no reason for discount
tenancing church going or reyiling the
newspaper. The intention is the main
thing, and if that is good the excess Of
zeal may be pardoned. There is no half
way station on this question. Those
who are not for the promotion of tenn
perance are rightly regarded as its enc
mics, and he who advocates moderate
drinking is the worst enemy Of all. \
current anecdOte of a Scotch minister
furnishes an apt illustration OF the newt
able result Of this sort Of drinking The
parson had been in the habit Of induIging
rather freely, and was induced by his
friends to take the teetotal pledge. Then,
as his health appeared to suffer, his doc
tor ordered him to take one glass Of
punch daily. To avoid scandal, the min
lister shaved at night, and used the hot
water brought by his servant to mix the
punch. The doctor met the servant
some time afterwards and said
I'm glad to hear, Peggy, that your master is
better
Indeed, sir he's better but his brain 5 effected
there's something wrang vi his mind"
Howl
going TO bed, but now he shayes in the morn. he
sbaves before dinner he shaves after dinner, he
shaves at night-he's aye Shawn.
Whatever others may think We Ger
tainly do not expect that under any law
or condition there can be a complete stop
put to the sale and use Of liquor Those
who use wines and liquors in their homes
will continue to do so, at their own will
and pleasure. In this country, as in Eng
land, every mans house is his castle
But the public sale Of liquor in commune
ties has been, and therefore may be, and
should be suppressed The temperance
speakers and workers must continue to
speak and agtate. The moral sentiment
must be aroused the coming generation
educated in the principles of temper
ance. Moderate drinking is equivalent
to throwing a fire brand into powder
magazine.