The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-09-22
Intoxicating Drinks.

hS WV vi oCSlI anu
is to he the root of all evil. If the
same had been said Of intoxicating
drinks it would have been nearer the
truth. 1t has been left to the present
generation to make liquor greater
curse and evil than ever before. Not
only is this the case in America but
also in Europe. The energy, enter
prise and go-a-head character of the
nineteenth century, unfortunately,
not only illustrates itself in the de-
velopement and improvement OF
manufactures ard the cultivation of
the arts and sciences but also in the
increased consumption of liquors.
A good many theories have been
propounded on the subject of abating
or doing away with this great curse,
bat one only would he really salts
factory and effectual viz: the total
suspension by law of the retail liquor
traffic except for med .cinal purposes.
Until this is obtained but little good
will be accomplished. Tea-total
societies do more good in their way
but three-fifths of their members be
longto the other sex and are chiefly
old women and the remaining two
fifths are children and a few re-
formed drunkards.
There are a great many men who
have very good intentions but I'M
fortunately have not sufficient force
of character necessary to sustain
them. Such men might never be
able to break away entirely from
drink although thoroughly persuaded
themselves that abstinence was best
for them. In such cases joining a
temperance society or becoming tea
totaller is generally thought, of
course there are exceptions, Of no
avail for they soon break away and
their last state is too often worse
than their first. The only way to
stop these men from drinking is total
suspension. Nothing else will help
them. There are others who drink
from force of habit. Do they really
enjoy drinking ? In most cases not
in the least, but there are a few who
really do. There are those too who
drink for the sake of company and
of pleasing their friends as they call
them, but who are really if they
could only see it, their worst enemies.
Most of the afore- mentioned would
have no objection to total suspension
but would welcome the passing of
such a law. AS for saloon-keepers
and those who sell liquors, confirmed
drunkards and those who having
drank moderately for years cannot
or imagine they cannot do without
it, these of course naturally kick
against total suspension. But laws
should be made to benefit the ma
jority and not to suit a minority. 1t
is almost certain if it were to be put
to the voters of Oregon large ma
jority would decide in favor of total
suspension of the retail liquor traffic
except for medicinal purposes, and
it must be taken into consideration
that ninety-nine hundredths OF the
women of Oregon would also be in
favor of 1t. And why should not
women have voice in a matter
which so closely effects them as the
liquor question In many cases they
sec their husbands, brothers, lovers
and friends fast going down to their
ruin but yet have no power given
them by law to check the tide.
When the women of this great na-
ton are allowed to vote and their
angelic qualities are brought to bear
on social as well as political questions
then the good influence will be felt
by the whole community and the ma
tion at large will be benefited. May
the people of Oregon soon decide
this momentious question and decide
it Alright. If the farmers of Oregon
were to spend the money they now
spend on liquor on the improvement
of their farms ana building houses
what beautiful farms and comfort
able good looking farm houses there
would be in this beautiful sand fertile
country. Yours truly,
'sToTAL SUSPENSION"
Corvallis, Sept. l3, 1882.