New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-06-11
Thurlow Weeds Remedy for Intem-
perance. z

monstrate, that by. the concerted ac-;
ton Of the people and the Government!
we can become, as q nation, as distin-;
guished for sobriety as we are now for;
incompetence. By the acquisition Of
new territory we can become as extern,
sively grape-growing country as
France or Switzerland. Let California,
Kansas and other States with soils
adapted to grape culture turn their in;
dustries in chat direction, and the prac-;
tical remedy for intemperance will
soon be reached. When the grape is
produced in sufficient quantities to fur
nish cheap wine as beverage for all
classes, il will be within the scope and
duty of Congress to perfect reform
that will emancipate our people from
the horrors and orr Nation from the
reproach of intemperance. Congress:
sional laws efectually prohibiting the,
adulteration of whisky and other alc0-;
holic drinks should be enacted. Under
such laws experts should be appointed;
to test the purity of such liquors. Other,
laws should be passed imposing duties:
so onerous upon imported liquors as
either to exclude or to render them SO
expensive that the rich only could pur-;
chase them.
..Intemperance, while it reaches all
classes, is most fatal and most pervad-:
ing with the poor, upon whom the
curse rests most heavily. The shortest
and surest remedy and relief for the
most numerous class of victims is to
place the cause beyond their reach.
That cause exists in cheap liquors. The
law should provide for the appoint
ment Of competent inspectors, whose
duty it should be to ascertain by chem
ical tests that all liquors offered for
sale are pure and unadulterated. Al
coholic liquors should be heavily taxed.
That would immensely diminish the
quantity sold, and SO largely enhance
the price as to render them inaccessible
to the poor. It is only by mixtures and
authorizations that intoxicating drinks
are made cheap enough to ruin and de-
stroy hundreds and thousands. These
mixtures and authorizations not only in
toxicate but poison their victims. That
those who habitually indulge in the use
of cheap liquors inhale more or less of
the deadly posion has been clearly as
certained BY chemical analyses. The
sale Of poisoned liquors should, for san
itary reasons, be prohibited. Let this
reform be accomplished; let us obtain
the passage of laws which will prohibit
by stringent penalties the use of adulter-
ated liquors. Gin-shops and grogge-
ries would then rapidly disappear.
IF the time, labor, money and tai
ent that have been since 1920 devoted
to well-meant but utterly fruitless eff
forts in favor of prohibition had been
united in the measures here briefly out
lined, the curse of intemperance would
have been removed from our borders.
Light and palatable wines would have
been substituted for inebriating and
poisonous alcoholic liquors.
France and England are divided by q
narrow channel. France produces wine
as beverage; England grows hops
and brews beer. the French people
are industrious, frugal and sober; in
England the laboring classes are inn
provident, Incorporate and. degraded.
Unhappily, our social and domestic
habits and tastes came with our ances-
tors from England. Let us now rise
above them, and adopt measures which
will secure to future generations the
blessings which confer prosperity and
happiness upon the French people,
All that has been actually accom-
plished for sobriety, in Mr.. Weeds
opinion, has been brought about by do
nestle, moral and religious influences.
OF these forces he ranked religion as
the most potent. He was a firm be-
lever in so-called gospel methods Of
converting inebriates. He contributed
literally to sustain gospel temperance
meetings and missions in New York, at
which he was frequent visitor. OF
these missions, after commencing them
to general favor, he writes: 'Tho eff
feet of the best discourses is greatly en-
HANGED by the sacred melodies which
precede and follow them. To hear
such hymns as Waiting and Watching,
Ninety and Nine, Almost Persuad-
ed, Hold the Fort, 4 Need Thee Ev-
cry Hour Sowing the Seed, Jesus OF
Nazareth Passeth By, Just As Am,
oh, to Be Nothing Once for ALL
Only Trust in Him. Rescue the Per-
ishing, Safe in the Arms of Jesus,
Rock of Ages, rendered as they are at
these meeting, is privilege enjoyed
only by the present generation. :
Meanwhile, after the temperance mis-
sionary has accomplished his task, So
ciety is charged with the responsibility
OF completing the work. A reformed
drunkard enters upon his life in 3 sort
of second childhood, helpless and de-
pendent. He needs sympathy, assist
ance and encouragement. When he is
ready to substitute bread for whisky, It
should be cheerfully supplied until he
is able to earn it. His greatest need is
employment, and all who are fortunate
enough to possess influence should
promptly exert it in favor of those who
arc ready and willing to work. From
Memoir Of ThurloaO Weed" recently
Published.