Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-04-21
rEnrEsAxcE EveIErsex.


AAAf4A08
some scientiss Of the evolutionary
school recently prepared an elaborate
argument in favor Of the proposition
that whisky, iastsad Of being the insa
table demon pictured by the prohibi-
tlonlsss, the monster agent of hnman
Generalization and rain, the Nrecker
OF homes and hezrts, the worlds great
est crime ana b1rdsn, 10, on the con.
trafy, benefeesor to the entire race Of
mankind and an indispensable AGENT
OF high crvilizssisa- His argument
followed the fasUrits DarEiaian motto,
the survival Of the fTtastT Whisky
u siznply an easy and pleasant agent
u destruction Of thai class Of men Who
are Lot the fttssf, and therefore noi
wsrth preserving. They are devoid OF
the necessary mental or physical ssam-
ina 20 maintain their individuality, and
are without the character demanded by
the sharp competition Of modern life
and business activity. Ie them the
sensual Injury that the bo0zy stilnuius
Of whisky imparts and the vivid unaat-
uralness into which It watts its devotees
- the most alluring view Of life. A
grand drunk Is q mfns of wealth.
Cfossus, Gould and Vanderbilt combinsd
in one man and single fortune could
not approach the felicity experienced by
ene who has attuned his appetite to the
fiery beverages Of the average saloon.
II there II merit in the doctrine of
Nautilus, that Ii il necessary for gov
ernments 20 resort 70 measures Of de-
population in order to ansure subsist-
ence for their people. the science of svo-
luton comes in appropriately with its
whisky treatment, which should rather
be encouraged than denounced and dis-
cardsd. Indeed, the saloonist, under
this theory, becsmes q benefaetor Of
tue race and an instrument Of Provi-
dsnce for carrying out one of the auto
matic laws OF nature with the least
possible pain 20 the supsrfuous victim,
whose removal is desirable in order that
useful members of society may have
bread and room.
This seems 70 be q cold -blooded tke-
orr. but il is in harmony With all of
natures laws. Life and death, creation
and demolition, the destroyer and bis
prey, are everywhere in tAe same fsld.
The weak have to take their chances
with the strong in the battle for exist
ence, and the assistance shown by the
fortunate man 20 his unlncky neiehbor
Is viewed rather as a favor than q
right growing out Of human consider
ations.
Perhaps about as many habitual
drunkards have been reclaimed by tenn
peranoe exeFtions. and by the coaxinR
aud pettiug Of professional workers in
this feid, as there have been Chinese
converted 20 Christianity by the mis-
sionari.s. Is the game worth the pow
derf IL young man decently trained
and brought mp ander wholesome tenn
peranoe infiasnees has not sufficient
strength sf mind and backbone to resist
the whisky temptation, il is doubtful
whether be can be reformed by any
msthod short of confinement out Of the
reach Of tefnptation.
merely present this view. Mr. Editor,
as neral phase of the temp rance eon
troversy; and, TO carry the illustration
Of the Darwinian theory little further,
would ask any one familiar with the
lives Of large Numbers of saloon pro-
prieters and bartendsrs TO inform the
public, through your columns, what pro-
portion of such characters have attained
long life within their knowledge.
A little common sense is sometimes
valuable in moral reforms as well as in
business matters.
QUI PESsk.