Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-06
DIR. Leonard and His Medicine.

DIR. Leonard and His Medicine.
To the Editor OF the Globe Republic, spring field,
A communication in the Cincinnati Com
mercial Gazette Of the s.h inst, from your
city, in regard to the use OF wine by DR..
Leonard, surprises me. 1t says that the truth
Of the tact Is doubted aud it would seem as if
| was charged with making false charge
aud detaming DR.. Leonsrd's character.
The fact is true, and is certainly no dis
credit to DR.. Leonard. 1t only shows that in
obeyiug the advice OF his physician he acted
sensiby.
Certainly it is not thing to call for an apol-
ogy, the taking of liquor as a medicine, aud
every prohibitionist Of good sense believes
that AS a medicine alcohol has its uses as val
liable rs that OF bread.
The facts as TO DR.. Leonard can best be told
by the leading member Of DR.. LeJnarG's tor
mer charge on Walnut Hills, who was pres
ent when he took 1t aud furnished him wine
for the purpose named, as related to me by
that gentleman.
They are as follows:
DR.. Leonard was sick nigh unto death. One
of his attending physicians was the late Dr.
VIM. Clendeniu, OF this city. Dr.. q. prescribed
for DR.. Leonard at n critical stage OF the
disease pure bourbon whisky, in order to
save his life. DR.. Leonard at first refused to
take it, and asked DR.. Jlendenin If there was
no other drug that he could take wi hich would
take the place OF the pure bourbon. DR.. G.
answered there was not, and insisted AS did
the gentleman referred to, that Dr.. Leonard
should take it. DR.. Leonard still reiusipg.
that gentleman referred to said to him: II
will prove 10 you, Dr.. L., that you ought to
take it, by the bible"
Thereupou the gentleman opened the bible
and read to him from the last chapter Ct
Proverbs, verse 6: "Give strong driuk to
him that is ready to perish, aud wine unto
those that be OF heavy hearts" This was
certainly new use and Interpretation
OF this passage. Whether correct or
not is submitted TO the clergy. J
snow, said the gentleman, brother Leon
ard, you are ready to PERISH and Dr.
Clendenin says you must take thi, pure
bourbon whisky TO save your life" There
upon DR.. Leonard seusibly yielded, took the
liquor prescrlb d, and humanity speaking the
life was saved.
The gentleman referred TO further said
TO me that as D.. Leonard progressed slowly
toward recovery he bought number OF
bottles Of sherry wine tor DR.. Leonard,
which DR.. L. used in order to regain his
health.
| have not given the gentlemans name,
but will If desired. He is one OF the most
deservedly Influential Methodists in the
state.
In all this DR.. Leonard did what was rgh,
and proper, and the fact that there exists a
reluctance to admit it ou the part of any one
and that the propriety OF his taking it is ques.
toned, shows the strength OF fanaticisn on
this subject.
1t will be pity if the citation of a perfect
ly proper incident in DR.. Leonard's life, one
which Of itself can not reflect on his charac-
Ter, cited TO show the difficulties and dangers
ahead to the Church Of Christ in enforcing
ils discipline arising from this movement for
prohibition, falsely so called, should diver,
the minds OF our people from an intelligent
appreciation OF the fact that taxa
uon Is the true temperance" and
from the serious results which will flow
from DR.. Leonards success rs a politician
at tie head ofa political movement to defeat
and destroy the republican party.
asa politician engaged in such work,
and doing II as he is with all the zeal and
method Of partisan, Dr. Leonard must ex-
pect to be treated rs such.
ne cannot expect any one, especially a re-
publican, to remain silent and permit him to
use his calling as minister Of the Gospel 10
shield him from proper attacks 10 his new
calling from on high to destroy the republ-
can party.
he must expect to be done by as he is do
ing by others. And certainly be and his as
sociates cannot expect US TO be blind TO their
attempt to ally the Church of Christ with a
political party, the results of whose abors are
to give US "iree whisky and beer" for a gen
Grafton to come.
Democratic msrule, increased and increas
ing taxation, and John r. Mclean, of the
Cincinnati Enquirer, as United States senator
ior John Sherman, and all this in the name
OF God and true temperance.
DO not let us forget the importance of The
election This fall, and the possibility Of the
disastrous results | haye named, il the polt
ical Prohibitionist succeeds, by spending all
our time 10 discussion OF how much wine or
bourbon whisky Or. Leonard drank when
sick, and how much Of it was needed as A
medicine, and when it is beverage and when
medicine. Yours truly,
Tunu uyn...