The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-02-27
Temperan re Department.
EDITED BY THE W. c. T. e.
Education vs.. Alcohol.

Education vs.. Alcohol. =
Every one can see the outward effects of
alcohol upon human beings. We know that
those using it to excess usually have bloated
faces, bleared eyes, red noses and many
other disfguring marks left by the habit.
These are too well known to need enumerat.
ing. And it will seem as though these effects
were bad enough to make all wish to put
down the habit. If one could become intox.
icated an indefinite number of times and still
recover and oe no worse off mentally, NOR.
ally or physically, we think the visible effects
ought to be enough to deter all from the use
of alcoholic drinks. But these are only out
ward results from inward effects. There
are many no doubt that are ignorant of the
laws which govern the organization of the
human system that they think they can take
poison in their systems as often as they like
if they do not kill themselves outright, and
may recover from the effects of it and be
well and strong, and live as long as if they
had never taken it. But educated people
who have studied the physiological effects of
everything that Injuries the system Injuries
the health; that it interferes with the per.
sons usefulness and certainly shortens life.
The youth of the past generation and of to-
day have been altogether too ignorant as to
the actual effects of alcohol on the body
from physiological point, we firmly believe
that many people would never have acquired
thelhsbit had they been taught in their
youth all these facts.
The temperance people now ask that their
children and the coming generations may be
enlightened on this subject, and taught to
understand their own systems and the effects
of abusing them by the nse of stimulants
and narcotics, even as they are taught to
other important branches of knowledge; to
the end that they may learn self government
in order that they may be qualified to ad-
minister the affairs of the nation.
Herbert Spencer says: knowledge
which subserves self-preservation by pre-
venting the loss of health is of primary i'm.
portance" We do not say such knowl-
edge would by any means wholly remedy
the evil, but that she right knowledge inn
pressed in the right way would effect much,
we infer that as vigorous health and its ac.
companying high spirits are larger elements
of happiness than any other things whatever,
the teaching how to maintain them is
teaching that yields in moment to none
whatever, and therefore we assert that such
a course of physiology as is needful in the
comprehension of its general truth, and
their bearings on daily conduct is an all es-
sental part of a rational education.
We heartily endorse this with reference
to scientific temperance instructions and to
this end have asked that our legislature
place upon our statute bouks law requir-
ing that in all schools supported by public
money, instructions be given in physiology
and hygiene with special reference to the
effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and
narcotics upon the human system in order
that the children of Oregon may have equal
advantages with those of Vermont New
Hampshire Michigan, New York and Rhode
Island. Wherein laws have been enacted
making such instructions obligatory. We
sincerely hope to see such laws in full force
all over our state and that right speedily.