National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-10-16
DISCUS sING PROHIBITION.
Argument Against the Uso OF Light
winea.


EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICANS: In your
issue OF Saturday find an article on pro-
bibition signed +. F., in which the writer
takes the ground that the use OF eight
wines" not only do not injure, but are ben
eficial to the human system and that "tem-
pcrance societies abroad do not think OF
discarding their best aid for sober habits.
wine"
Allow me, in opposition to this doctrine,
to put on record the statement Of Dr. Hol-
land, published some time since In the
Springfield Republican. In speaking OF the
habits and customs Of the people OF Switzer-
land where he was then travelling, the doc
tor says:
We have been told in America, and fully
believed II, that II the people could be supplied
with cheap wine they would not get drunk;
that the natural desire for some siimulant
would be gralilcd In way that would be not
only harmless to morals, but conducive 10
health. ] am thoroughly undeceived. The
people drink their cheap white wine here to
drunkenness. a more booty set than hang
around the muliitudinOus cafes II would be
hard to- find In any American city. Cheap wine
is not the cure Of intemperanCc. The people
here are lust rs incorporate as they are In
america. ! firmly believe that the wines Of
switzerland are of no use except to keep out
whisky and that the advantages OF wine over
whisky are not very obvious. IL Is the testi-
mOny OF the best men in Switzcrland-those
who have the highest good OF the people ut
htatt-that the increased growth of the grape
has been steadiyand coTrespondingly attended
by the increase OF drunkenness. ] was told
before leaving America that should he Obliged
TO drink wine or beer in Europe. One good
clerical friend assured nue. that could not get
through Great Britain without drinking beer.
Wen, did not drink beer, and got through
Great Britain very comfortably indeed
Nome of my party drant beer, and all
survived not only nut Improved upon c1d
water. in Paris took The ordinary rcd wine
In switzerland ! continued 1t With great
moderation until J was thoroughly satisfied
that every glass dams damaged not only my
hCalth but my comfort. Now drink no wine
ut all, and that member Of my PARTY who has
drank nothing hut water from the time OF
leaving America has experienced not one par
tcle OF inconvenience from the practice. We
have concluded that wine drinking In Europe
Is just MS unnecessary as Il is In America, and
that there never was u greater mistake than
the superstition that alcohol in any form Is
necessary as daily beverage for any man or
woman.
You will observe that DR.. Holland Is not
temperance fauatir," but his testimony
is decidedly and unequivocally against even
the moderate use Of wine. So much then
for the eight wines" of Europe How is It
in reference to wines made In our own
country In u recent work on upper Cali
fornia, Charles Nordhofr, ESQ.,, popular
writer Of our own times, remarks
HhNt INV Nttu lllC grape III HlInOSt every
part of California where wine Is made. The
temptation to new settler in this state Is al
ways strong 10 plant n vineyard, AMI / am
moved by much that have seen to re peat here
publicly advice have often given to persons
newly coming into the state: "Do not make
wine" ] remember wine cellar, cheaply
built, hut with costly casks containing IN San,
Thin, fiery wine. Around these casks on
pleasant, sunny afternoon a group of tipsy
men = hopelessly irredeemable beasts with
nothing much to do except encourage each
other TO another glass, and TO wonder at the
eastern man who would not drink There
there was pretentious tasting OF this that
and the other cask by a parcel Of sots who
in their hearts, would have preferred forty
rod whisky. And little way OF
there was house with women and children
| in II, who had only to look out of the door to
sec this miserable sight Of husband father,
friends, visitors and hired men spending the
afternoon In getting drunk. But everywhere
and, in my experience, nearly as often as you
VIII see the proprietor or his sons or his hired
men, you will see them bearing the marks of
strong drink, and too often, If you come unex.
pectedly on to vineyard, or TO wine cellar
rather, you will find some poor wretch that by
4o'clock Is maudlin-thatis, too drunk to know
you or TO stand.
thus give, Mr.. Editor, the testimony OF
Dr. Holland and Mr.. Nordhoff against your
correspondent, "F. P.," aud 1 could add
some facts from my own observations, both
In this country aud In Europe, to corrobo-
rate what my witnesses testify to, but do
not deem 1t necessary now. Respectfully,
ii. PRICE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. q, 1886.