Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-08-04
Temperance.
CONTRIBUTED BIZ THE W. c. T. U.
Liquor Drinking Abroad.
BRANDY DRINKING AND coSsEoUgSr DISEASE,
WANT AND MISERY CONSTANTLY IscREAs-
ING IN SWITZERLAND.

The liquor traffic in the United States Is
an unmitigated evil against which every In
fiuence should be brought 10 bear, but when
II is compared to what it is in SONS Euro
pesn countries, the Nation may well con-
gratulate itself. In Great Britain drunken
ness among all classes goes far beyond what
IT does here, and especially is woman de-
graded that way. With us 1t Is compare
lively rare thing to see one reeling along
the streets, bat it is a common sight in the
large cities of that country. The evil is,
however, fully recognized, and constant rf-
forts are being made to suppress it, and to
limit the traffic which makes it possible.
In Switzerland last summer a most curl
Gus thing occurred bearing upon this sub
ject. An official inquiry was made into the
liquor traffic and its results upon the peo-
pie, prompted BY numerous petitions sent
up from the various cantonments for legis-
lation against the evil. Statistics were Civ
en- showing that more brandy was consum-
ed per capita in Switzerland than in any 9TH
er country in Europe, and that this was
constantly increasing. Corresponding with
this increase, it wss also shown, was the
growth of mental diseases, while want and
misery among the people were spreading
rapidly.
Strange to say, In the face OF all the facts
given, the Federal Council, wise and far
seeing as it has proved itself in many di-
rection., absolutely refused even TO recon
mend restrictive legislation. Worse than
" defends social drinking in the following
words
''The practice of the social drinking of
spurious liquors brings a cheerful temper
into society, efisces the traces of daily la
Dor, opens the heart to other impressions,
and is intimately associated with the devel-
opment of public life. The public house
fosters intellectual activity, and is a remedy
against misanthropy. egotism, vanity, mar
rowness of ideas and extravaganza of imag-
nation"
1t is said that the report took the country
by surprise, aud it is not strange. There
might have been reasons-slthough in the
face Of the terrible facts given il is difficult
to immagine what they could be-why i'm
mediate legislation in that direction would
not be thought wise, but to uphold the evil
in such an unqualified manner was a mat
ter for shocked asionishnent. The only
explanation is that a majority of the COun-
Gil must have money interest in the traf-
fic which no consideration of public good
will lead them to imperil. The statement
that the public house Is a remedy sgsinst
misanthropy, etc, is such a manifest dis
tortion Of tru III rs to require no attempt at
refutstion anywhere. II is only a matter OF
surprise that the Council would permit such
report TO be sent to the Assembly, and that
so many months hsve been allowed TO pass
by since that time without anything farther
being heard upon the subject.
The agitation in our country is such as to
promise much for the future. The same
money getting influences must be fought
against, but the public attention has been
too thoroughly aroused to let the matter
rest, even though such legislation as the
repeal of the Scott law shows the power
which has to be met and overcome.-Tole-
do Blade.