The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-11-13
TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES.


General Culture Not Necessarily Condu-
Give to Even Moderation in the Use of
Strong Drinks.
Those who do not practice total alb
stinence, but who advocate moderate
drinking and apologize for alcoholic
indulgence, often speak of the educa-
ton of the people as the prevention of
intempcrance; but defective edu-
cation-the education which does
not teach the evils and dangers
of the drinking of alcoholics, however
moderately-does not prevent drunk
enness, but all know that intemper-
ance is by no means confined to the I'M
educated classes. Intemperance is a
matter of Indulgence fostered by eX-
ample, and not of mere education or
Intellectual development General
intelligence, if there is ignorance or
wrong views on the subject of alco-
holic indulgence, is but feeble, GER
tainly not an effectual, check upon in
temperance.
AS an example of the ignorance
and error which should be removed by
proper education on this subject, it is
often said that the general use of wine
and beer is the proper preventive of
intemperance. Many, otherwise in
telligent persons, seem not to know,
or at least realize, that the same arti-
Gle which produces the Intoxicating
effect in brandy and whisky, is that
which is present in wine and beer, and
is but slightly modified, AID that often
injuriously, by the other ingredients
in the latter articles 1t is the same
alcohol in all the intoxicants, though
there is smaller proportion in the
weaker liquids. Dilutlng pure alco-
hol with pure water to the same ex-
tent, would produce an article almost
identical in its essential effects with
wine and beer.
1t is too well known to be for
moment overlooked. that the use of
alcoholics, in whatever form, begets a
taste for them, and creates the alcohol
ic habit. In other words, it is the use
of alcohol that begets Il desire for al
cohol--th that leads to an increase in the
indulgence and to the establishment
of the habit of alcoholic narcotism.
No one would be guilty of the the alb
surdity of SAYING that the proper way
of preventing the habit of opium
narcotsm is to take paregoric, or that
the prevention of the habit of tobacco
narcotism would be by commencing
smoking mild cigarettes. No one with
proper knowledge on the subject can
doubt that the simple and effectual
remedy for narcotism is, not to take
narcotics-that the proper remedy for
inebriety is not to take inebrants. If
these articles are never taken there is
no desire for them. 1t is the use that
creates the demand-the moderate
use of which is the cause of the i'm
moderate.
If inebrety, when it becomes uncon-
trollable by the weakened and per-
verted will OF the patient, and is thus a
disease, is also crime, the criminaity
preccdes. whether or not it accom-
panies the disease.
But to conclude these suggestive re-
marks. rather than systematic dis
cussion of this subject, it may be stated
that the only way of removing the pre-
vailing Indifference, ignorance and
errors respecting the narcotic habits.
and especially the effects of alcoholic
drinks in their weaker as well as their
stronger forms, and more particularly
respecting their moderate use, is by
teaching the children and young per-
sons the facts and principles which
they can understand, arousing ard Gull
tivating in them right feelings upon
the subject, and preparing them for
deeper study, more extended knowl-
edge, and thus leading to correct prac-
tice and uncompromising princi Piles
and positions, when they become men
and women. DIR. A. b. Palmer, IN
Journal Of EducatiOn