The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-08-15
The Occasional Drinkers.

United States Senator q. II. Platt. SAYS in
the New York hdcp ndent. The most diff
cult phase of the problem is that those who
drink least most eirectually hinder temper
ance progress. Is this proposition n harsh
one' believe it to he true, aud | state il for
the sake of truth and of temperance When
| assume that three. fourths Of our male
adults drink, do not mean to be understood
that three fourths, or even ouo-fourth Of
them are Incorporate or excessive drinkers,
in the popular meaning of those terms The
drunkardS, the hard drinkers, and the liquor
sellers combined could not hinder temper
ance progress for an hour ii their efforts were
not supplemented by the influence of the oc-
cnsional drinkers. TIE great majority of
those who drink are occasional drinkers only
men who do not drink enough in their
own estimation or the estimation of the
general public, TO do any harm, but who
drink Just enough to array their influence
as well as their example, on the side of drink
instead of on the side of temperance IL it be
known that a man drinks champagne once a
month, that is sufficient to destroy his in
huence for temperance. IL n man drinks
Deer once a week, and it is not publicly
known, he does not usually assume the role
of a temperance advocate Hescnrcely feels
like asking others not TO drink; he does not
think it exactly consistent TO rebuke the man
OF whom he buys the wine or beer for LIQUOR
selling. The most he feels like doing is in n
STINT way to wish the cause of temperance
success, and in quiet way to deplore what
he calls the evils of intemperance.
Ii is just these occasional drinkers who
constitute the barrier over which the
temperance reform does not, and in the
nature of things cannot pass If there were
but two classes, if there were only the in
temperate and hard drinkers in one class
and all Others were total abStainers, the
temperance problem would be settled at
once. We would pass prohbitory laws aud
enforce them. We would practically sup
press the sale, and better than all, when the
present generation of incorporate and
habitual drinkers died out we should have
no more forever, for the drunkard is an
evolution; he is envolved from the occasional
drinker. There is no missing link: the pro-
cess OF evolution is apparent. Now we pass
prohlhltory laws, if at all, with mighty
struggle we enforce them only partially by
the most strenuous effort; and worse than
all, the process of drunkard development goes
on unchecked.
Does any one doubt that we could pass
and easily enforce prohibitory laws in Con-
necticut if clear aiority of our citizens
were true total abstaiuerS Add to the
present total abstainers the occasional drink
erS, and does any one doubt that there would
be such majority! Would to God it might
be.
Who then stands in the way: who are most
responsible for failurel l sorrowfully re-
peat my conviction that it is the men who
drink but occasionally and who are consid.
cred temperate" men: the men who only
drink wine at dinners or receptions, beer
when asked, whisky when it seems awkward
TO refuse. To such drinkers | appeal to be.
come total ahstainers. They can easily ab,
stain If they will; abstinence would involve
no sacrifice; would require no great moral
struggle but oh, what an uplifting of hu
manity there would be as a result of such alb
stinencei