The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-09-03
The Cure of Drunkards.


because the drunkards Of that city do
not come forward with more alscrity to-
be cured by the new remedy, which is
being exploited as ssbsing absolutely safe
sure and permanent The dissatisfaction
is natural, but the lack of enthusiasm on
the part of the drunkards cannot be
regarded as much less 30. The drunk
ard, as rule, does not want to be cured,
either temporarily Or permanently,
especially the latter. ssuch may be the
desire of his friends-it often is; but he
does not share in their desire. If he
did, there would be far fewer druukards
in the world. 1t is very rare occur.
renee that the devoted of the flowing
bowl sincerely wishes to be weaped. #
he is regular" rum has far greater
attractions for him than the blessings he
sacrifices. It is useless to tell him that
he misses all the comforts of home, the
society and approval of frlads. the
pleasures that accompany sobriety and
decency. He wants none of these and
misses none of them. What he wants is
rum and the stupor that follows indulg.
ence; and instead of regarding the man
who proposes to reform him as benefac
tor, he looks upon him as an enemy.
The periodical" is even worse than the
Irregular" He does not regard himself
as drunkard and resents as an insult
the imputation that he is one. He can
not be induced to try cure because he
does not, in his own estimation, need
any cure. In the main, therefore, what
ever patronage the cure receives must
come from the friends of those 10 be
cured and not from the drunkards them
selves; and it is not at all surprising to
those familiar with the drunkard that the
friends have no easy task.
1t is not alone by the unwillingness
and apathy of the druukard that the
success of the new method of reform is
impeded. 1t is quietly or actively op-
posed by all those who are in any way
interested in the manufacture or sale of
spirits; incidentally, too, the moderate
drinkers stand in the way of its success.
For while they detest the drunkard
where others only pity him, and while
they are always ready with professions of
desire that the man who cannot control
his appetite shall be prevented from any
indulgence whatever, they do not want
the manufacture and sale curtailed, as
they surely will be when the drink habit
is successfully assailed.
Whether the ranks of the opposition
are swelled by the taxpayers does not
yet appear. 1t would not be surprising
if they were to some extent. There GER
tainly are some citizens of the republic
who will look very coldly on any scheme,
no matter how meritorious in any of its
aspects, which threaten to deprive the
government of 8 hundred million more or
less of annual revenue. Fortunately,
however, it is not likely that there will
be any serious active opposition from
this sonrce. There must be few even
among those who would sacrifice the
sobristy ofthe nation for the sake of rev
enue who will have the hardihood to
openly advocate such sacrifice.
But even without the opposition on
the score of revenue the reform has
enough to contend with. 1t tneeds all the
friends it can muster; and if it really is
what it purports to be it is earnestly to
be hoped it will muster enough to secure
its ultimate triumph. Every cured
drunkard, il the cure is permanent, is
sure to be it's advocate; and if they can
only be cured q little more rapidly than
they are created the end is certain. This
is more than can be said of any other
plan before the public.-DetroI Free
Press.