The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-28
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: ssThe great black spot on the horizon 1.
alcoholism. No doubt It's influence IL felt
among all classes Of society, but 10 II e.
pecially popular plague---a recent plague
that has made itself sensible with In the past
thirty or forty years Alcoholism Is par
venue Of the last hour, and q parvenue cos
mopolite. It speedily acclimates itself every
where Since by heredity, II has entered
into the blood and marrow OF the people, and
has spread itself In the country a. II has Ia
the city. not only physicians have become
alarmed but also men OF the law aud by de-
Rrees all intelligent and rejecting persons.
At the present moment IL increases and as
sumes the proportions OF universal danger.
The race Is struck In its vitals. The hospi.
tails, almshouses and prisons bear testimony
20 It's progress. In certain districts one n q
ngeI.eounts the drunkards, but those wl1b
are not That which A now drank Il IN.
finitely different from that which was for
merly consumed. II Is cheap kind Of liquor,
adulterated with brandy made from the
beet-root and potato, with which unprincl-
pied manufacturers are flooding the world,
and this poison Is alike destructive OF In
fellectual, moral and physical life. II may
be truthfullY said OF him who drinks IL, that
he drinks his own death and that OF his chill
dren. II poisons the future and predesti.
mates coming generations TO physical weak
ness, imbecillty and crime. It's impossible
& LOT any OllB W tuuy GdtttilAbt Tue IlloEA1s
political, social and hygienic effects Of al
coholism.
..In nine-tenths Of the maladies, the acct.
dents, the crimes and the ruin, In much Of
the uncontrolled passions and popular dis
orders one can well say. Cherchoz Pal
COOL
aThe ravageso Of alcohol among the youth
Of the common classes are frightful. There
IL scarcely any longer an amusement or
recreation with which IL does not mix itself.
1t interferes with or destroys every rational
enjoyment. It prevents proper physical de-
veiopments It neutralizes the good effects
Of reunions for social pleasure and relaxa-
ton. Every assembly, every excursion for
whatever object, Is In danger Of terminating
In drunken debauch. Manners become
coarse and the language as well as the songs
brutal.
Formerly the large cities depended upon
the country for the publication OF the life
blood, The source itself Is now tainted In
the lovely valleys that roll back among the
Volges springs Of crystal water abound, the
air Is pure, and within the memory Of man,
epedemic has never reigned. But alcohol
now reigns there as master. The number OF
feeble children constantly increases. Dis
order is in the manners, in the purse and in
the household. The fruits OF a lifetime Of
toll disappear.
Alcohol Is more terrible than war, than
pestilence, or no matter what natural calam-
ity. One can repair the external disasters
-one can rebuild the world OF ideas. But
what can remedy the evil that destroys the
blood, the brain. the nervous system-that
destroys the foundationsof lifel
I'm contemplating our present civiiiza-
tion, il might be asked, what ID there that
could seriously menace 1T It could not. as
In antiquity, succumb TO an invasion Of bar
barians. Its enemies however. are not far
away They do not first make their appear
ance in the distant horizon like the Huns
and the Vandals. They are in our own
bosom, and the most terrible Of them all Is
alcohol. What hope Is their for tomorrow
with the youth Of to-day saturated with al
co1olf Democracy rests on the intelligence.
on the wisdom and energy OF the citizen, on
the spirit OF order, OF industry.of economy
For all these one may well fear. in proper
ton as brandy and absinths progresses.
Our barbarians our ourselves, behold thsa r.
Revue Chretienne. Paris.
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