The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-11

the government By careful investigation
determined that drunkenness is due TO the
free use, cheap production and adulteration
of alcoholic spirits, and the federal govern
ment decided therefore to assume q mo-
nopoly of the sale of spirits. The distillers
sell all their product to the state, which
strictly regulates the materials and meth
DDS of distillation, as is done also in
Bavaria. Some IL per cent. of the
revenue secured from the profits of gov
eminent sale of spirits is devoted to the
repression of the abuse of alcohol.
The Swiss and French scientific investi-
gators of the causes and effects of alcohol
ism both reported that the abuse of alcohol
bears no visible relation to the number of
open opportunities for its indulgence. The
cantons that had the largest number of
public-houses had fewer deaths from alco-
holism than were found in cantons
where there was smaller number
of public-houses. The birth rate
is less and the mortality greater
in those departments of France where
there is but small consumption of alcohol.
More alcohol is used in England than in
France. yet France is inferior in birth rate
and has greater mortality, criminality and
a greater number of suicides than Eng
land. Italy uses but little alcohol, but its
rate of crime is high. Spain consumes
one-third less alcohol than Italy, but the
number of crimes is double that of Italy.
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark the con-
sumption of alcohol is three times greater
than in Italy, but there is not one-third as
much crime. Russia drinks four times as
much alcohol as France, but its birth rate
is double that of France. Austria and
France use about the same amount of al
cohol, but Austria's birth rate is so per
France has twice as many suicides as
Austria. Germany uses two-thirds more
alcohol than France, but in Germany there
are one-third less suicides and birth rate
five times that of France. The growth of
moral and physical weakness among all
classes of French population, the lower
ing of the birth rate and the increase of
crime and suicide can not be attributed to
the use Of alcohol.
France, Spain, Italy, all the Latin ma
tons of Europe, have never been in
temperate in eating or drinking; their
climate and the common use of cheap,
weak wines explain this fact, but
they have always been distinguished
above the Northern alcohol-consuming
races of Europe tor RIGHTEOUSNESS and
sexual depravity. The Latin races of
Southern Europe have always been the
gross, pleasure-loving people of the world.
The Northern races, with ali their heavy
feeding and deep drinking, seldom loved
feast or fiddle well enough to lose fight
for the sake of a few hours of coarse fun.
The Saxons were drunken, the Normans
were comparatively temperate, The true
explanation of the deteriorated virility OF
France is found in her RIGHTEOUSNESS
and her fearful exhaustion by the
incessant wars of Napoleon. The reign
of Louis the Fourteenth was a time of
continual war with Spain. Holland, Italy,
Germany and England; under Louis the
Fifteenth there was war with Prussia and
England. Under Louis the Sixteenth
there was war with England. and finally
the people of France were fearfully
drained of their provocative force by the
terrible wars waged by France with all
Europe from 1870 to 1916. This explains
her deteriorated vitality. In the use of
alcohol she has always been temperate
compared with Great Britain, Russia,
Germany and Scandinavia, who surpass
France in virility and high birthrate.
The most energetic and vital parts of
France are those where the most alcohol
has been and is today consumed. Ireland
consumes great deal of alcohol, and vet
Ireland has the best record in Europe for
longevity.
Our grandfathers drank good deal of
alcohol, and went to bed not seldom
drunk, but they were hale and strong COM
pared with their sober grandsons, who
lead sedentary rather than outdoor lives.
Many things besides alcohol GO to explain
national or race degeneracy and deteriora-
ton.