The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-06-15
THE DRINK CURSE IN FRANCE

"The great black spot on the horizon is
alcoholism. No doubt its influence is felt
among all classes of society, but it is es-
pecially popular plague recent plague
that has made ITSELF sensible with in the past
thirty or forty years. Alcoholism is a par
venue of the last hour and parvenue COS.
mopolite. 1t speedily acclimates itself every
where. Since by heredity, it has entered
into the blood and marrow of the people and
has spread itself in the country as it has in
the city, not only physicians have become
alarmed but also men Of the law AMI by de-
grees all intelligent and rejecting persons.
AT the present moment it increases and as
sumes the proportions of universal danger
The race is struck in its vitals. The hospi-
tails, almshouses and prisons bear testimony
to its progress. In certain districts one n o
longer counts the drunkards but those who
are not. That which is now drank is in.
tinitely different from that which was for
merly consumed. 1t is cheap kind of LIQUOR
adulterated with brandy made from the
beet-root and potato, with which unprinci-
pied manufacturers are flooding the world,
and this poison is alike destructive of in
tellectual, moral and physical life. 1t may
be truthfullY said of him who drinks it. that
he drinks his own death and that of his chill.
dren. 1t poisons the future and predesti-
mates coming generations TO physical weak
ness, imbecilty and crime. It's impossible
for any one TO fully estimate the moral,
political, social and hygienic effects of al.
coholism.
I'm nine-tenths of the maladies, the acci-
dents, the crimes and the ruin, in much of
the uncontrolled passions aud popular dis
orders, one can well say, Cherchoz Pal
COOL
"The ravages of alcohol among the youth
of the common classes are frightful. There
is scarcely any longer an amusement or
recreation with which it does not mix itself.
1t interferes with or destroys every rational
enjoyment. 1t prevents proper physical de-
velopments, it neutralizes the good effects
of reunions for social pleasure and relaxa-
tion. 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 tainte1. In
the lovely valleys that roll back among the
Nolges, springs OF crystal water abound, the
air Is pure, and within the memory of man.
epeiemic 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 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 foundations of litey
I'm contemplating our present civiliza-
tion, it might be asked, what is there that
could seriously menace ity IL could not, as
IN antiquity, succumb to an invasion of bar
barans. Its enemies however are not far
away. They do not first make their app ar
ance in the distant horizon like the Huns
and the Vandals. They are in our own
bosom, AMI the most terrible OF them all is
alcohol. What hope is taeir for tomorrow
with the youth of to-day saturated with al
coholy democracy rests on the intelllgen
on the wisdom ami energy of the citizen, on
the spirit of order, OF ia iusrrY, OF economy.
For all these one may we'll rear in proper
tlon as brandy ami absinths prosres ;ss
Our barbarians our curse YES, behold their T.
Revue Chretienna Paris