The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-27
TIE HFH1ENps" OPPOSED TO L1ouoR.
TO MODERATE DRINKERS.

Are you a moderate drinker? No, we don't
mean you. as your red nose gives you away
badly. We see what you are: we mean that
sleek, well dressed young man. He seems to
take the world easy. He apparently is not
troubled or worried with unlucky turns OF
fortunes wheel. He is above the petty an
poyances that characterize the lives OF less
favored men He can afford to indulge his
moderate drinking! So he thinks, at least,
and by his indulgence he encourages drink.
ing, and he cultivates the habit in himself
and his more unfortunate brothers. The
moderate drinker is doing more harm to his
fellow-men than he can ever undo! We ask
only that he give us his attention-that he
think seriously on this question. He is o
man of intelligence, and must see, II he will
give the subject earnest thought, that he ls
in the wrong. If temperance in drink Is
beneficial and necessary to mans happiness
then the highest form Of temperance-total
abstinenoe-is absolutely necessary in order
TO best teach temperance.
What Is meant by theterm moderate drink
ing2 Who can define It? 1t is lamentable
truth that OF two men given the same amount
Of liquor, ono will hardly feel the effect,
while the other becomes so drunk that he
will beat his wife and children How often
we hear the expression-"Oh know when
have enough! / can drink or let 1t alone,
rs / please" and then, poor man, he takes
another drink-adGs more poison to an al
ready poisoned system, and t1rEs with pity
from his more unfortunate neighbor, who
drinks no more nor oftener than he, but from
the effects of this same quantity he becomes
q disorderly, disgraceful drunkard. The
quantity then, ''in moderation" cannot be
defined.
Is moderation understood to be the drink
ing of mild liquors-beer, light wines, etc.
This may be the understanding some men
have of moderate drinking, but do not these
milder drinks contain alcohol? Certainly
they do. and their use leads to strong drink.
The mild drinks create the appetite for alco-
hol. The drunkard begins on beer and ter
inmates his career with brandy, and the re-
suit can be traced to its source-which is the
small percentage of alcohol in the milder
| drinks The danger in drinking beer or light
| wine IS that by their use the habit is formed.
| the Unsuitable craving for alcoholic drinks
| follows.
1t is this craving that has made men beasts !;
that has made man lose every spark OF man
hood that has made him commit every
crime in the catalogue, that has made him
the epileptic, the paralytic, the lunatic, the
| suicide! Did ! say has made him? Aye! !!
| And is making him to-day all these things
| In this bright city to-day men are sacrificing
home. health. wife and children, friends,
character, everything, to satisfy this craving
for liquor. You. moderate drinker, think on
these things Moreover, did you ever reflect
on the impurity Of these mild drinks? No,
OF course, you have not. Well, OF the thou
sands of gallons and barrels sold not ono
gallon is pure OF the thousands sold not
one is free from drugs and poisons, sold that
men may grow rich at the EXPENSE OF the
lives of their fellow-men.
Moderate drinker, you must stand wnere
you belong! No healthy body needs stimu-
lants of any kind, mild or strong. You there
fore are induIGing O bad habit which will
surely lead to bad results You belong to
the drinking fraternity, and you must 90 one
of two things-reflect and join the total ab-
stainers, or refusing this you may become 4
drunkard.
1t Ia said that fifteen per cent. OF the mod
crate drinkers die drunkards. Shall you be-
one of this fifteen per cent? Tho facts ex-
plain that all drunkards were only moderate
drinkers once and thatiall drunkenness comes
from moderate drinking = II one is the high
| Yay to ruin the other is the broad, inviting
gateway leading to it.-Western Cross.