The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-08-24
WEAN THEM GRADUALLY.

Public attention is again called
to the problem of drunkenness by
the recent condemnation of the
saloon by Archbishop Satolli
His idea of bringing about volun.
tary total abstinence is through
moral regeneration. Pledge sign.
ing and prohibition have each
been Intellectual in dealing with
the liquor question. Besides, these
metho Of dealing with this pro
life sO;lrce of crime and misery
provoke hypocrisy and disrespect
for law. This fact has been amply
demonstrated in Iowa and other
prohibition states. VIII re moderate e
drinkers increased their rations OF
rock and rye, and those who had
been known as total abStainers
began to frequent the tipping
house Immediately after the pass
age of certain acts because, in their
opinion, their ri ghts as free b. rn
American citizens were being
infringed upon. They hold these
truths to be self evident, ''that all
men are led equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable riehts,' and
among these rights is the pursuit
of happiness, which includes the
privilege. OF taking social drink.
From the fact that prohibition
is encouraged and in a measure
forced upon the public by a lot of
fanatics and cranks, or at best by
persons who are not in sympathy
with those whom they profess to
he trying to reform. it is antago
! nized by all broad minded and
thinking people, because of their
cordial dislike for its advocates.
Dislike for its promoters engenders
a dislike for their cause, no matter
how worthy the object. Everyone
will admit that the government
has no moral or legal right to pass
laws restricting our diet, and it
follows as the night the day that
it has no authority to interfere
with our heaven-bOrn right to use
intoxicants. Because a compare
lively few men, through their hog
gish propensities, overindulge in
the use of liquors, it furnishes no
equitable reason for the passage OF
prohibitory law, which prevents
The millions of moderate and occa-
s.onal drinkers from the use OF
alcoholic beverages even in thelr
homes if they SO desire.
Prohibition is imperative be-
cause under existing conditions
only such persons as believe in
total abstinence are Identified with
the movement. Their numbers
have not been increased by the
enactment of prohibitory laws.
nor has the consumption of stimu-
lants been checked by their exist
ence. Those who are in sympathy
with the movement would abstain
from drinking just the same if no
law of this kird were in opera
ton. Prohibition is not the thing.
We should be permitted to drink
if We S, elect. The most effectual
way of dealing with the evil is not
in the government saying "thou
shalt not" but by encouraging the
general use of beverages contain
ing a low percentage of alcohol.
Those who have given this per
picking question most scientific
study have given it as their opin-
ion that the encouragement of the
use Of light wines and beers would
materially lessen the aggregate OF
intemperance.
This theory is borne out by the
statement OF those who have Wis
tied extensively in France, Ger
many and England. In these
countries the use of beers and
wines is almost universal. This is
particularly true of Germany
where, it is said, children are
weaned from their mothers breast
to mug of beer. While the
appetite of the people living in
these countries is just as strong for
iintoxicants as that of Americans,
it is satisfied by the use of lighter
stimulants, and the attendant
results are by far less frightful
than here where stronger liquors
like whisky and brandy are gener.
ally used. Besides reducing in
temperance the use of light wines
is advocated by many notable
hygienists in the place of teas aud
coffees. IF people were permitted
to partake of light wines and malt
liquors as openly as they are OF
beverages like soda water and
lemonade, there would be fewer
cases of drunkenness as a result oil