The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-06-07
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
MODERATE DRUNKARDS,
Alcohol-Produces Conditions Which Bring
About Serious Consequences.

d1-ACo reHCLuldn, WHO was dJ one Time
M. p. for Grimsby, and died last sum-
mer. When occasion required him to
explain that he was not total abstain
er, he did so by saying that he was
moderate drunkard;" and, while 'su-
perior" persons smiled at the ingenious
Frenchman applying to himself the
name of drunkard, there is no doubt he
was right. The fuller and more cor
rect knowledge of the effects of alcohol
on the tissues of the body and brain,
which every days investigation is put
ting us in possession of, is proving to
the world that the phrase moderate
drunkard" more correctly expresses the
condition of everyone who takes alco-
hol, than the more euphonious mod
crate drinker, which is preferred be-
cause it claims to be not only compati-
bic with, but actually indicative of re-
spectability. 1t is proved beyond doubt
that the smallest quantity of alcohol
causes disturbance in the system; that
the disturbance increases according to
the quantity imbibed, and that there is
no point in the process of drinking alec
hol at which line can be drawn, and
it can be said: up to this point mind
and body have been injuriously affect
ed; the functions of neither have been
impaired, but the next drop makes the
sober man drunk" No; drunkenness,
which simply means the disturbance of
the system through the drinking
of alcohol, begins with the first drop
imbibed, and develops, according to the
constitution and temperament of the
drinker, physical, mental and moral
alterations of which the victims may,
and genera lily do, remain unconscious,
although these alterations may be at
tracing the attention of strangers, and
deeply grieving the hearts of friends.
And thus it comes to pass that persons
who are called perfectly sober" say
and do things they would neither say
nor do if they had not been having
some drink. Instead of being spoken
of as perfectly SOBER" such persons
should be spoken of as partially
drunk" but this, their real condition,
is concealed rather than expressed by
The phrase they use in describing them
selves, that of moderate drinkers"
We live in an age when nobody de-
tends drunkenness. The representa-
tives of the liquor interest are even
more emphatic than the temperance
party in denouncing drunkenness; and
they do it with such an air of innocence
as would almost persuade one to be-
lieve that the drunkard wrongs them
by consuming so much of their liquor
and adding so much to their profits
They repudiate all responsibility for
the drunkenness that the drinking of
their liquor produces. They take their
stand on the platform occupied by the
persons who drink so as to become only
partially drunk, and claim these
moderate drunkards" as the persons
for whom they cater, because they are
thought to do themselves AUD
the drink interest credit by the moder-
alton of their bibulousness. The liquor
interests are quite willing, yea, clamor-
Gus, that the temperance party should
turn their attention, and confine their
attention to drunkards, and by some
means get rid of them, SO that the way
may be kept clear for the drinkers who
have not yet become drunbards, going
on drinking with as little as possible of
the fear of consequences before their
eyes. Drunkenness, meaning thereby
the condition that is universally ac
knowledged as such, being thus utterly
discredited. it is most important that
the evil effects of the drinking which
has not yet resulted in this drunkenness
should be insisted npon, until they are
thoroughly understood and their sig
niicance is grasped. And as prelim-
mary consideration it is very desirable
that all drinkers of'alcohol should bear
in mind what DR.. Coley says: ''Those
persons who are in the greatest moral
and physical danger from alcohol are
just the one who are most ready to per-
scribe for themselves, and the least
ready to believe that they can not stop
whenever they please"
The drinking of alcohol produces a
disturbance in the system; and D-s
Clouston, of Edinburgh, says the al
cohol affects more strongly the high
est brain functions of emotion and con-
troll He also remarks that 1T is now
generally recognized that as the moral
faculties were the last to be evolved,
they are commonly the first in brain
disease to disappear" The first effect
that alcohol produces on the drinker is
that of weakening his self-control, and
paralyzing the moral will that would
guide him Alright. A very common
symptom of this evil effect is seen in
the drinl1er being pulled up with an
overweening sense of his own impor-
tance. When sitting with his tap-room
companions he lays down the law
with confidence that infallibili i
ty itself might envy. At home
he asserts his mastership with
decision and sterness I'M
der which wife and children cover.
At work or in business he despises those
who would instruct him, or tender him
advice; and, as an employer, he is ex-
acting as one who feels what mighty
man he is. The result of this state of
things is seen in the quarrels that are
SO frequent between persons who have
been drinking, but are declared to be
perfectly sober. Two such meet.
neither of whom can brook the pres
ence of an equal, and words of hauteur
or contempt on one side or the other
excite anger which finds expression in