The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-05-16
MODERATE DRINKING.


 bitter of all the wordy warfare occa- stoned in connection with the temper pnce question, Moderate drinkers, on the one hand, are likely to underesti- mate the evil and danger of the prac tice; and abstainers, on the other hand, are quite as likely, perhaps, to over estimate them. Certainly there can be no question but that considerable majority of those who drink in moder ation never become incorporate; and yet, it is equally true that the great army of the incorporate is recruited almost entirely from the ranks of moderate drinkers. That is to say, few, if any, of the users of liquors begin that practice with the thought or expectation of ever drinking to ex- ccss-most assuredly, not with the ex- pectation of becoming drunkards. But, in spite of good intentions, how many have come to just that condition, the habit gradually enslaving them until they feel they cannot cast off its power. It cannot be denied, therefore, that there is always danger even in moder- ate drinking; and while to many this danger may be remote or slight, it is wiser even for a sure footed man to take the path which leads farthest from the precipice.
 But again, as has been said before in this column, authorities are prac- tically agreed that the only good which can come from the habit of drinking, even moderately, is when stimulants are taken in connection with food, a course which may be helpful to diges- ton, especially with persons past middle life. In other words, that stimulants unaccompanied by food except as mediciue) are always more or less harmful. Upon this point there is no division of any note among au- Jhorities. So that moderate drinking "between meals" is practically certain to inaict physical injury, greater or less.
 All question of personal welfare or safety aside, however, there is still another phase of this subject. Every rightly constituted person should, and does, desire that his example to others may be safe and good one. Every one has more or less inhuence-often where he least suspects it-and it therefore becomes the imperative duty of each to live in such manner that anyone may make his life model with perfect safety, But this IS just what no moderate drinker can do. No one ever became a drunkard through fol lowing the example of total ab stainer--that is self evident. And while 1t may be true, also, of indi vidual moderate drinkers that theil example never led anyone into excess there is always the danger that it may What true man would be willing, fol the sake of little indulgenc of tht palate, to run the risk of leadin. another into what may prove his de struction? And if this be true of mer in general, how much more should i be true of men who profess to be thi followers of Him who pleased mol Himself2" He has said of those whc cause lone of these little ones" tt stumble, that 1t were better for hin that a millstone were hanged about bi neck and he were drowned in tht depths of the sea. With this warnin, before us, shall we feel that we meri His smile if we indulge ourselves ever moderately, in that which may prov, a snare to some "little one? Shal we not rather say with Paul, "lf mea make my brother to offend, 1 will ca no meat while the world stand'9
 There are, then, three danger which the moderate drinker must face three responsibilities which he mus take upon himself First, that he ma become the victim of appetite. Second that even if he does not become in temperate, he may cause great injur, to his physical powers by indulgenc in stimulants. Third, that he may b ? the means, of leading some one els into haiti which will prove tha others ruin. These things are true There is no exas geratioh iu the state
 ments, no efBerbole of rhetoric
 even, but only ssober fact. Surely n
 man, who desires to perform his whol
 duty to himself and society, ought t
 be willing to take any course fraugh