The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-04-29
NEW REMEDY FOR DRINK EVIL.
Fallacy of n Cure Suggested by Some
WeII-MenninE Persons.

Fallacy of n Cure Suggested by Some
Well-MenninE Persons.
With the laudable aim of abating this
evil of intemperance, some well-mean-
ing persons in the spirit OF benevolence
have devised a new remedy as a cure for
the giant evil. They recommend alb
stinence from distilled spirits and mod
GRAFTON in the use of fermented drinks.
Let us briefly examine this PROPOSE
ton.
1t is a fact well known to the think
ing part of the community that the
public mind is now much better in
formed than heretofore on the nature,
composition and properties of intoNi-
eating drinks. Most men now know
that, by the process of fermentation,
the su9ary part of any kind of vegeta
bic matter is changed into alcohol
that subtle and diffusive poison"
which will not digest in the stomach
OF any living being, but passes through
the system unchanged and unmodified.
In order, then, to cure the drunkard,
it is not enough to stipulate that he
must drink no distilled spirits,' since
we perceive that the human system be-
comes as really alcoholized with ale
or beer as it does with whisky or bran
dy; the only difference is the effect is
not quite so soon visible.
With regard to the effect of both
upon the constitution, it is a matter
for grave inquiry whether he who lives
under the influence of stimulating
poison as found in beer or ale does not
suffer far more severely upon the whole
by chronic disease than he who drinks
distilled liquors from his more acute
but less permanent affliction. But al
cohol taken into the system in any
form is injurious, because it will not
cooperate with nature in the discharge
of her regular functions; nor can any
combination in which it may be found
correct this evil tendency.
Moderation, then, as applied to drink
ing any kind of Intoxicating drink, is a
term which is not at all applicable. 1t is
perfect misnomer when SO applied.
Meat and bread are in themselves good
for the body, because they contain prop
critics which are calculated to yield
material for the production Of more
chyle, from which the blood is derived,
and their suitability with the require
ments of nature renders them eminent
ly fitted for such purposes. Indeed, it
is this fitness which constitutes their
recommendation to our notice. But
even these good creatures of God" may
be abused. If we take more than is
necessary we do the system harm; that
quantity which is proportional to the
wants of the body is all that is requi-
site.
Now the immoderate use of these
good things is properly called an abuse;
while the use of them in needful guam
titles and at necessary periods is quite
as properly designated moderation.
How inapt, then, is the term mod
GRAFTON when applied to the use of any
beverage which possesses the power
of intoXication! Any kind of ferment-
ed liquor-it matters little whether it
is called wine, spirits, ale, beer, porter
cider, or anything else-contains aIco-
hol, and that alcohol is superior in the
power which it possesses to any other
property with which it may be COM
bined; and although as medicine il
may, as claimed, raise the depression
of the mental powers by quickening the
circulation of the blood of the patient,
it cannot but produce in the healthy
system d series of secret but not the
less positive evils.
From this argument we apprehend it
is clear that the new remedy Of modera-
ton is not fitted to the emergency it
processes to control; because it must,
we think, appear evident to any I'M
prejudiced mind that the, use of the in
toXicating media in any quantity is an
abuse of the powers of nature, and to
all intents and purposes an excess,
which can neither be tolerated by pru-
dent foresight, nor justified by any law,
human or Divine-National Temper
ance Advocate.