Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-16
The Alcoholic Masquerade.
Boston TRANSCRIPT


A well-known clergyman of this city,
says over his own signature that GER
tain patented medicine. 'if widely and
wisely used. would relieve nervousness,
strengthen the body invigorate the mind
and add happiness to life" This is an
especially good word to say for alcohol,
for 1t Is only the alcohol in the medicine
in the opinion of the officers of the COM
mOnwealth who have caused it to be an
alyZed. This medicine. or tonic, contains
twenty-one per cent of alcohol. and Is
purely 9 stimulant, the same as Is the
glass of whiskey which the unsOphisti-
Gated people who drink their alcohol I'M
der another name regard with holy hOr-
ror- 1T is puzzle to persons having con-
sciences how Il minister of the gospel can
allow himself to recommend any univer-
sal cure-all knowing as he ought to
know that no combination of drugs is
equally good for all persons; but when
minister of truth goes a step farther and
unreservedly and by false pretence re-
commends his parishioners and the pub
lie generally to take to dram-drnking,
language cannot readily be found ade-
quately to characterize the enormity. 1t
will not do to say that the minister did
not know that the medicine he recon-
mends contains alcohol and nothing else
of value. He might have known had he
been as eager TO ascertain the truth as
he appears to have been to say some
thing agreeable to the proprietors of the
is easily obtaindble by anybody who de-
sires it.
But the clergyman in question is in re-
putable company. Among those beside
himself who have given in their testi-
mony to the great value of this alcohol
in-Inasquerade are a Vermont physician,
an Iowa business man. Maine judge.
the proprietor of a New Jersey temper
ance hotel. South Dakota lady. Con-
gregational minister's wife in Minnesota.
Kansas physician. an aged Connecticut
clergyman. prominent Methodist pas
tor. and widely-known temperance re-
former. Not one of these, probably, foi
love or money. could be induced to par
take of drop OF Intoxicating liquor,
knowing 1t to be such: but nevertheless
they publicly advise people generally to
brace up on alcohol under a lying name.
and presumably brace up on it them
selves. Else how could they tell of its
invigorating effects? Either they know
what they are recommending or they do
not know. In either case. as disciples of
temperance and as conscientious men and
women. they are doing a wicked thing.
unless, in their opinion Misunderstanding is
n healthful instead of n hurtful practice.
Even in this case, they are guilty of n.y.
pocrisy or cowardice in attempting to
disguise their sentiments.
Let it not be supposed that the medi- |
cine referred to is the only one in the !
market whose extensive sale is based up |
on the fact that it is merely alcohol in
There are many others. and |
not few of them are especially recon- |
mended as Temperance drinks" In a |
list of sixty-one "tonics and bitters"
board of health. and which contain alco-
hol in volume all the way from six to for /
ty-seven per cent, we find one that pur-
ports to be mot an alcoholic beverage"
which contains per cent of alcohol; one |
that contains no spirit and yet assays |
81 per cent alcohol; one that is mot
rum drink but contains lS2 per cent OF
MSie% is aGvertised as F harm
less a sulphur bitters, said to contain
no alcohol" but which contains POS per
cent of alcohol and no sulphur: one that
is entirely vegetable and. free from alco-
holic stimulant" that is no less than $50
per cent alcohol: one that is recon
mended for treatment of alcohol habit"
hat is heralded "a Notwithstanding slim
ulant. whiskey without its sting" that
has percentage of 2S.2 per cent of al
rohoi ana one wncn rs fo p;nrehby xege
that contains 41.6 per cent of alcohol.
The dose recommended upon the labels of
these preparations varied from tea
spoonful to wineglassful, and the fire.
luency also varied from one to four times
I day, Increased as needed.
The health authorities of the state class
all of these as "tonics and bitters.' and
many of them bear one or the other of
-heSe characteriZatiOns on the label: but |
very many of them are recommended UNI
der designations which make their dis
suise more difficult to penetrate. In no
case is the medicine what 1t purports to
De- and in every case, SO good medical au-
thority says. the sole value consists in
he stimulating effect of the alcohol.
If alcohol is really so beneficial as some
IF the teachers of healthful habits of
morality and of righteousness would have
is believe from their unsolicited praise
If alcoholic drinks under misleading til
les why not remove the bane entirely
rom the sale of intoxicants, and have it :
frankly announced everywhere. not eX- ,
,epting the pulpit or the Sunday school:
hat rum. gin. brandy. whiskey. etc.. IF :
soothe restlessness. reduce
sickness. strengthen the body. invigorate
he mind, and add happiness to life?"