The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-11-24
THE CAUSE OF CRIMES.
Alcoholic Drinks, Even Used in Mod
Grafton, Lower the Mental
and Moral Tone.

comes largely from the numbing or
anaesthetic effects of alcohol. Thus
alcohol prepares the ground for crime
and makes it possible for the man or
woman to do wrong. This comes from
the dulling and Supplying action on
the higher brain. The man or woman
using alcohol is less honest, less moral,
less truthful and altogether lowered
in every way. The senses are dulled
with every glass of spirits. They cam
not see, hear, feel or think as quickly
or accurately.
This may not be apparent at first,
yet it can be measured by instruments
of precision, and later it will appear
in slight changes which grow as silent
~ as the twilight until it finally deep
ems into the full night. This is a literal
tearing down of all the brain and body,
making it unfit and incapable of liv-
ing a natural, normal life, destroying
the power and capacity TO deal justly
and honestly with others. The ethical
brain, or that part which deals and de-
cides on questions of right and wrong.
and duty and obligation to others, is
depressed, drilled and made stupid.
The coarser animal brain may 90 on
with but little apparent change and
yet the damage to the higher brain be
very severe.
Recently a popular clergyman was
disgraced and turned out of the pulpit
for using church funds in speculation.
1t appeared that he was a moderate
drinker, using wine and spirits every
day, never to intoXication, or t be no.
ticed in his public duties. Yet he was
constantly numbing his higher moral
brain, destroying his sense of duty and
obligation to others. His crime was
due to alcohol alone, and had he been
an abstainer he would have realized
the nature of such acts, and shrunk
from them.
A man occupying a very prominent
place in society, with wealth and a
family and church connections, began
to use spirits in moderation. lie
claimed it was essential for his health
and required in his business. Ten
years later he still drank in modera-
ton daily; his business relations were
broken up, and he kept a mistress and
his reputation was seriously impaired.
From the time he began to use spirits
daily his downfall began. 1t was the
anaesthesia from alcohol on his high
err brain that destroyed his power to
correctly judge of duty and right.
This came on so gradually as to be I'M
observed at the time. This man is pre-
pared for crime, he only needs special
temptation to become almost any kind
of low criminal.
Few people realize that the poison
CT alcohol in moderation or excess
falls most heavily on the higher moral
brain. A fit of intoXication is like
a blow, a conclusion from which it
is very doubtful if full recovery fol-
lows. The fine sense of honor and high
ethical moral conceptions are in
jured, change has taken place, which
is increased by every glass of spirits.
The continuous use of spirits per
mits no recovery to follow, the an
aesthesia and depressing effects grow
and deepen, and all power to judge of
higher claims of life becomes feebler.
Criminality may not appear, but the
conditions are favorable; the soil is
prepared and only awaits a favorable
opportunity to break out into Grim
lnal acts. This fact is recognized in
part by many great corporations, who
refuse to trust moderate drinkers in
places of trust, thus acknowledging
their moral weakness and inability to
bear temptations. Thus in many ways
the stupor, or rather the numbing ac-
ton of alcohol leads up to crime with
absolute certainty. Crime not noted
always in the court rooms, but crime
in the family, in society, in business,
criminal acts in every days associa-
ton of men and women, in the church,
and school and everywhere. Every
reader will recall instances, and every
years experience brings out the fact
with greater prominence.
A very prominent case which has dis
turbed a wide circle of friends and
agltateu puDllc OPINION is now on
trial. A man of great repute and
wealth has become forger, a thief,
and committed arson. For years he
has used spirits moderately at home,
and has gradually become more mis-
erly, dishonest and untruthful. His
social relations are doubtful, and
finally he is detected in many fragrant
crimes, which he denies. His pre-
vious good character and the date of
his evil conduct from the time of us
ing spirits is complete chain of
cause and effect. This is another
illustration of the action of alcohol on
the higher brain, predisposing to
crime.-T. d. Crothers, in Union Sig
nal.
GIEANTNCS