The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-26
TIE LTouoR orEsrroN.
Free sale of Liquor and Consequent Elimi-
nation OF D-Ipsomanincs Advocated.

nation OF DipsomaniRcs Advocated.
To THE EDIToR OF THE SUN-Sir: Mr..
D'Evelyp's letter In THE SUN OF Nov. % on
How to Promote Temperance" leaves the
practical side OF that question somewhat be-
logged. This is the moro to be regretted be-
cause in one who has followed his argument TO
the point where he says "the man OF to-day Is
not in an ideal condition, and nowhere do we
ind better evidence OF Il than in his persistent.
but aimless, haphazard efforts to attain a
better thing by strinRency OF law and
structure OF environment" his clear reasoning
excites the expectation, of an equally clear and
forcible proposition for removing or at least
diminishing the hereditary faint of alcoholism.
But no such satisfying conclusion is reached I;
and the writer's vague suggestions for the
recognition OF alcoholism's "protean relation
chip TO man" with the proposed Intervention
OF medical men toward the prohibition OF
tainted transmission" must have left many
other readers, as they leave me. with the feel
ing that Mr.. D'Evelyn is either afraid to speak
out. or that he has failed to reason out the
question to its logical conclusion.
II the latter superstition is correct. and In all
charity We are bound to assume 1t. Mr.. DIVE
Ign 10 not, however. the first who has correctly
diagnosed a social disease. but not so thor
ouRhly MS to perceive the means whereby q
cure can be effected. The connection between
agrarianism and monopoly OF land. for in
stance. has been recognized by philosophers in
all ages OF history. but II remained for an
American workinRman OF our time to point
out an adequate remedy. And. as It some
times happens. the workingman. having no
social or financial interests to cloud his judR-
ment. is In a position to contemplate social
phenomena from an unbiased point OF view
and to trace back effects to causes with at least
as keen a perception as men moro favored By
fortune, the ideas OF a workingman on this
question may not be altogether amiss.
My proposition is, that hereditary alcoholism
is fostered by the very restriction intended for
its suppression. and that the removal Of ~restric-
radical. 80 opposed to the socialistic -altruistic
spirit OF the age. REQUIRES plain speaking. Which
a,population which has no particular desire for
aie oh liquors. but uses them In moderation;
individ %nIIs" who fSHi Sreed Il ,ea seek o aft tee WAN Ssiate 10
selves i not restrained by their fellows or
but one answer. But every Civilized eo%ntry
s s%SRtaiR' in ii If RFopu csh ibs g P5I0 1nnftss Of o.
such. they must be regarded. be eliminated by
eliminating the liGuorI Every effort in the
Prohibition not only does not prohibit, It slim
nlates the Ingenuity Of man to overcome what
Us Si ,,gSsi, hgg I fslt to be e an an Sn vEd intsrfeSenes
ishes most where its attempted suppression
has been most vigorous. Restriction has failed.
In spite of Its Forbes Mckenzie law. which
closes saloons from II p. VI. till 8 A. N. and all
OF sunday. Scotland consumes more ardent
spirits per mead than England. where such re-
strictions. do not exist. 1t is unnecessary to
multiply instances. Tn failure OF prohibition
and restriction is too well recognized.
What. now. would be the result. il. instead of
the process OF building up, monopolies like the
Whiskey Trust. ostensibly for the purpose OF
raising, a little paltry revenue., which could
easily be obtained in. other and less noXious
ways. We let down the barriers and allow liquor
to be manufactured and sold absolutely with
yolve the removal Of all excise taxes. In the
first place. it would be a recognition of indiyid-
ual right and the equal freedom OF the citizen
not a bad thing in itself. Second, 1t would
enable the man or woman who needed liquor
to get IT at something like its worth.
Ior a very cheapiy produced article. Third,
1t would break down, the whiskey monopoly
and introduce an element OF competition
sure 20 result in only the best quality be-
ing placed In the market. Fourth. with
every grocer or other tradesman free to sell
fheaply the saloon. with its malign influence
There would not be enough in it to main
tain the gilded palaces OF vice. Fifth. and this
Ia the point OF my argument. the weaklings OF
society. the lunatics aforesaid. the men and
enabled 70 get all the drink they wanted. They
would eliminate themselves in the natural
course OF events; perhaps not all in the first
generation. but eventually all. In but q few
generations under this policy OF Freedom the
l%,inatics in all but sporadic cases would have
their absence. WoRKISuMAS.
New YORK, Nov. "a.