The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-04
Dn. HILLIs AND ALCOHOL.
Word in behalf of tho Temperance so-
cIeiies from q sImpathiker.

A Word in Behalf of tho Temperance So-
cicti.s from u synpathiker.
To THE EDITOR OF THE Sus-Sir: VIII you
allow few words OF comment ON the views OF
Dr. Thomas l. Hills on alcohol as EXPRESSED in
his paper read before the New York State
Medical Association on the Gath inst. and re-
ported In THE SUN Of the 25thp Evidently Dr.
Hills speaks from the standpoint OF the drink
ing man. and as such II 10 only right that con-
siderable allowance should be made for the
varying influence OF the appetite on the judg-
mept He says: Alcohol In the banquet hail.
In the beer garden and at tho domestic hearth
makes hundreds merry for every ten 1t renders
miserable and for every one II destroys"
IL alcohol makes even one miserable Tor every
hundred which It makes merry. and destroys
one out OF a thousand OF merry drinkers. surely
from the standpoint OF commo sense and good
morals We have in this fact n very strong srgu-
ment for total abstinence. For do not believe
that even DR.. Hills would defend the drink
habit as essential to the health or the happiness
Of those who indulge In II. And II there 10
nothing really useful In the habit to commend.
and much really bad In It to condemn we may
DIR nix habit 10 the argument Of the stomach
rather than tho argument Tho head.
through he wfoas end o. tie 90 aeU %hes
pE0G.ed' e dePGnnce lsmr9,anse men AZ
who. feellne insecure. puts up q lightning rod
to protect his house; so Ia the man who cannot
handle alcohol In rational manner equally
justified In taking pledge and attaching him;
self to temperance society. There he will
have an opportunity with tho other, to put
son without moral strength or resolution. but
he has DO right to denounce alcohol because OF
h +. H Than he
foul Of whom under his pothtion."
Now 70 my thinking his ergumen. should be
app.e domnss e.. r sn% man and 70 m moran
sense. who lacks the Independence to think
while the man OF real backbone and moral
stamina Ia he who can lit himself above appe-
lite. who can take stand for what his reason
and conscience tell him Ia right, and maintain
e&sy-goipg. n.rvcless. tendency OF human
with the crowd ana shout with the multitude.
DR.. Hills would have US believe that our
Join them for, the purposs o. ssli-prot.ction.
who take pledge OF total abstinencs for fear
that they may not be able 70 limit their drink.
Il would he we'll Tor the world II this fear was
more widespread and more productive o! total
sand who every year go down TO Irunkards'
graves In the United States alone not one OF
them but was once m odernte drinker. rejoic-
ing as DR.. Hills rejolces ia his strength to
connne himselit 70 moderate drinking. ,rraslng
Ing as weaklings those unfortunatss whom
alcohol has ems aved.
But our Temperance societies are not made
M OF such men. Probably not one in n hundred
Joins them from the motive OF self tection.
bu' the great mass OF active importance m u
and women are in the work Of TEMPERANCE re-
form from the most unaelnsh motives, from
pure owe OF their fellow msn and AN earnest
desire to save society from the terrible conse-
Iuences which naturally flow from the drink
ing habits Of the people
H. r, Hillls will lii himself above the warp
ing nfiuence ot appetite. and study the tenn
perhnce question from a purely intellectual
standpoint. he will find n dozen reasons Cor
total abstinence where he now fnds one for I'm =
dulgenc-. And II he will encourage tho grow tn
OF those higher IN an tai faculties which prom ut
US TO upliit and care for our weaker brother. he
will sacrifice the qualification OF an appetite
which. while II may make hundreds merry.
brings poverty. misery aud shame to sven
fraction Of that number JAMES NCNFIIL
HUDSON. " Y. Oct ~.