Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-01-05
A TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
THE DRINK EVIL MADE MANIFEST
IN MANY WAYS.

The Cause of Temperance Aided by =
Widespread and Enlightened Public
Sentiment Which Frowns Upon Intoxi-
cation-The Light Vino and Beer Evil.
A correspondent whose letter we have
printed, takes exception to the statement
made by us, that the growth OF temperance
in this country in the matter OF the use OF
Intoxicating liquor is chiefly due to wide
spread and enlightened public sentiment
which frowns upon intoxicatlon. He as
serts that the chief cause for the growth is
the introduction and general use OF light
wines and malt liquors, particularly the
latter. There would be more force in this
argument of our correspondent Ii 1t was
not offset by number of highly sugges-
tive facts. The per capita consumption OF
distilled spirits in this country is less than
half what it was in 1870, and as this con-
sumption includes an enormous increase
OF alcohol used in the arts, manufactures
and medicines, the amount Of distilled
spirits used as a beverage must be on per
capita basis much smaller now than 1t was
a generation ago. The use of light wines,
capita than it is at the present time; In
fact, on the per capita basis, there was
more than twice as much wine drunk In
this country in 1880 as there was in 1885,
When we come to malt liquors the signifi-
cant fact is presented that the use of these
and eighties there was a great increase in
the per capita amount of malt liquor used,
but since the early years OF this decade
the tendency has been the other way, and
we should not be surprised II the consump-
tion of malt liquor during the present cur
rent year was on the average quite two
gallons per capita less than it was in 1898.
AS, therefore, the consumption OF spirits,
wines and malt liquors Is decreasing, 1t
can hardly be said that the gradual efface-
ment of drunkenness is due to the substi-
tuition of one form Of beverage for another.
Then, too, it should not be forgotten that
the use of malt liquors and light wines has
not been found in Europe to be means OF
checking intemperance. The French for
generations have used light wines In large
quantities. and within the last two or three
decades have been considerable consumers
OF malt liquors; but, in spite OF this, since
1870 they have developed taste for dis
titled spirits which threatens. il continued,
to convert those who were formerly con-
sidered, in the absence OF intoxication, q
temperate people, into a nation OF drunk
ards. The same statement holds true OF
Switzerland, where the people have for
long time past used both beer and light
wines, but are now finding the inducement
to resort to distilled spirits almost irresist-
fble. Even in Germany, the home OF beer
and also of light wines, the official reports
announce that there is material growth
In the average consumption OF distilled
liquors, a statement which we believe also
holds true OF the kingdom OF Belgium. In
England the average per capita consump-
tion of distilled spirits remains practically
stationary. In this country-and ours is
the only one-the consumption, never very
large, has been steadily decreasing.
This change must be due to distinctly
local causes, since the use of beer and light
wines in all other parts of the world does
not appear to produce the consequences
which we find in our own country. In look
ing about for n unique cause-that is,
cause which obviously has application here
and does not have appli i;ation elsewhere
the only discoverable one is the growth
here in n marked degree of public opinion
inimical to intemperance, this being the
only great civilized country of the world
where drunkenness brings to the drunk
ard, in all but the very lowest ella sses, dis
tinct social punishment, and in most in
stances material business and industrial
loss.-Boston Herald.