The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-04-05
All Use OF Wine Condemned.

To the Editor: Sir-A writer who style,
herself "A temperance woman, but not a
teetotaler," [" recently filed two-thirds OF n
column on the woman's Page in the New
York Tribune with suggestions as to the
kinds OF wine and the manner OF serving
the same.
Growing enthusiastic with her subject.
she arabes qued 1t with the sparkle OF gilt
and cut glass. Bohemian and Roman, and
east about Il n spell OF aroma and bouquet,
until the reader Is reminded OF descriptions
Of bacchanalian feasts In the history OF the
deac nations.
Her advice Is decidedly belated; It does
lot ut the Intelligence OF our times. Chem
istry shows that the zone wine, red or
white" which this writer says should be
used straight through" home dinner
contains varying percentage OF alcohol
Whether there be In this wine much or lit.
tie alcohol, the character OF that alcohol Is
the same. II Is an irritant, narcotic poi
son. Its best friends cannot deny that Il
has the power when taken even In small
quantities, to create progressive. uncon-
trollable and destructive appetite for more.
This appetite grows stealthily upon the
lriuker. The ability to resist It varies with
the individual and is dependent upon
physical conditions, In which hereldity Is a
powerful factor. John B. Cough said,
"My father could be moderate drlnker,
but eau be only total abstalner or
gutter drInkard."
The qualification OF this appetite ends In
Drunkenness, crime, poverty. misery and
madness. Therefore, the family or indi.
vldual who is drinking the red or white
wine which this so-called temperance
woman recommends for the daily home
dinner is trying very dangerous expert.
ment. Elghty-four per cent. OF our Grim.
lnals, seventy-hve per cent. OF our paupers,
lfty per cent. OF the inmates OF our insane
asylums began their careers with so-called
moderate drinking. No human being can
foresee when he begins where such tippllng
will lald him. He is dealing in futures.
with no knowledge OF his chances beyond
the fact that the drink he is imbibing has
an entlclng power for destructlon; but this
fact he generally ignores.
Modern chemistry shows that the four
Kinds OF wine this writer would hart
served with more formal course Dime.
are the same sort OF liquors. differing only
In flavor and ths amount Of alcohol they
contain. Providing for guests four differ
snt kinds OF poisonous drinks which have
the power for harm tina. alcohol has Is. to
say the least, a barbarian sort of hospital
lty, q relic OF the days that had not the
light OF modern science.
orain, alcohol OF all agents, Is the most
powerful for the destruction OF those quail
ties OF mind and character that make a
people capable OF elf-government. 1t Is,
therefore, the most dangerous OF all foes
TO our free Institutions. which rest upon
the capacity of our people for self-govern-
ment.
To follow this wlne-bibblng advice is an
Invitation to disaster to that which we hold
most dear-liberty under law. The ca
pacity for government OF the American
people Will stand the strain OF the colonial
expansion has thrust upon us, IL alcohol Is
abolished from our habits. Commenting
on this probability, Adolph Flick. professor
ot physiology In Wurtzburg University,
Germany, in public lecture said:
There is good reason for asserting that
The Anglo-Saxon race at no very distant
day will free itself from the yoke OF alco-
hol. Whether it will then be possible for
those races still submitting to its use to
compete with the Anglo-Saxon In their
economical pursuits Is question to be
thoughtfully considered"
MARY II. Hunt.