Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-02-01
whv the Dram Habit Decreases


The main cause of the decrease in intem-
perance has been the spread OF knowledge,
largely obtained by experience, that it is
against common sense and too costly in its
Injurious effects, declares the New York
Sun in an editori Since undue alcoholic
stimulation affects first the judgment,
weakening it seriously, 1t Is known to be
responsible for great part OF the business
failures. The really notable 1nanciers of
Wall street do not belong to the cocktail
brigade" clearness of head and soundness
of judgment being too indispensable to
them. Only the small fry depend on
"whisky courage" In the social inter-
course Of private life, too, the consumption
OF liquor has decreased greatly. Dinners
are no longer drinking bouts and the time
spent on them has been diminished great
ly Drunkenness has become disreputable,
or is pitied as the manifestation of de-
plorable disease. In all callings in life,
from the highest to the lowest, sobriety is
more and more at premium and lntem-
perance is more and more distrusted.
Tne temperance agitation which has
oeen most effectual, therefore, has been
scientific rather than purely moral and re-
igious. For the old-fashioned temper
ance pledge of tho days of Cough, the
specific medical treatment OF dipsomania
as disease has been substituted, and men
are temperate from intelligent regard Tor
the preservation OF their sanity. More
over, the increasing tierceness OF modern
competition Is warning men OF the neees-
sity of keeping their wits about them IL
they are to make head against it. Along
with the strong tendency to the consoida-
ton of business at this time comes de-
mand for special and eminent individual
ability to satisfy its requirements greater
than ever before in history. Never in the
past was first class administrative ability
so sure of rich and distinguished reward as
it Is now. Great captains of affairs are
needed. Every weak point in man is dis
covered under the stress of such u trial.
Wall street is filed with the stock and
bonds of vast consolidated industrial en-
terprises which can only be maintained
prosperously by the continuance in their
management of a succession of peculiar
administrative talents. The percentage oil
commissions and the margin OF profit have
been steadily reduced, until they are at
limit so low that only the greatest volume
of transactions, and consequently tho
greatest ability OF management, can make
business profitable or keep 1t from SINKING.
At this time, therefore, men have found
out that they cannot drink to excess II
they are to hold their own. Science and
| invention have opened up and are steadily
extending fields OF labor wherein the keen
| est intelligence In the mechanic is requisite,
| so that he cannot afford to fuddle his mead
with drink; he must be man who can al
ways be depended on or he will be driver
| out. Never before was suspicion of intem
perance in a worker go fatal to his success
| us now. Every man who is wise Keep
himself constantly in fighting trim for IL
| contest.
| All society, therefore, has become ten
I perance league" and narrowing pictur
| of drunkenness deemed effective in the 0
time are not now necessary to warn men
a danger OF whose reality they are ke
conscious by their daily experien
Drunkenness has gone out of vogue be
as fashionable ana rs Il popular anna
ment. 1t is Il habit in which only tn
whose health aud life are valueless
themselves and to everybody else can
| ford to indulge.