The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-12-18
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF lNTEMPERANcE.
The Paramount Question Is Not One OF
Politics or of Social Classes, But Ono
Pertaining to Public Health and Morals
Alcohol Positive Poison

The Paramount Question Is Not One OF
Politics or OF Social Classes, But Ono
Pertaining to Public Health and Morals
Alcohol a Positive Poison.
In his address before the American Med.
ical Temperance Association, DR.. n. 8.
Davis, NJ. D., LID, of Chicago, Presi.
dent of the association, said:
"The paramount question before the in
telligent men and women of Christendom
to-day is not one Of politics or of political
parties or of social classes, but one solely
pertaining to public health and morals.
known narcotic drugs are really wholesome
articles of drink or food, safe for general
use; or are they absolutely subtle, decep-
tive and dangerous poisons, stealthily de-
stroying both pubic health and morals,
and constantly multiplying hereditary de-
generates in all clases of human society?
If the former, they are entitled to the
same treatment as other articles of com.
merce and general use. If the latter, then
their regulation belongs exclusively to the
police and sanitary authorities aided by
the courts. They cannot be both. That
alcohol, as it exists in fermented and dis
poison, directly impairing every natural
structure and function of the living body
in proportion to the quantity used, and
the length Of time its use is containued is
proved by the results of every experiment.
al investigation concerning it, instituted
by eminent scientific men, both in this
country and Europe.
"And their verdict is abundantly con-
frmed by the history and condition of the
inmates of every asylum for the poor, the
feeble;minded,. the epileptics, the insane
and the inebriataes; those OF every refor..
matory and prison, and by the records of
the details of every well-kept registry of
vital statistics. As concerns danger to
human life, every intelligent reader of
the public press knows that the ordinary
use of alcoholic liquors by persons claim
ing to be in health is the direct cause of
more suicides, homicides and murderers
every month than is produced. by all the
other poisons known to toxicologists in
year. Then why not now, at the begin
ming of this twentieth century of the
Christian era, cease calling alcoholic
only speak Of them as subtle and danger
Gus poisons in every household, but also
concentrate all the facts known to science,
clinical experience and of economic and
criminal records, in favor of having al
cohol and all liquids containing two per
cent. or more of it, placed on the statutes
of the several States along with arsenic,
.strychnine, etc., to be sold and used un-
der the same regulations and penalties as
other poisons dangerous to the public
health and morals? If this were accom-
plished it would soon remove one, OF the
chief corrupting influences from the gen.
eral field Of politics, and place it under the
domain of the police and health authori-
ties, aided by the courts, where it legiti-
mateiy belongs. And it would do more, to
prevent tuberculosis and all forms of hu-
man degeneracy than all the other meas
ures combined"