The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-20
Alcohol and Crime In France.

In a thoughtful and suggestive article in |
q recent issne of lie Matin, M Henry Fou-
quier moralizes on the two faces that hu-
man character presents in the events |
chronicled daily in the newspapers. One .
moment the reader is thrilled with the.
tale of heroism such as was shown on the
beach onposite the stranded packet boat.
La Russie. and the next is horriied by
the recountal nj crimes that offend every
sense OF morality. decency and humanity
itself: In view Of recent events. he won;
der. If Paris will not soon hold the record
for horrible, crimes
French character. nevertheless. still in
the main. deserves the old rroverb bad
head. but good heart. Paris has known
all the follies. including that of blood. but
it is not in history that one must search;
for the reasons for the present moral de-
generacy. Says NJ Fouquier. "It is still. I
delairn. great poet. but absolutely unrea-
sonable man. imagined that he was open-,
ing to us the door Of artificial paradses'
in eulogizing intoXication in it's various,
forms. In reality. the open door is that
Of hell. 1t is alcohol, in all its FORMS;
which creates these veritable demoniacs,
who sometimes furious. sometimes be-,
sotted. live in orr midst, numerous enough,
80 that their crimes do not arrest our at
tion save when they are committed in
some unusual way.
"In certain classes. at least, there is one.
alcoholic for every ten of the population:
whether they be conscious of it or not.
The devoted men who have made them
selves the anostles Of the crusade against
alcohol. which 1 deem. one Of the grea test
movements of our times. give in their.
pamphlets and their lectures. which can
not be too great in number. the eloquent
nicture of the ravages that alcohol pro-
duces. in whatever manner it ia introduced
into our economy. ONLY they do not insist
enough, perhaps, on disguised alcoholism,
that is alcoholic poisoning in subjects that
possess all appearances Of temperance and
who are really not drunkards. Hereditary
or acquired nervousness has so developed
in our race That the evil OF alcoholism can.
cause its havoc in men who do not sus-;
pect it. /
81 knew literary man, who was not
only full of talent and gallant man, but
moreover of a most scrupulous correctness
Of life. He would have died of shame to
be drunkard, yet he was one IN his time,
Experiencing nervous troubles, menacing
symptoms of paralysis. he went. without:
revealing his identity. to a great physician.
The doctor. after a rapid examination,
said. rather brusquely, you are losing;
very we'll that if you want to be cured
you have only to ston getting drunk /
"Only those who know my friend can
imagine the indignant stupefaction caused
by these words of the doctor.
"I? I, a drunkard! I was never in-
toxicated once in my life. I never enter
a cafe. I dine with my family !
Explanations followed. My friend
drank one bottle Of wine a day and one
finger Of chartreuse after his coffee. For:
him that was alcoholism. /
eve must understand it. .Alcoholic
poisoning exists outside even of habitual
intoxicatou. The enemy of human rea-
son can insinuate itself without noise, ;
without excess, drop by drop, one may
say, and vet may take possession of the ;
place all the same. 1t is Tartufe whoi
awaits the last act. delirium tremens or;
paralysis, to proclaim himself master of
the house. It is for us. by every means, !;
to close the door on him. In this emer- =;
,ency I understand the state reason. for
Il one uses it for temporary and personal
affairs. how much more legitimate is its
ase when it is a question of guarding the
health and greatness of our race"