The Somerset reporter., 1901-01-03
For Total Abstinence.

hust, phstoT VI the riIsb DhptlsI cnuIcii
of Skowhegan:
One OF the greatest signs of the times
at the close of this the 10 h century, one
which Is hopeful for tremendous good
and progress In the 20h, and coming
centuries is world. wide organization and
fort. This appears not simply In trade
aud commerce but In moral reform, 30
cial and Christian progress. This is Il
time of world fairs and Paris expositions
to promote the business interests of the
nations of the earth. 1t is also time of
world conferences and international MS
sembles TO advance Gods kingdom
among men. Intemperance Is world
wide curse. Its terrible blight extends
from the highest circles of civilized 80
ciety to the lowest tribes Of savage races.
May we make 1t our prayer that the
efforts of today may do something
toward arousing the best manhood and
womsnhood in every Christian country
to an enthusiastic enlistment in this
worldwide temperance movement, which
stands for healthy bodies and sound
minds, for pure morals and happy
homes, for vigorous parentage and ro-
bust children, for good citizenship and
good government, for nations and peo.
Piles contented and prosperous in the
pursuit Of rewards of steady, faithful in-
dustry.
My first argument in favor of total
abstinence is that alcohol is not a food
Alcohol is not food in the hygienc
sense of the term food. In regard to the
scientific estimate of alcohol as many
and as eminent scientists, even the
greater number by far, put alcohol
among the poisons. In order for a sub
stance to be a food in the practical the
true and common sense use of the term
food; it must both "build up the body.
keep it in repair and supply it with
energy for warmth and work" Now
alcohol does not build up the body aid
keep it In repair. While it is true that
alcohol can impart some energy to the
body yet 1t is after the nature of lash.
ing to weak horse, it leaves the animal
In weaker condition after the momen-
tary squirt. Alcohol is stimulant. SO
is nest of hornets 10 the fat man who
sits down upon one, says Joseph Cook.
But because alcohol Is a stimulant does
not make alcohol food in the hygienic
sense.
My second argument In favor of total
abstinence Is that alcohol Is poison
which produces in the human system a
physical lie. Now | wish to make it as
plain and emphatic as | can what this
physical lie is which the poison of alco-
hol in the human system produces
Now a physical lie is of this sort. When
the nerves Of the body send wrong mes
sages to the brain. Pain in any part of
body is sign that something is wrong
there. put my hand in fame and at
once pain flashes the warning over the
nerve wires of the body that something
Is wrong. Under normal conditions my
will Immediately acts and | withdraw
my hand from its place of pain and
danger. Now il instead of the sensa-
tion of pain the nerves had sent back the
sensation of pleasure that would have
been physical lie. Now that is just
what takes place when poison and drugs
get in their work on the human BODY.
The nerve wires are broken down. No
message reaches the brain or the mes
sage that does come is a lie. A man
eats hearty meal. The nerves of the
stomach report hunger appeased. The
man is satisfied. But here is the man
who has formed the habit of taking
liquor. The nerves are wrought upon
and broken down. They lie to him.
Appetite says unsatisfied. Thirst says
unquenched. The man drinks and he
keeps it up. The cry is always for
more, more, one glass more until health
is gone, manhood gone, money gone,
happiness gone, home gone, except the
torment of Unsuitable thirst.
My third argument In favor of total
abstinence is an economic, a business one
1t is because of the fearful loss of
energy, productive power and business
utility occasioned by the use of intoxi-
eating liquors. We cannot discuss this
side of the temperance question without
mathematics. The direct cost of intem-
perance to our country is in excess of
one billion dollars. One billion for rum,
only 500 million for bread. One billion
for rum, 800 million for meat. Oue
billion for rum, and for clothing, wooden
goods, cotton goods, boots and shoes
only 600 millions. Measure now the in
direct cost In economic waste. There
are 1000, 5000 hard drinkers in the
country. OF these $1,000 are simultan, =
ously sick and incapacitated for work
Every year 100000 die and 30, 900 die
3-4th; crime, 3-4th; insanity, 4th, all
due to drink. We cannot measure the
cost OF all this in heartache and sorrow,
In disappointment, anguish, misery, woe.
But estimate 1t In the financial loss to
the country. In 1890 the waste In pro-
ductive power was $5S0,000, 900, from
sickness $l10,000,000, from crime $50
000,000 from pauperism $l0,000,000,
from insanity 100000.
The economic argument includes also
the political argument.
Like the serpents that came up out Of
the sea and entwined themselves about
LAGOON and his two sons, the hydra.
headed saloon has come upon our midst
and entwned itself around the two
great political parties Of our country.
There was a time when these parties
used to throw out some bait In their
platforms to catch temperance votes.
but that day has all gone by. Total
abstinence stands for pure politics at
home and national honor abroad.
Total abstinence means not only pure
politics at home but national honor
abroad. The American rum seller has
followed the American missionary to
distant lands, and for the sake of money
and greed has ruined and debauched,
doubly cursed the existence and souls of
these ignorant, helpless creatures. With
the advent of the army into Manila the
number of saloons has increased from 3
to 40 with SO other places for the
wholesale distribution of liquor. Ex-
ports of liquor to these islands have in
creased from $31 900 in 1897 to SS00,000
In 1899.
My closing argument in favor of total
abstinence Is that the nOisnn of alcohol