The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-06-11

,;c;tcd at some lime to- drink wine or
heer or some stronger drink. What
sbsl, his attitude be on this question: 2
Ought he to be teetotaler, or should
he take what he will be told is mod
crate view, and drink o little for the
sake of sociabiiity and good fellow
sh:p? If the question is put in the
extreme form, "ShalI I become a
drunkard, or be temperate man, even
20 the extent of abstinence?" every
voupr man will choose abstinence.
But many hold that middle course
is much more manly, that to decline
to drink for fear of becoming drunk
oI or losing control Of ones appetite
is an evidence of weakness OF cow4r-
dice. Some men allege that to refrain
from touching drink because its abuse
is evil, is no more necessary OF admira-
Bile than to refrain from using lan-
araye because it is often put to evil
service, or fire because it is dangerous,
or any food which can be overused
with harmful effect.
One principle may be set forth
clearly at the outset-namely, that it
is within any mans right to refrain
from the use Of all intoxicating drink.
1t is no mans duty to use it as bep-
erage. Every man is within hie
Christian liberty in refusing to touch
it. If any man moves in a society
that curtails this liberty or denies it,
his suspicion ought to be aroused, for
the next step will be the abridgment Of
other liberties as well.
But I am going further than this.
1t is not only mans right to let
liquor alone, it is his duty. He owes
it to society and to himeeif as
wcrker. He cannot do his best work
except as a sober, clear minded,
steady -nerved man. The railroads
will not employ men who are net
sober, and are coming more and more
to prefer total abstainers. Even bar
tenders are often required to let drink
alone. The idea that it brightens the
intellect and sharpens the faculties is
purely fallacious. This defense
comes, as rule, from men upon whom
the habit has fastened itself, and who
seek a justification Of it, and who OBJ
viously disprove their own contention.
Il have never used liquor" Mr.. John
G. johnson, aleading lawyer Of Phila-
delphia, was recently reported to have
said, because I don't like it. But
know men who have used it, and I
don't think it ever frightened their
intellects.'
Not only does drinking not brighten
the intellect. and increase it's working
power, but it breaks down the integ-
,ity of nature and the vitality Of the
men who drink. ''Alcohol is inju-
rious," Dr.,J. ,Solis-C Cohen. Of Phila-
delphia, is reported by the same paper
which quoted Mr.. Johnson's state
ment to have said: "a man may
drink it to ,deaden his sorrow, but the
pendulum will always swing as far one
! way as it does the other. If he finds
Happiness or joy in intoxication, he
will pay for 1T byeonsequential misery
when he gets sober. 1t might stimu:
alate the minds sof some men tempo
slrarily: but it would ,soon kill their in
|fellects aud sHorten their lives. Ply
|Slcians agree that it is q bad thing.
33All stimulAnts are injurious. A few
3Pears ago we stopRed the use Of liqnor
.Pn the Home FOR Consumptives. Since
that time there has been marked de-
|Rrease in the number Of .hamorrhages.
~ is bad in every way"
Of course the young man who be-
gins TO drink does not intend to drink
Enough to be injured by st. He be-
feves he can control himself, and lie
the drunkard ..he has sur
3asndered his manhood and dis self
on'.ol as thoroughly as any abstainer
?oes. But what evidence hes any
3onng man that he can retain control
81 this appetite? Let any young man
ho thinks he can, look up the family
history s. of the people whom he knows
pest, his own family history, even.
few cases will he De able to recall
NO generations without meeting .
}'unkard, who meant to be only o
poderate .drinker when he began. No
tunkard meant to hea drpnkard when
En- began. He did not intend TO ae-
u'le the habit of drink. But habit
s. ses itself upon che man who does the
r4etS IN vyhsoh tln- ~cnsa oe A. H.ask