The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-06-18
SEMI-TEETOT ALERS.
New Organization Formed to Lessen
the Drink Evil, But Which Is
Open to Criticism

This is new organization that has
been considerably discussed in the
press. The pledge is, never to take
Intoxicating liquors except at meals"
This is by no means a new pro-
posal. The Church of England Tenn
perance society has already such a
pledge, and has had it for many
years, and this new movement had its
origin in a suggestion made by a
thorOugh-going total abstaining rec
tor of London, the Rev. f. S. Web
ster. who thought that, if people
| could not be induced to become total
abstainers, they might, at least, I'M
dertake not to drink between meals
The suggestion caught on and re-
quests for a form of pledge came to
Mr.. Webster, and on consulting with
some friends like himself. total alb
stainers, concluded to assist in start
ing such movement. though contin-
uing with even more energy the total
abstinence work
The badge adopted by the society
is in the shape of small red button.
on the reverse of which. visible when
the lapel of the coat is turned back,
are the words, mo drinks between
meals, which are to be shown to any
such persons as try to induce semi
! teetotaler to violate his semi-teeto-
tai pledge.
This. of course. is step in the
right direction and it is hoped that
many semi-teetotalers will ere long
become converted into Total Absti-
nence as they study the question and
realize the peris of alcohol.
Not to drink to so-called excess is
commendable. not to drink between
meals is a distinct Improvement on
habitual drunkenness, but how much
wiser and better it is not to touch al
coholc stimulants in any form at any
time.
We must neverlose sight of the fact
that whatever encourages drinking
helps to perpetuate drunkenness, that
the two things are inseparable, so far
as the general community is con
cerned. If, therefore, the new move
ment goes to perpetuate the custom
of drinking. it will be condemned and
opposed by every friend of total alb
stinence.
The first step in the downward path
to drunkenness has very often, in
deed, been taken at the dinner table.
While a reformed inebriate has some
times had his old appetite rekindled
by glass of beer or wine at dinner
table, and the appearance of such IL
quors on the tables of the refined, the
intelligent, and the religious consti-
tutes a most Objectionable lesson to
the young and the thoughtless.
Yet in this movement the brand is
put upon intoxicants as dangerous ar
ticles, only to be used with caution.
Again, if the pledge is extensively
adopted and faithfully kept, it will
do away to a great extent with the
mischievous practice of treating.
But while the new movement may
have some measure of success and do
a certain amount of good, it will not
last long. 1t has none of the ele-
ments which make for long life in
a movement. 1t is not calculated to
either evoke or sustain enthusiasm.
1t may be prudent, but it is not in
spring.
Why take it at meals? Oh, to aid
digestion. Does it? The active ele-
ment in the process known as diges-
ton is pepsin. Now, if a small guam
tity of gastric juice is put into a
bottle. and alcohol is added to it, the
pepsin settles to the bottom of the
bottle in the shape of a fine, white
powder.
This is precisely what happens in
the stomach when one takes alcoholic
liquor. Alcohol neutralizes the effect
of the pepsin in the gastric juices,
and as a result the food is improp-
erly digested.
There is another way in which al
cohol hinders digestion.
If you will take the white of an
egg and pour a little alcohol upon
it, you will notice that the egg quick
ly begins to harden, as if it were
being cooked. Something very SINH
lar to this takes place when alcohol
is taken into the stomach. 1t hardens
the inner coating of the stomach. in
other words, paralyzes the thousands
of little arms that are supposed to
take hold of the food and digest.
Sir Henry Thompson, the greatest
authority in the world on the sub
iect, says that alcohol, so far from
aiding digestion, only obstructs and
retards it, and that the only safe rule
! is to abstain from alcohol altogether.
| We put dead bodies into alcohol to
preserve them and put alcohol into
living bodies to kill them.-National
Advocate.
SaLOOnist Ruined Her Husband.