The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-05-14
THE CURSE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Material Advancement Cannot Go
Hand in Hand with Indulgence
in Alcoholic Drinks.


Our attention has been called to a
most interesting and valuable essay
entitled Morbid Psychological Phe-
nomena," by DR.. Anna NJ. Henry, of Pat
tonsburg, Mo, in which this talented
lady extensively reviews the intiu-
ence and causes that lead up to the
formation of the habit of intemper-
ance in the use of alcoholic liquors,
and the psychic phenomena connected
herewith. together with a portrayal
of the results reasonably sure to fol-
low from such habit, and an outline
of the rational remedial procedures to
be adopted to prevent and relieve such
disaster.
The doctor premises with the state
ment that the child especially boy)
inherits "a morbid psychic state (due to
the indulgence of one or both parents
in alcoholic liquors., which results as
he approaches maturity. and i'll seduc-
tive surroundings, in a below-normal
power of resistance to the tempter.
which "a promising youth becomes a
drunkard. faithfully depicts the dread
full results of such downward course,
and rightfully attaches great impor-
lance to the inherited and acquired
psychic forces at work in the final pro-
duction of the physical, moral and
financial wreck resulting, and as rem
edv advises wise legislation, but above
| all the importance of education before
birth by temperance in ancestry and by
careful education along these lines in
early life, believing that by following
this course the sin of drunkenness will
become gradually less general and
finally be reformed altogether.
We have long held many of the iden-
teal views so entertainingly present.
ed by DR.. Anna Henry, without, how
ever, recognizing, acknowledging or
even admitting so all-governing con-
troll of the psychic phenomenon in in
! huencing the formation of a drunk
ard as is so strenuously held by her,
| believing that young men often be-
come hard drinkers recklessly. care
lessly and thoughtlessly, in kind OF
! spirit of bravado acquired by too pro-
miscuous companionship and in low,
if not degrading and disreputable,
surroundings. \ young man is known
by the company he keeps, or would
be if the true facts were generally
known, and hence if he be wise in this
!: l.; md how
good advisers, he will almost never be-
come a drunkard So, it seems to us
the vast preponderance of proof of
the power of psychological phenom-
ena" is thrown on the side of prevent
ing and retarding the production Of
drunkards rather than vice versa.
In our opinion. the most powerful
deterrent and absolute preventer OF
intemperance in this country to-day is
rhe absolute demand Of business that
its employees must be untrammelet
from the influence of alcohol. The
armies of the immense transportation
companies cannot even have their well
regulated ''canteen," nor show the eff
tects of liquor during the hours OF
duty. and in general business the same
lines are being drawn tighter. Thi:
whole scheme is a silently-W0Tking one
much easier of adjustment than any
legislation could possibly be, and vast
ly more effective. When the hered
itarily poor and uneducated CLASSES
learn the lesson. that is now inevitabl,
in his country that m n @ iaI a dyanc q
meht (perhaps existence itself can
not go hand in hand with the use of al
cohol, people will soon learn that the,
have little use for it as a beverage
Medical Talk for the Homo