The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-08-20


rights of others, and contempt of law
and order, and such crimes as assault,
disturbance of domestic peace, and rob
berry, for to all of these the habitusl
drunkard seems to be particularly
prone. Such misdemeanOrs are fire.
quently committed in moment of pas
sion, hence entirely unprecedented,
| and so soon as the perpetratOr regains
his normal senses he is seized with re-
morse While the sober man, it is true,
is also subject to sudden and violent
emotions, he is, nevertheless, by eXer-
else of his will-power, able to control,
to some extent, the irrational dictates
of his passions. He is aware of the
consequences awaiting him upon the
preparation of a crime, and weighing
them in his mind, will either abandon
his projects, or exercise utmost precaU-
ton while executing them
While the sober man is master of his
impulses, the drunkard is a slave to his
emotions and passions.
With the slightest cause the inebri-
ate may commit an assault or even
manslaughter, and if an opportunity
presents itself, he may commit moral
delinquencies. But he rarely commits
such offenses as are the result of pre-
meditation or design.
OF those convicted of perjury, it is
said that only about &c per cent. are adj
dicted to alcohol for perjury is gen.
orally based upon motive-either the
love of money or the endeavor to save
another from punishment, motives
originating only in the unclouded mind
of the sober. Among the incendiaries
we find but As per cent. are alcoholics,
for arson is premeditated, and usually
executed with distinct purpose in
view.
AS we have seen, alcohol habitually
used affects principally the brain and
nervous system, which lose their nor
NAL degree of resistance, their healthy
activity is reduced, and a deterioration
of nerve substance results. Other con-
sequences are generally retrogression
of intellect, debased standard of NOR
ality, and complete or partial loss of
will-power.
The habitual alcoholic shows signs
of premature deterioration, his general
bearing is undignified his sentiments
are more vulgar and his sense of truth
fulness is deficient. His love of family
declines, and an indifference as to the
future of his offspring becomes appar-
ent.
OF all the effects of alcohol, none is so
deplorable as the fact that the off
spring must suffer for the cravings of
its parents.
This is more apparent when both
father and mother have been habitual
alcoholics.
The drunkard, like the morphine
eater, and like certain types of the in
sane, lives in a world of his own. He
has his delusions and Authorizations,
and while subject to them he is unable
to distinguish between right and
wrong.
He is also without ambition or ener-
gy. He cannot resist temptation, and
in the association of criminals he soon
becomes a criminal himself His will
power and judgment being destroyed,
he is often tool for their culpable en-
terprises. Hence, association with low
characters seems another cause of the
downfall of drunkards.
According to our present laws, the
habitual or periodic drunkard who has
committed a slight offense is impris-
oned in a penitentiary or workhouse,
where he is in contact with criminals.
This must be detrimental to him who is
so little capable of exerting self-deter-
mination. He, who was perhaps but an
accidental offender, may thus become a
hardened criminal, and it is said that
the more frequently an alcoholic is i'm
prisoned the more incapable of reform
alton he becomes.
If the purpose of punishment is the
prevention of crime, reformation Of
criminals and the protection of society,
it seems that the prison is the wrong
place for the inebriate offender, for
there he is rarely cured of his disease,
and from there, in many instances, he
duudLSo q Iull-llSuSSu u llllludl
AS the main object of sanitary sci
ence is the prevention of disease, so
prevention of crime should be the en-
deavor of legislation.
A reformatory or industrial institu-
zion where moral, dietetic, and medi-
cinal treatment go hand in hand would
produce results superior to those OBJ
tanned in general penitentiaries or be-
hind prison-bars.
During the last three years over 40
boys have been sent from the inferior
criminal court of Birmingham to the
industrial schools at East Lake, and |
see that Judge Feagin of that court IA
vors similar institution for young
negro criminals. And it seems that
such an institution for the inebriate
offender-who in intellect is nothing
more than mere boy-would be equal
ly beneficial.-P. M. Lightfoot, M. D.,
Eminent Physician of Alabama.
saloon Keepers Money Returned.
Rev. Charles Stuer, pastor of the st.
Bravo Flemish church of Mishawaka,