Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-10-28
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URGING TOTAL ABSTINENCE
War in Other Countries on the
"Scourge That Is Destroy
! ing the Race"


The movement to promote total alb
stinence, aud make prominent the in.
juries resulting from the use of alec.
hol is far more intense and exciting
In Great Britain and on the continent
than in this country, says the Journal
OF Inebriety. Placarding the billboards
in and about Paris with startling sen.
fences showing the damage Of alcohol
has been initiated by temperance asso.
Citations in other large cities. and hand.
dis ful of warnings and appeals
70 abstain are circulated in public
places and eagerly read. Crusade
movements. far more vigorous than
such efforts in this country. are re-
ported by the temperance papers as
growing and becoming more and more
popular. Societies are organized and
the watchword is war on Alcohol. 4"
War on the scourge that is destroy
ing the race" The following is a para.
graph from the French Blue Gross
Almanac which gives some idea Of the
intensity in which the subject IS
pressed on public opinion: 'rhe
greatest scOurge Of France to-day is
alcohol Our beautiful country is at.
tackled on all sides and we have tc
confess that France is the greatest
sufferer. We can see il and feel ii
This should I'll every citizen with an.
ger, for alcoholism Is the synonym
of physical degeneracy, intellectual
enfeeblement, and the moral declen.
sion OF our race. Alcoholism predis.
poses to tuberculosis DR.. Brouardel
asserts. and gives the evidence to sus.
; tain this assertion. that without alco-
holism there would be a saving OF
from so 10 80 per cent. of the $50. OO(
lives that go down to the grave an.
nuaily from consumption. Crimes are
multiplied; authorities agree that over
60 per cent. OF all offenses and crimes
can be traced TO alcoholism. DIR. Ian.
melon in his discourse before the cham.
: Der OF deputies asserts positively that
unless this evil is arrested the future
OF France viii be ruin. disorder ano
disintegration" The railroad compa
MES In Germany and France have or.
dered equally sensational warnings
posted in all places where railroad
men frequent The following are some
OF the sentences; Railroad workers
you have the lives OF many persons
under your care every day, and you
realize the need OF a lucid brain, 8
clear eye. and a constant presence OF
mind. This is not possible unless
you abstain from all intoxicating
drinks. Alcohol never gives strength
ii only excites. the same as the whir
to the horse increases the power OF
action. The apparent increase OF
strength is followed by greater ex.
haustion. There is no means OF re
pairing strength except by taking food
and alcohol is never a food II you
would increase your endurance and
aptitude for service. diminish the risk
or accident, and preserve your health,
become a practical. abslainer" The
church has taken up this work. and
together with the state is trying TO
build up a sentiment that shall de-
mand total abstinence and abolish the
sale OF spirits as a beverage in
Great Britain a number OF very large
societies having this as their special
purpose are appealing 60 the public
through sermons, lectures and tracts
far more theoretically than any SINH
lar efforts in this country. The med
ical journals that venture 10 express
opinions rejecting on this work are
vigorously attacked and denounced.
and this is but the beginning The
oft-repeated statements that the aico-
holic subject in this country is pre-
scented in a more hysterical way than
abroad Is untrue. Some Of the leading
medical men OF Europe are pronounced
advocates OF the abolition of alcohol
as a beverage. Men Of worldwide rep
utation have no fears of entering upon
this great crusade. In this country
there are only a very few eminent
men who are pronounced abstainers
and defenders OF such views In pub
lie. There is a singular timidity about
taking UP this problem, although its
evils are more and more apparent in
the accidents. diseases and criminal
statistics OF the country. Societies
which are formed in large cities and
towns to promote knowledge of the
dangers of alcohol are almost entirely
ofjicered and managed by laymen and
persons untitled to be teachers, while
the medical men. TO whom the work
belongs. are indifferent and reticent
about assisting There is something
strangely inconsistent in this attitude,
which happily cannot last long. The
medical men will be forced to take
sides in this great struggle which Is
rapidly coming into prominence.