The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-09-13
THE ONE SAFE Make
LET DRINK ALONE At ALL TIMES AND
PLACES.

PLACES.
Any other Course Il EraUGfit WIN
Danger-E.rroucuus Impressions Re
EardinE AIcahOi-Whisky Gives Lit
tie and Takes Everything.
1t is doubtful il there is any subject
IN which there are 50 many conflict /
ing opinions as Oh the liquor question, /
says the Banner OF Gold. There IS /
one point on which persons of Ordi- I
nary Intelligence may be said to agree, |
ana that is in their estimate of the
actual state known as drunkenness.
Every one admits that drunkenness is
a bad thing But there are differences
of opinion as 10 how bad and whether
it is quite bad enough TO require any
active measures for its prevention.
There are many erroneous impress
rions regarding strong drink. They
begin away back of any manifestation
of inebriety. But they lead to 1t
through various avenues Of false rea-
soning.
Many bright young life is ruined
by the influence of careless but well
meaning friends, and many hope
less drunkard owes his downfall to the
social drinking that was begun in his
own home. And yet the friend meant
no harm by his influence, and the
father and mother would have made
any sacrifice to have saved their boy
and did not realize that they were
placing a temptation in his way that
would cost them years Of sorrow and
regret.
There is only one maxim that is alb
solutcly safe regarding strong drink.
and that is, Let it alone-at all times
| and in all places" Any other course
! is fraught with danger.
1t is a common practice for people
to Judge their children by themselves.
The man who has been accustomed to
an occasional glass expects his boy to
follow in his footsteps. Tie man who
has been a moderate drinker for years
can see no reason why his son should
not inherit his iron win and his self
control along with certain other traits
of character. He does not know that it
is not question of will power or self
control. 1t is a question of suscepti-
bility to the effect of poison. 1t is
physical difference and not mental or
moral difference.
Possibly such q man might be eX-
posed TO contagious diseases without
danger while his boy might fall an
easy victim to the same maladies; but,
Just as there would lie no way to de-
termine his immunity to a contagion
} except by a needless exposure to its
dangers. 50 there is no way to prove
his immunity TO the poison Of alcohol
only by giving It trial.
Unfortunately there Is No vaccination
that VIII create an immunity to the
poison of alcohol, and there is no way
to Judge of ones power Of control il
that respect only by making the eX
) pertinent If it fails it IS too late.
No one starts out deliberately to be
. come a drunkari. The average MAJ
!. has ambitions and hopes. He wants t
5 succeed. lie intends to make some
!. thing of his life If he begins to drlnl
!. he does 50 either as matter of socla
. Bility or because he thinks he needs !
- stimulant. Sometimes he drinks be
= cause his physician recommends ii
. But if he could know at the outset tina
9 he would become a drunkard-h h
= could look ahead to even a small par
5 o. tie wretchedness and misery tha
!. would result from his drinking-ther
!, is no earthly power that could have II
2 duced him to make such a beginning.
3 The number Of men who prove tina
. they can remain moderate drinkers
8 somewhat limited, and their exampl
9 is not good 1t leads many others
{, make the attempt who fall by the wa!
9 And even in moderation whisky ha
3 certain bad effects which are not easil
x overcome.
6 Its use is gradually but surely ma
9 rowing as its nature becomes bette
& understood As a beverage there
6 nothing that can be said in its favo
& 1t is injurious when taken in moder
9 ton and ruinous when taken IN e
= cess. At its best, whisky gives b.
z little. At its worst, it takes everythir
* that makes life worth living.