The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-12-07

ing of cocainism and morphinism,
of sexual perversions and ruinous
habits among the abstainers is
alarming. But even on the sur
face, any one can see to what
degree of dizziness on the one side
and of vulgarity on the other side
the masses are led if the means
of physiological relief are cut off
from a strong, Woodworking popu-
lation. To fight intemperance by
prohibition means to substitute
one evil for another"
THE REMEDY.
Then, after this gruesome forecast
of conditions that will ensue il pro-
hibitory laws are put into effect in
dealing with the drink evil, the emf
nent Harvard instructor paused and
said that after attacking a proposed
remedy the audience had a right to
ask the physician for his own remedy.
He gave it. 1t was as follows
I'VE must institute a reform by
slow education toward a moderate
use of light wine or beer, with
complete abolition of the present
saloon and Of the present disgust
ing habits, and that is the only
way to permanent success in this
country, as long as Americans re-
main Americans"
Attention was next devoted by the
speaker to the qualities of alcohol and
Professor Muensterberg declared that
after giving his whole life to science ne
was convinced, despite the allegations
| from various sources to the contrary,
that there exists no scientifically safe
| fact which demonstrates that evil eff
fects ensue from temperate use of
| alcohol. He admitted, however, that
as a psychologist, he was more in
terested in the mental side of the ques-
ton.
Pausing and looking around at the
earnest faces as If to measure the
effect of his remarks, Professor Muen-
sterberg said that he took issue with
the statement of Doctor Williams, of
New York, that alcohol cuts off en-
tirely the power of mental production.
On the contrary, he said that he knew
scores of men who never produced
better than after a moderate use of
alcohol.
WUNDT AS AN EXAMPLE.
AS an example the speaker mention
ed Professor Wundt, of Leipzig, whom
he placed at the top of the list of psy-
biologists. He said that this scien-
fist, now rs years old, had just written
his epoch-making book, yet for go
years he had taken wine and beer
twice a day.
81 attended last summer continued
Professor Muensterberg, "a number Of
international congresses and saw there
at many banquets the leaders o.
thought of the nations. l watched tint
situation closely, but did not discove
f any abstainers among the sharp ant
great thinkers of any nation"
: In concluding his address the speak
q er contended that to learn to be mo
derate was part of the essential edu
- cation of every great nation, but tina
Ito legislate as if the citizens are chill
: dren, incapable of moderation, woult
mean a degradation of the whole couD
try"
REPLY OF PROFESSOR PATTEN.
Professor Patten, in his reply, de
: clared that in the consideration of tn
problem scientists were often prone {
= discard other mems facts, and thu
were prevented from utilizing vita
. evidence that would bring their idea
to full fruition. Because of this bias
he said, learned men lost sight of tn
fact that there was a very prominen
economic position of the question.
Changes in the food supply" n
p said ARE doing for the liquor probIer
and its solution what moral and reli
n gious crusades failed to do. An I'm
e derfed man Graves some stimulants t
g arouse the motives for work and az
tivity Fifty years ago the lazy, uI
derfed farmland could evoke enoug
energy to raise a barn or to harveS
grain only when in sight of whisk
jug.
To-day, however, the worker doe
each day from three to five times tn
work his whisky ancestor did. Ever
well-organized group of workmen
striving for shorter hours and MOI
leisure The intenser life, better foe
and greater energy push them so keel
ly into industrial life that restraints Q
activity, not motives to more endeavo
are needed"
1t was the contention of Profess,
Patten that the climatic conditions
America make it necessary to absta'
from alcoholic drinks as a means
preservation of the national vitalit!
that the man who takes his place
the highly specialized work Of tods
cannot keep his position unless h