The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-12
The Campaign Against Alcohol.

In Sir HAIRY II. JOHNSTON. the
British explorer and African admin
istratOr the temperance people. an ex-
preston used advisedly. have useful
and practical ally. Cncompromising
prohibitionists would find good many
facts TO Justify them in an article In
the Nineteenth Century entitled THE
Tyranny Of Alcohol" by this citizen Of
the world who has travelled in many
lands and made a study of their social
problems.
There Is n middle ground rea sonable-
ness about Sir HARRY ii. JOHNSTON.
lie has observed that some races. like
the Spanlards. that Use light. unforti-
fed wines in moderation show no signs
OF physical decay. In their case alec.
hol Is not tyranny. ms it has long
been in Russia and rs 1t has become
In once temperate France. where now
there Is one place licensed TO sell all
forms OF alcohol to every So inhabi-
tants. as contrasted with one to i30 In
England. one to 5000 In Sweden. and
one TO 1900 in Norway What this
observer would be satisfied with Is
the worldwide prohibition of alcoholic
drinks above the strength of light
wines and beers" That would not suit
the extreme prohibitionists. to whom
the smallest percentage Of alcohol in a
beverage Is anathema. lie urges upon
than ~ fhnx. In al IA. an. H..
banished, the discovery Of "a slim
ulant for exhausted humanity" to take
It's place. THE fact stands out says
Sir HARRY II. JOHNSTON, that. all
the world over. humanity is liable to
he surmene, overworked. temporarily
weakened by shock: in fact. In con.
dition which calls aloud for stimu-
liant: and for something more palatable
to the taste. more rapid In its restora-
ton Of vigor, than smelling salts. sal
volatile, or even cup Of beef tea"
Find 1t, he says, and great will be the
gain to the cause of temperance.
Then there Is the question Of daily
drinks To he considered. The extremists
give little attention to it. Why should
they not devote some of their indomi-
table energy to providing a good water
supply in every community; Pure and
palntable water IL very hard to obtain:
ordinary beer is much to he preferred
to the water available in many cities
And manufactured non alcoholic drinks
would help the cause, especially where
water Ii known To be inferior In purity
or unplea SAINT to the taste.
I'VE want" says Sir HARRY H. JoHN.
SION. substitutes in attractiveness OF
taste or In stimulating qualities for the
various dilutions Of alcohol which are
infiuentially declared to he 80 dele
ferrous in their effect on mind and
body" He Of course does not refer
to such drink as the three per cent"
beer which has been put on the market
In some States. Non-alcoholic ales. he
admits, have been failures I believes
palatable drink OF the kind can he
produced. Grape Juice is sturiily rec
commended. also the "agres" Of Spain.
n delicious non-alcoholic beverage made
from unripe grapes.
Our prohibition friends would be
wise to give heed to the advice of this
outspOken Englshman. who talks about
alcohol as an oppressive and blighting
tyranny and marshals figures Ia show
that although the drink evil has been
checked in some countries 1t is fasrcn-
ing its octopuslikc tentacles on other
countries and Is poisoning the manhood
OF every inferior race" that comes into |
contact with civilization.