The Commonwealth. — 1867-06-15 (London, England)

COLLINGS.  COST AND CURE OF DRUNKENNESS. To the Editor of the Commonwealth. SlR,—The cost of the liquor traffic to this country is almost incalculable. In 1866 the amount spent upon intoxicating drinks exceeded eighty-eight million pounds—more than the entire national revenue !—and for every pound thus misspent, at least another pound was wasted indirectly through the idleness, accidents, offences, disease, and premature death resulting from intoxication. Take Manchester as a sample. The working classes of this city spend a quarter of a million annually upon intoxicating drinks on ,aturdays and Sundays alone. Another unwelcome fact which has come to my knowledge is,  that the working men of England spend more for strong drink in one day than the hundreds of co-operative stores gain in the whole year. But what is the cost in money compared with the loss ;A morality and happiness? During one year a weekly newspaper, published in Manchester, recorded more than two thousand two hundred cases of horrible deaths, murders, suicides, robberies, stabbings, &c., resulting from indulgence in these deadly drinks. Even the Times is forced to acknowledge that "the use of strong drink produces more idleness, crime, disease, want, and misery, than all other causes put together." There are, at least, half a million law-made drunkards in this kingdom. Every twentieth person is a pauper; and it is admitted that drink causes nine-tenths of our pauperism. it is estimated that 50,000 persons die prematurely every year through drink, and that at least 30,000 "moderate" drinkers become drunkards every year. And 0! what a sickening account of wretchedness, neglect, and cruelty might be recorded of the doings of drink amongst English women and children.  Knowing the cause of this national disease, have we the courage to apply the remedy? The cure for national drunkenness is national sobriety. I rejoice to know that individual abstinence has done wonders in preparing the way for national abstinence. The Rev. Wm. Jay, of Bath, said that for every one person whom the Gospel itself had made sober, teetotalism had made a hundred. Yet, after more than thirty years' labour, we have to regret that drunkenness has increased, and is Increasing, not only amongst men, but amongst women and children. The comparative failure of what Earl Russell justly calls the " great question of temperance" is owing to the liquor traffic —to the licensed and ever - increasing facilities for obtaining drink. The law sanctions the sale of these liquid poisons for the sake of revenue, and to keep a false peace with the people who make, sell, and drink them. But are these a majority of the nation? No, they are a minority, if you count souls; and surely the dear children are more important, when estimating the future of England, than the indulgences of those who ought to be their exemplars. A radical cure of England's drunkenness must come from the enlightenment of the people and the exercise of their social power of prevention. Already a powerful feeling pervades the country in favour of freedom from the degrading tyranny of the licensed drink traffic. It is time that every one should take sides in the coming struggle of right against might. Our weapons are Love and Truth. Let those who desire to be disciplined for the fight write to, Yours truly,