The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-06-08 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE COST AND CURE OF DRUNKENNESS.  To the Editor of the " Observer." -Stn,—The cost of the liquor traffic to this country is almost incalculable. In 1866, the amount spent tip.ni intoxicating drinks exceeded eighty-eight million pounds —muse than the entire national revenue !—sad for every pound thus mis-spent another pound was wasted indirectly through the idleness, accidents, offences, disea.e, and premature death resulting from intoxication. Tako Manchester as a sample. The working classes of this city spend • quarter of a million annually upon intoxicating drinks on Saturdays and Sundays alone. Another unwelcome fact which has come to my knowledge is, thst 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 in morality and hsppinessll Daring one years weekly newspaper, published in Manchester. recorded store than 2,200 cases of horrible deaths, murders, suicides, robberies, stabbings. ite.,resulting froin indulgence in these deadly drinks. Even the rims is forced to acknowledge that "the use of strong drink produces more idleness, crime, disease, went, and misery, than all cther cau-ak pot together." There are at least half a million law made drunkards in this kingdom. Every twentieth person is • 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 Oh! what a sickening ac. count of wretchedness, neglect, and eruelty might be recorded of the doings of drink amongst Engli,h women and children.  Knowing the cause of this national disease, have we the courage to apply the remedy' The cure fornational drunkenness is national sobriety. I rejoice to know that individual abstinence has done wonders in preparing the way for national abstinence. The Res. William Jay, of Bath, Raid that for every one pennon whom the gospel itself had made sober, teetotal jam had made • 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 Karl Russell justly calla the " great question of temperance," is owing to the liquor traffic—to the licensed and ever increasing facilities for obtaining intoxicating 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 ionic; and sorely 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 mast come from the enlightenment of the people, and the ever, 0; of their social power of prevention. Alrealj s ji,serful feeling pervades the country its favour of fr,e.loiu huts the degrading tyranny of the licensed drink trallice. 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,