Year: 1869

Some temperance papers in this State write IN
opposition to the vineyard interests to the ex-
tension Of grape growing, because from grapes
wine and brandies are manufactured Why not
on the same principle object to the cultivation of
peaches because brandy is made from them?
Why not oppose the cultivation OF wheat and
corn and rye because whiskey is made there
from? Why not quarrel with the barley-grow-
ers because it is turned into malt and thence
into ale lager beer and whisky? Potatoes will
make whisky also; yet the people of Humboldt
and Pigeon Point grow them for all that APP
Piles make cider and "appe jack" and these
make people drunk if they indulge too heavily !;
yet the orchardists of Oregon plant out more ap-
pie trees every year Because people will get
drunk shall the sober and temperate have no
more grape pies or apple puddings or peaches
and cream or potatoe chowder or barley broth
or flour bread? Must all these industries be
stopped lest some biped shall make brute of
himself? Shall all these delicious and necessary
foods be taken from the public table because
now and then man woman indulge in too
much wine? Shall we have no more razors, and
must our boards be permitted to grow like a her
mits because fools cut their throats? Shall
railroads be stopped because careless people get
killed on them? Shall steam be annihilated be-
cause now and then boiler bursts? Shall the
art of making gunpowder be lost because men
shoot one another or turn the muzzle upon
themselves? Shall men no longer go into the
blaze of day because people die of sun-stroke !?
AS well ask that any of these things shall be
done as to ask that grapes or wheat or barley
shall not be raised because from them wine or
brandy whisky is made. Drunkenness is
terrible scourge, and so is the use of tobacco or
opium but neither of these is worse than glut-
tony, or the consumption of food not in harmony
with the system We want wheat and potatoes
and grapes to eat that we may live and have
health, and if there those who will turn these
great blessings into strong drink, neither the
farmer nor the orchardist, nor the vineyardst is
to blame for that. How many thousands die OF
dyspepsia? Yet that comes from the improper
food that they eat, the want of mastication and
sufficient outdoor exercise These need fruits
more than meats, and there is nothing better for
them than grapes, peaches and apples. We
must not therefore for the sake of the public
health destroy our orchards or burn up our vine
yards Besides, if people will drink intoxicating
liquors it is better-unless you want to kill them
off quick-that they should have good liquor
than bad. And we know that the wine and
brandy made in California is superior in an emf
nent degree to that which is imported and Of
fered at like rates. This good lqnor, to those
who insist upon having it, is a promoter of tenn
perance and preserver of health, compared
with the trash that has been and yet is poured
down the throats of our people. Every consid-
Grafton, we think, looking at the case from a
temperance point of view, would indicate the
propriety of the temperance people advocating
the manufacture of good liquors to take the
place of bad for those who, no matter what is
said or done, will make beasts OF themselves.
If they cannot stop the people from drinking
slow poison let them favor that plan which will
administer to them the least of it.-Sacramento
Bee