ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Bruce Herald, Volume XV, Issue 1497, 13 April 1883, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

_^_ ( We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.) ALCOHOL THE PARENT OF CRIME. To the Editor. Sir, —The afcovo i« continually reiterated from all sorts of platforms, <uid the cry that the consumption of alcoholic liquors fills our gaols, hospitals, and lunatic asylums, induces fraud, pauperism, disease, family discord, &c, &c, is heard on every hand. It is very soldom that any person is bo'd enough to take up the other sido of the question, and it is with considerable trepidation that I venture to take somo exception to the general cry. Man, being bibulous, must drink something, most likely, originally, water, but very soon after his creation it began to bo mixed. There is no record of alcoholic influonce in connection with the first murdur, the wickedness at the time of the flood, the destruction of the Cities of the Plain, the confusion of tonguo3 at the Tower of Babel, the plaguea of Egypt, or those inflicted upon the children of Israel and other nations mentioned in anci9nt history. Possibly, however, some enthusiastic teetotaler may attempt to prove it to have been the principal cause. A visit to Dunodin Gaol and a tot up of tho offenders who resido therein should furnish some information. Not having been there lately I cannot speak positively (but no doubt some of my teetotal friends who may have had superior opportuuitieß of gaining information will correct mo if wrong). From constant reading of the daily papers, I should say that the defalcations of the biggeat swindles thero were not owing to tho excessive use of alcohol, while the frequent bursts of institutions — such as the Glasgow Bank — prove that there exists more powerful factors of poverty and crime than tint much-abused spirit. The groat outcry about the drink bill seems strange to me, as odo would imagine that tho last persons to complain on the score of economy would be the total abstainers. Considering the import price of proof spirit does not average more than 5 s or Gj» gallon, and that the Custom's duty is 14d per gallon ; the very large amount of license fees which materially lighten taxation in our townships ; th«) addition of one-third water before tho beverage reaches the consumer, necessitated by the enormous restrictions placet on the trade, and the cheerful way in which the great bulk of customors pay cash for the article, the teetotaler shoull bo tho last to grumble, as he reaps all the benefits of the increased trade, and pays nono of the extra toxes. I venture to say if tho half of the taxes on wines, spirits, and beer, and the whole of the license fees of the trade were put on one side for tho benefit of paupers, tho aiok, or lunatics through drink, there would be ample provision for all that exists at present, while if you consider the circumstances of those who, like your humble Bervant, have been contributing for the last two-and-twenty years to these exceptional taxes, it must be seen that they have already established a claim upon the country for consideration in old age or poverty. Never having travelled much, I cannot vouch as an eye-witness, but I have it on good authority that there are sober nations who would not shine in comparison with the British raco either as regards health, wealth, or morality at the present day. Why one man should have his case or cask of beer, sit comfortably at home, and drink as much as ho likes, and another who cannot afford to get it in quantity should be debarred ou a Sunday, and dodged round the corner by a policeman if he ventures to go or Bend to the hotel for a pint of beer or a gill of whisky, is beyond my com prehension. An ounce of experience is worth a bushel of theory. Ask a sulor who has been aloft to retf topsails in a hailstorm, or a man who has travelled through enow for n couple of days without food, what ho thinks of a gluus or two of gennino spirits (hogoikl mate's nips if you like). Auk the man who has

been kept alive for days on nothing else, ami finally restored to health ; ask the man who hai been racked with pain, and tortured with sleeplessness, and who has been relieved by the use, even to the extent of intoxication. In all these cases I have some practical knowledge. Rely upon it, tho great bulk of disease is not caused by the use of alcoholic drinks, but by the spurious imitations of the genuine article sold by unprincipled dealer.*, and the set-off of disease prevented, relieved, or cured by the judicious use of sound, good ale or porter, smooth old whisky, or old Jamaica rum (to say nothing of wine), make up for an occasional excess, which we all deprecate, but sometimes fall into, especially when the tipple as well as the company is good. I would suggest to Major Atkinson that t e plan of reserving half tho profits for the sick, poor, and aged is a grand idea, no extra staff being required for collection. At the samu time I would recommend the appointment of well seasoned and qualified inspectors (not too many) to visit the d'fferent establishments in tho trade, and see that the quality of the liquors dispensed is sound and good. N B. — Open to take an appointment my self at a moderate salary. Testimonials as to titnuss for ofh'oo undoubted.— l am, &c , Bonus. Milton, April 11. [Onr correspondent mighl have pointed a moral from t'ie fact that No.ih got tight shortly after ho left the Ark, and that Lot got drunk not long after he escaped from Sodom. We arc not sure whether allusion to these interesting incidents would assist his argument or otherwise, we leave that to himself. The Moabites and Amoritos, however, who owed their existence to Lot getting drunk, are never spoken of in very flattering terms. — En. B. H.]