THE DRINK QUESTION.

Evening Star, Issue 11713, 21 October 1902, Page 4

THE DRINK QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As to the- struggle • which is. about to take place-at the local option foil between license or.no license I would like to say a few words. I think that there are certain. ludicrous fcsturoa connected with the Temperance party agitation. Platform oratory is among their necessary elements, and thus involves largo and repeated doses of statistics; bombastic declamations, illogical arguments, and maudlin sentiments. But the follies constantly perpetrated by advocates of temperance have been so extravagant n«to make the name of. teetotalism almost synonymous with monomaniac, and though, as a whole, wo may fesl inclined to admire the- benevolence of those who are striving earnestly to extirpate intemperance, still we must regret. that ■ they should countenance exaggerations which tend to repel the soberminded more than stimulate the fanatical. If a reasonable advocate would content himself with asserting that the harm done by these agents of intemperance exceed.'' any good which they can accomplish, and that the world would be a,gainer if their use Svere ab;ndoned or.abolished, we would loo]; for proof; but as it is, there is not one who is content with a rational mode of defence. Instead of this, they launch out into statements that every species of fermented drink, every liquid containing the slightest admixture of alcohol; bs it only a spoonful in a gallon, is actual poison, and to be taken only on pain of excommunication. It is also very illogically stated and maintained by teetotallers that alcohol can never be useful in medical treatment, and the medical profession are abused for prescribing it. This is on al!.-fours with what a temperance lecturer once said: "If people can't live without alcohol, why, then, I say let 'em die." And as to moderate drinkers, tbe,y use tho word " moderate" as an expression, and conclude that they are as bad as moderate 'ying or moderate stealing; indeed they show far greater abhorrence of moderate drinkers than of actual drunkard**, for they look upon the latter as victim?, the former as seducers. In Britain, America, and the colonies there are some leaders, men of ability who are able to state their views with moderation and defend them without eccentritity or extravagance. It is to be regretted that they are not heTe, but even if they were they lack the moral courage to rebuke openly the indiscretion of their followers. Therefore, to come to the point, the opinions held by these men may be rammed up in two propositions: (1) That the world in general would be benefited by the disuse of alcoholic liquors ; (2) asserting that it is the duty of every-individual in the colony to abstain from stimulants. The ' flirt is maintained as the result of evidence which demonstrates that intoxicating drinks injure tie Jwalth, exhaust the. tesources of these. who partake, and is the cause of crime. Medical evidence will disprove the former, and the " crimes committed" are onlv very petty indeed. For the second indictment it is argued that alcohol contains the element? of no bodily tissue, for fluid cannot benefit the healthy body, and further that it cannot be harmless, because it exercises a chemical effect on the body. In both instances medical evidence proves tho contrary. On tho other hand, medical evidence, which goes uncontradicted, is acknowledged, and goes to show that alcohol as a stimulant, has a powerful action upon the muscular and nervous systems, revives the flagging powers, and enables a man or woman, when exhausted by fatigue, to renew his or her exertions anil do double work. Dr Carpenter acknowledges that a habitual course of over-exertion will be maintained for a longer time with the assistance of alcohol than without. Again, medical authorities denv that the daily consumption of two or three glasses of ale or wine is felt by a healthy man as any stimulus at all, hence they conclude that fermented liquors taken constantly in small quantities arc perfectly harmless, and asert that when there is a weakness in the digestive organs alcohol exerts a beneficial action by increasing the power of the stomach, and this is fully and unreserved'.y admitted by Dr Carpenter, who goes further, and recommends it in cases of temporary shock, in stages of convalescence, for fever, and other cases. I come, then, to the final argument as between the two issues—license or no license. If it is used in moderation, if it does good to tho weakling, tho aged, am! the sick, where does the argument for its ditmse or prohibition come in? The whole of the Temperance body must admit thai no evil, even if one has been created, can be eradicated, but it can be amended or regulated, and they had better by far take tlrt advice given them by Mr Bedford : that as this question is a social one and not a political one, it should'be submitted to a referendum of the people. Also lay to heart the great stress laid by that gentleman on education, " for as the branch is bent, the tree is inclined."—l am, etc., BaiTismai. October 21.