A Defence of Drink.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1818, 9 April 1886, Page 2

A Defence of Drink.

Lard Bramwe.l (writes me London Daily Telegtaph), bus " liuitond iho \ v.sci.nis " of tbe Alliance by the vigour of his r-ulugv on “ Unnk." llilUitu urn def.mdi-is <.l the existing liberty of solution* have taken a tone of excuse ; but the -in u i d ha*tied baron speaks out what m-.uv mink ■■ lunik; ’ be exclaims. \cs, I say it is u ton r ,, nod I think the world would act ve.y foohshlv if a gave it np. Why, it it can aii ;b, lairm I have mentioned? For this n sson -t ml it .loea an immense more good, bm m-e it gives a vast deal of pleasure and e joy muni io Uiose who take it with good sense and moderation, is it not true that it is a sonreo of gioa'. pleasaie and enjoyment ? Wee the- thorough rehsu with which a tired man lakes ins gia-a of beer, the keen pleasure of tbe first glass of shcriy at dinner to the man exhausted with ihu labor of Lis brain. lint, besides these keen enjoyments, take the more quiet and sober pleasutc of the glass ol beer i.t dinner and at supper, or with the i i;v. This is k pleasure bad in this country by millions daily-nay, twice daily—and if msie.id of the glass of beer or wine, a tu.a ; quantity of spirit is taken with water, Uu: p.casuie is the same, and the puede is n-.s.r able.” '1 be leaned judge quotes hn Junes Paget to show that toe br.rinwoik of the nati-an- who consume alcohol is superior to that ol the Mohammedans, who abstain from it. Lie also points out without nrewunce that those English opponents of aic'tin! who are Christians “ should in the Em hansl and the miracle of Cana hare found some excuse for those who tlmm that drinking wine is in itself wicked.” Lord Bramwud udunts that a great deal of harm ia caused by drink, and that society may hare a right to suppress public houses. “ But,” he asks, “if ii is within its right, is it just, is it reasonable, expedient, because some take it to excess, that it is to be (Mtaied to millions to whom it is a daily pleasure and enjoymentwith no attendant harm ? Poee this seem to be fair ? The glass of beer is to be taken from the whole of 50 men because one of them will take more than is good for him."