ལཔབབཔ ལPཅཔPས་ ཨཔ allowed to touch food.

There seemed to him to be a want of somewhere in this reasoning, but the teetotalers do not reco hese subtle distinctions. With them, the man who will not hat alcohol is the most virulent poison in the pharmaco who will not admit that "one or two at most, drops make a ghost, useless to roast," is a shameless and irreclaimable drun

In conclusion, Dr. Mercier asked: "Is it not clear th alcohol has the power of enabling us to draw upon our reser energy, then we have in it an agent that may be of the gre possible service in grave emergencies? And although it is op abuse-as what useful agent is not?—yet on occasion it is valuable and precious, and is not to be reviled and discarded bec a comparatively small number of defective persons abuse it."

THE MODERATE DRINKER.

It is not well established that certain narcotics induc produce disease. Discussion as to the degere of harmfulnes alcohol has raged for many years, but, unfortunately, argu regarding it seems to bring about an incoherence of the reaso faculties. One can easily understand that the ordinary indivi will assert his opinions with prejudice and fanaticism, but s astonished to discover a great diversity of views, as to effects of alcohol, among scientists and members of the me profession.

Scientific men, even of the first rank, display as great lac estraint in discussing this phase of the matter as do the most par lisputants on both sides of the question.

of drinking to excess.

On the other hand, no ave been adduced to show that strictly moderate 1 in any high degree. There are no real facts ic investigation to show that the habitual use of antities is dangerous to the adult consumer, or endants.

aintains that the question "Is Alcohol a Food?" he discussion, even though so much is made of it. obody has endeavored to find out if tobacco is a -going is an ailment, or if listening to music inon. The question is: Does indulgence in one or life more worth living? Its non-injuriousness re is rather a general unanimity of belief that ice in the cup that cheers and likewise inebriates, ially to the joy of living, smooths many rough y despairing minds, and brings respite to many

ons, in Dr. Collins's view, cannot be frightened
com alcohol. There are no real incontestable
at the so-called idiopathic nervous and mental
ed by parental alcoholism. Furthermore, he does
ything is to be gained from statistics as they have
he past. "Alcohol is a potent factor in the caus-
and mental diseases," is a statement that is fre-
ed in medical and lay writings. But aside from
e, multiple neuritis, and two or three well defined
, there is not the slightest demonstrable evidence

of the London Lancet and a delegate to the late Congress of Hy and Demography, at Washington, D. C., expressed some intere views on the alcohol question through the Washington Star.

Mr. Smith was not satisfied with the uncertain attitude Congress as to the great public questions of hygiene and medicin pointed out that the views of the previous Congress as to alcoholi to wit: that it is mainly produced by improperly manufac drinks-had been adopted by the Russian Government. As a r Russia was now vigorously enforcing legislation corrective c evil. Mr. Smith continued:

"The United States is a great field for a vigorous move along this line. It would be the greatest movement for tempe ever attempted to make all hygienic drinks free from taxati any kind. Every effort ought to be made to give the people hy drinks at as low a cost as possible. By hygienic drinks I mean claret, real beer, cider, peary, and the like.

"It makes me angry that here in America, where the p should enjoy every blessing, and where there is every facilit making good wine and beer, they are taxed unreasonably ignorantly. France has no tax on wine. It is obtainable in country at the small cost of 3 cents a bottle; it is practically a of every person's meal, as bread and butter are in America, an there is little drunkenness in France. There may be some d enness in France-in Brittany and Normandy, where they d grow grapes and drink spirits, but in other parts of the rep drunkenness is practically unknown. You know there is a difference between spirits and hygienic drinks. I would nc

Inter

tion, although ordinarily a dull and overworked nts phases which challenge the spirit of humor. uch wisdom is thereby brought to light.

s witty say on the great controversy as to Mr. g habits, and very cleverly it adduces the moral

>w sure, remarks Life, that both Colonel RooseAbbott are both very temperate men, and that rink a little wine on occasion, neither of them ugh to show visible signs of stimulation. Life

mporaries suggest that the example of these tempt persons unsuited to the effort to attempt l in the presence of liquor. The argument Mr. Bryan has lately patronized, that it is better for fear an example of moderation may tempt 5. But the root of that argument is withered. ple's sake is like doing good to be seen of men. pose in it. The only example that is good for n is the sort that is the sincere expression of the timents and nature. That has force. drink anything because so many people drink etter, as we see it, than the argument. e so many people make a mess of it,' or 'Don't ite a lot of people who went have been drowned.' ent has no great strength of appeal to vigorous rve a special turn sometimes, but it is not a f life."

The

'Don't

tion only three are being treated for insanity brought on by of alcohol-contrary to the generally accepted theory, which butes to alcoholism a large proportion of the unfortunates.

CATHOLICS AND THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

From the Western Watchman, organ of the Roman C Church in the West, we quote the following editorial uttera "Nothing has hurt the total abstinence cause in the States so much as the intemperate zeal of some of its adv The Church does not condemn the use of wine. She ind temperance in all things. She approves total abstinenc mortification; she sometimes counsels it as a protection. T who have been preaching the obligation of total abstinence and have proclaimed prohibition as the crying need of our tim been singing a false and jarring note in the chorus of reform "At the late national convention of the National Tot stinence Union the Holy Father's blessing was read, accom by the fatherly admonition to steer clear in the future of proh and all extreme views on the liquor question. The advice Holy Father was received with the profoundest reverence, a safe to say that the Prohibition cause will no more look to C organizations for encouragement and support.'

Respectfully submitted,

A. G. HUPFEL, JR., Chairman

HENRY A. RUETER

PERCY ANDREAE

AUGUST LINDEMANN
WILLIAM PETER

HUGH F. FOX, Secret