Moral and Social Effects of Intemperance.
THE GREAT CAUSE OF CRIME.
It has been estimated by competent judges that intemperance is the cause of nine-tenths of all the crime among civilized nations. Alcohol benumbs the intellect, deadens conscience, and stifles reason. It leads its victim to theft to secure the means of indulgence, and steels the heart of the assassin for his bloody work. To the crimes committed by the users of alcohol, themselves, should be added those committed by the wives and children of drunkards, who are driven to desperation and crime by the want and suffering occasioned by the cruel monster, drink. The influence of liquor in increasing crime has often been well illustrated by the sad results which have invariably followed its first introduction into any community. Many newly settled districts have existed for several years with entire exemption from crime; no murders, no thefts, no public broils, no assaults upon persons or property, no act of violence of any kind occurring to mar the peace and destroy the feeling of security of the community. At last a public house is opened in the midst of this prosperous and peaceful society, and a bar is erected, from which alcoholic liquors are dispensed. The evil consequences are immediately apparent. Drinking engenders idleness. Idleness necessarily brings want, and want leads to theft; for a man who spends money for illegitimate purposes will not long continue particular to obtain his means from legitimate sources. Idleness and the conscience-searing, passion-stimulating influence of alcohol soon lead to acts of violence against persons and disregard of individual rights. Midnight carousals and drunken revels become frequent, outbreaking crimes are not uncommon, and the once peaceful community becomes a scene of constant disturbance and disquiet. The sheriff and constable, who previously found no occasion for the exercise of the functions of their offices, now find constant employment. A jail becomes a necessity, and is never without an occupant. To say that alcohol is responsible for the revolution in the condition of such a community would be to state a fact too plain to be mistaken. Another evidence of the influence of liquor drinking upon crime is seen in the fact that crime increases and decreases in any particular locality almost in proportion to the increase and decrease of the use or sale of liquor. During seven years, from 1812 to 1818, the annual consumption of liquor in England and Wales was 5,000,000 gallons; during the same period, 11,000 persons were annually arrested and committed for trial. During the seven years from 1826 to 1832, 9,000,000 gallons of liquor were annually consumed, and the annual number of arrests was 21,700. It will be observed that the amount of liquor sold during the last period was almost double that consumed during the first, and also that the number of arrests was nearly doubled during the last period. That this increase of crime was due to the influence of liquor and not to increase of population, is shown by the fact that while crime had doubled, the population had increased but one-third. Says Dr. Nott: “In Scotland, in 1823, the whole consumption of intoxicating liquors amounted to 2,300,000 gallons; in 1837 to 6,776,715 gallons. In the meantime, crime increased 400 per cent., fever 1,600 per cent., death 300 per cent., and the chances of human life diminished 44 per cent.” “In Ireland, when the distilleries were stopped, in 1808, crime decreased amazingly. Again, when in 1810 they recommenced operations, the commitments increased nearly fourfold.”—Bacchus Dethroned. The increase of crime incident to the increased use of liquor is, of course, due to the influence of alcohol upon the moral nature of individuals. The direct effect of this poisonous drug seems to be to paralyze the will, to render the sensibilities obtuse, to deaden the conscience, to inflame the passions, to weaken the judgment, and to dethrone reason. Kleptomania (mania for theft) is one of the acknowledged effects of drink. It is a well-established fact that the “social evil” is largely supported by the use of liquor. Brothels and public houses are frequently connected. Liquor and licentiousness go hand in hand. ALCOHOL AS A CAUSE OF DISEASE.
A very large proportion of the diseases to which man is subject are directly produced, or greatly aggravated, by the use of alcohol. The following is a partial list of those which have been directly traced to alcohol by Dr. Carpenter and other eminent medical men:— “Gout, rheumatism, heart disease, dyspepsia, disease of kidneys, dropsy, obesity, disease of the liver, apoplexy, degeneration of the muscles, tremors, ulcers, insanity, palsy, jaundice, epilepsy, consumption, melancholy, cancer, amaurosis, paralysis, hysterics, convulsions, gastritis, enteritis, ophthalmia, carbuncle, boils, fatal obstruction of lacteals, tabes, syncope, diabetes, lockjaw, idiocy, impotency, mania, delirium tremens, Bright’s disease, disease of the arteries, atrophy of the liver, congestion of the liver, and numerous other organic and functional derangements.” We were informed by one of the visiting physicians of Bellevue Hospital, New York, that at least two-thirds of all the diseases treated there originated in drink: