FIRSTLY, ETHICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 67, 15 April 1909, Page 4

FIRSTLY, ETHICS.

SUBSCIUtSER. j

To the Editor. Sir.—fn harmony with Mr. Enroth, I. too. say, firstly, ethic*. I hope we Khali always put ethics first before fame as a debater, before money, or even before patriotism. Now, what is the ethics of the "teetotal propaganda"! It is that a man is bound in duty to himself, his family (if ha have any), his country, and his Clod to so use his body in" the matter of drink, as well ae in other matters, that his best powers of body, mind, and conscience may be developcd and maintained. That is why teetotalers are what they are. They know that the use of alcoholic drink is not conducive to their best interests as men or as ritiieru;; that, also, is why they seek to lead others to abstain from alcohol in all its forms. There is nothing selfish" about it, no attempt to keep all the benefits to themselves, no profit to be made that may not be fihared by the whole community. The teetotaler has found a good thing; li ■ knows it; and he invites all and sundry to join him. Now, what is wrong with the etliics of all this? It is the duty of Christian people, as well as Jews, Agnostics, and Theosophists, to abstain from the use of intoxicants, and for the reasons given above. On the other hand, it is not in accordance with correct ethics to teach men to use as a beverage that which never made a man strong. Imt lias made many weak; never made a man wise, but has made many very foolish; never helped a man to a higher moral plane, Imt has degraded millions. If there be any amongst us who hay been advocating the use of alcoholics in ignorance of its effects, I would ndvi-e them to read the medical evidence in the Goode trial, and also the report ':" your columns of Dr. Truby King's lecture delivered in New Plymouth on tin' 24th.of last month; or. if further <!>•- tailed information be needed, it can be found in that standard work on "Alcohol and the Human Body" by Sir Victor Horslev and Dr. Sturge.—l am. etc.. GEO. H. MAUXDEI!.