MISTAKEN ADVOCACY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1811, 11 October 1884, Page 2

MISTAKEN ADVOCACY.

The Rev. H. Vere White, in his pamphlet on Moderation v. Total Abstinence, says:—"lt may be as well to give a glance at one semi- . scientific argument used by total abstainers, and which, uiay be called the ' natural history teetotal fallacy.' Alcohol, we are told, is not a natural drink. We are asked to look at the birds of the air ; and the beasts of the field, and the finny monsters of the deep, and then are somewhat superfluously, informed that all these creatures live and are happy and healthy without intoxicants. But really with all respect for them, and those who adduce them as models for our imitation, it is somewhat hard to be called upon to reply to an argument of this kind. Do birds and beasts drink tea, and cook their food or make artificial clothing 1 Do they write and read books, and travel by railroads 1 Do they drink ginger-ale and tinfermented wine, or expend nervous force in constructing specious fallacies? Suffice it to say. that the wish for alcoholic drinks is quite as.natural as the doing of any of the things mentioned above. It is according to the nature of man in its present state." It is to be regretted that Mr White can find no worthier outlet for his undoubted ability than in founding arguments for moderate drinking, and "knocking over" imaginary natural history objections to it. If ho had mixed with the masses, or had experience of the subject upon which he has written, lie would know that in the vast majority of cases drunkards are safe so long only as they maintain total abstinence. Let them onco commence "moderate drinking," and they stop little short of delirium tremens. To convince such men that to drink alcohol is a natural and proper thing for. man to do in his present state is to frustrate the good being done by men whose hearts and souls are in the work of inducing drunkards to become total abstainers, and save themselves from the ruin which threatens themselves and families. That many men drink moderately without its leading them into excess, we know and admit; but these do not require a pamphlet to convince them that their so doin» is in accordance with man's nature. The ouly effect of the Rev. Mr White's work (if it has any effect whatever) will be to give drunkards an additional excuse for their unfortunate habitWellington Evening Press.