PLAIN TALK.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 294, 18 December 1919, Page 7

PLAIN TALK.

Dr. Saleeby, the eminent English sociologist and eugenist, "peaking at the world's gathering in Toronto, s.nd that the living foundations of the Empire must In* rebuilt from tune to time, and that tlu* British Enipiie will be tin* first of a long line of Empires to do so if she piovc*. herself capable of holding her power. Races aie destroyed from inside factors even more "urel\ th;.n from such external agencies as war. “Only a nation which regards its young can renew its lib*.’’ Speaking as a medical man, he s <1 th.it drunkenness is the least of the evils of alcoholism. “Alcoholism leads to venereal diseases, those twin evils about which doctors have been shamefully silent too long." Alcohol had been invaluable during the war as a great source of energy. It is nothing but injurious to man, either in small or large doses It is a racial poison. Its effect i" seen in stunted offspring, tickets, tubercu lose;, and other diseases. “But are not the Germans a virile rare, yet they are great drinkers s’' 5 ’' This question roused the doctor. “Do you know theie ua> more infant'mortality m Gcrinanx than in any other country. Tubercular rate is higher. No, the Ormans arc not a physically healthy race. If you mnt physique, go to the Dominion troop-. Vou should have seen ther.i when tlu marched through London- they sto ! out as men of fine physique. Tbit is because they got p’.entv of good milk and wholesome food. “Is Prohibition possible in Britain?”

“W’e have ?. long way to go. You see Labour is hostile. They think it is a trick of the capitalists to get more work ou» of them. The fart is the other way, for alcohol has been used to keep them subdued .<nd contented with their conditions: it is an industrial narcotic. There could he nothing move beneficial to the work ing man than Prohibition. If it were brought about in some of the factory districts in the Midlands they wouldn't know thov were in the same world.”