5.  Further, alcohol tends to produce in the offspring of drinkers an unstable nervous system, lowering them mentally, morally and physically.  Thus deterioration of the race threatens us, and this is likely to be greatly accelerated by the alarming increase of drinking among women, who have hitherto been little addicted to this vice.  Since the mothers of the coming generation are thus involved the importance and danger of this increase cannot be exaggerated.

Seeing, then, that the common use of alcoholic beverages is always and everywhere followed, sooner or later, by moral, physical and social results of a most serious and threatening character, and that it is the cause, direct or indirect, of a very large proportion of the poverty, suffering, vice, crime, lunacy, disease and death, not only in the case of those who take such beverages, but in the case of others who are unavoidably associated with them, we feel warranted, nay, compelled to urge the general adoption of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as beverages, as the surest, simplest, and quickest method of removing the evils which necessarily result from their use.  Such a course is not only universally safe, but it is also natural.

We believe that such an era of health, happiness and prosperity would be inaugerated thereby that many of the social problems of the present age would be solved.”

The year has been marked by more detailed examination of the effects of alcohol upon the human system, with the result that progress towards its eventual overthrow as a medicine has been distinctly made.  The greatest reforms are brought about quietly, but truth is mighty and does prevail.  It will take time but gradually all will come to feel the suggestive power in the fact that “The table of nature is spread, and bountifully spread, for all its millions upon millions of guests, but wine and strong drink are not on the table.”

     Scientific testimony on beer
 (From speech by senator J. H. Gallinger, M. D., January 9, 1901.)
          Opinions of leading physicians.

The alarming growth of the use of beer among our people, and the spreading delusion among many who consider themselves temperate and sober, that the encouragement of beer drinking is an effective way of promoting the cause of temperance and of aiding to stamp out the demon rum, impelled the Toledo Blade to send a representative to a number of the leading physicians of Toledo to obtain their opinions as to the real damage which indulgence in malt liquors does the victim of that form of intemperance.

Every one is not only a gentleman of the highest personal character, but is a physician whose professional abilities have been severely tested, and received the stamp of the highest indorsement by the public and their professional brethren.  More skilful physicians are not to be found anywhere.  We have not selected those of known temperance principles.  What they say of beer is not colored by any feeling for or against temperance, but is the cold, bare experience of men of science who know whereof they speak.