LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE FRENCH CRUSADE AGAINST ALCOHOLISM. [TO TER EDITOR 01? TRH " SPECTATOR.")
Sre,—The great interest which the Spectator has shown in the much. needed work of temperance reform emboldens me to hope that you will allow me, through its columns, to call attention to the remarkable crusade against alcoholism which is now sweeping over France. Some- thing is known of what Russia has done in this direction, although the full story of the self-denial and devotion of the Russian peasants in the matter has still to be told, and the fact should be better known that it was to their appeal and agitation that the Prohibitive Edict which suppressed the sale of vodka is owing. But it is strange that our atten- tion has been so little directed to what is going on in France. "La Ligne Nationale centre PAlcoolisme," which was formed about ten years ago, has done good work, but it was the stimulus of the war which kindled the fire of enthusiasm. " L'Alarme," which is described as "une grando Societe d'action centre Palcoolisme," was formed, and the President of the Republic became its honorary President, and amongst the members of its " Comite de Patronage" are to be found the names of such men as M. Henri Bergson, of the Academie Frangaise, Ikon Bourgeois, Paul Cambon, Joseph Reinach, Alexandre Ribot, &c., &c. In December, 1914, it sent a letter to Le Temps which produced a great effect, and since then the movement has swept forward with remarkable impetuosity. A great meeting was held at the Sorbonne, under the presidency of M. Painleve, Ministre de l'Instruction publique, at which M. Vandervelde, Ministre d'Etat de Belgique, amongst other note. bilities, spoke, and the following resolution was unanimously passed t "The three thousand citizens assembled at the Sorbonne on Sunday, May 7th, under the chairmanship of M. Painleve, Ministre de l'Instrue, lion publique, petition Parliament to pass legislative measures of a strong character for the suppression of alcoholism." This was followed by similar meetings in many of the principal towns of France. At Rouen a meeting which, we are told, was held" en presence des autorites
militaires, judiciaires, et d'une foule considerable," the following was, again unanimously, passed : "The meeting of citizens here present, fully persuaded that if France does not kill alcohol to-day, alcohol will kill France to-morrow, declares its conviction that the evil will be definitely conquered only by the absolute prohibition of the manu- facture and sale of all spirituous drinks."
A remarkable book, upon the whole subject, by M. Jean Finot, entitled L'Union Sacree contra Alcoolisme, has just been published under the auspices of " L'Abrme." of which Le Temps says ; "It
eems impossible that any one, after reading it, should still have any hesitation upon the subject." The introduction contains these words :— "The heroism at the front has penetrated, with a happy contagion, the whole of France. The serious duties which weigh upon the nation demand a more determined struggle against alcoholism. The enemy from without has made more manifest the dangers which are within. . . But for alcoholism before the war, we should have sooner tackled the Germans. And if this evil continues to prevail after we bare won the victory, the end will have come of the greatness, the nobility, and the graciousness of a people so much valued and admired." Will you pardon my quoting further from this remarkable little book ? After saying that all who love France will have to strive that she may be "plus nombreuse, plus belle et plus prosp&re," he goes on :— " To realize this ideal, upon which depends the welfare and the safety of France, and indeed of humanity at large, it is necessary to destroy alcoholism, which is the cause of the physical and moral decadence of the people."
[ have referred to the honourable part which Le Temps has played in this crusade, and we are told that "in Presse franeaiae, tout entiare, ea mettant son influence an profit de notre propagande a reussi k crier tine ambiance sp6ciale favorable au triompho definitive de in cause antialcoolique." And it adds : " L'Union Sacree, qui se manifesto funs tons lea domaines de In vie nationale, a surtont triomphe dans solid de l'antialcoolisme."
I think I have said enough to show that the splendid spirit of devotion and love of their country which the French have shown throughout this war is not limited to a desire to protect her from the inroads of the Germans, but that they desire the regeneration of their nation, and to put from them the sources of moral and physical weakness which they now recognize to have been sapping their national vitality. France has indeed recovered her soul, and is showing us as fine a lead as our other great Ally. Russia, has done. She has determined not to trifle any longer with so great a danger as alcoholism represents, and is demanding, in no uncertain tones, from those who govern her, that they should deal drastically with it. The agitation demands as a beginning and minimum the immediate prohibition of the sale of all Intoxicants to those men who have been mobilized, and especially to all wounded soldiers. It also asks that the sale of such drinks to women and minors should be made illegaL
Those of us who, for years, have been agitating for temperance reform must be struck at the contrast between our timidity and the boldness of our French Allies. Let me quote one illustration of this from the appeal which I have already referred to : "Los affaires des empoisonneurs publics sent des plus fiorissantes. On devine la devas- tation terrible quo l'alcoolisme prepare pour In fin de la guerre." The French are further asking what will be the fate of their fighting heroes when they come back to their homes and find their women " adonnees k
In boisson," and declare that it is an elementary duty on the part of the Government to watch over the welfare of the homes which have been disorganized by the war.
Sir, I need say no more. The reasons which impel the gallant French nation to this "Union Sacree " should press with double force upon ourselves. May we hope that at last, through the strain and stress, the anguish and the sorrow, the bereavement and the loss of this titanic' struggle, Great Britain too may find its soul, and put from it this great &Tree of weakness, suffering, and shame ? I heartily commend to the study of your readers the remarkable book which has moved me to trouble you with so long a letter.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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