BACCHUS vice FATHER MATILEW.
PRosrEfury and profligacy would seem to go together ; and as misery and vice are inseparably associated, we are driven to the painful conclusion, that, prosperous or wretched, human nature is
prone to be debauched. In Ireland, however, adversity seems to be allied to virtue at least. It was during a painful part of the Irish history that Father Mathew succeeded in winning that faith- ful people from whisky. Under his ministration the consumption fell from 12,206,342 gallons in 1838 to 5,290,650 gallons in 1842, —figures which prove that Father Mathew has a power which emulates that of the Excise or Customs in keeping down consump- tion. Father Mathew is now, we believe, in America ; and in his absence the consumption of whisky has greatly recovered in spite of the decrease of the population. With 8,175,000 souls in Ire- land, the quantity of whisky consumed was 5,290,650 gallons ; but in 1852, with a population of 6,515,794, the consumption has re- covered to 8,208,256. It has returned from 51 pints to nearly 10 pints per mouth annually. How are we to account for this backsliding? Is it that the temperate class of the population chiefly supplies the emigration? There mifht be something in that conjecture, if the emigration did not practically amount to about a fourth part of the Irish people ; and so large a slice is more than likely to include all kinds. Does grief at the departure of dear friends make the Irish fly to nearly three millions more gallons of whisky for solace ? Well, there may be something also in that; yet three millions of gallons are rather a long pull for a parting cup. Has the increased demand for labour supplied the people with more money, and thus it is that they take the shortest way to happiness by the pennyworth ? That is the most probable solution. For, find them where you may, there is a tendency on the part of all classes, when well supplied with cash, to enjoy "a social glass." The most striking instance of an increase to the revenue has been that of the Austra- lian province of Victoria, where the general revenue for the quarter increased from 30,323/. in September 1851 to 99,1591. in September 1852; and it is observed that by far the largest proportion of the increase was owing to spirit-duties, namely, 43,143/.,—the revenue from this source having increased from 12,235/. to 55,378/. In fact, when people get money they will purchase enjoyment by the shortest way ; and if they cannot get exhilarating drink of a better kind, they will fall back upon whisky and gin. Father Mathew may keep them away from the bottle, and Mr. George Cruikshank may draw them away fora time ; but when the preacher or the painter is absent, "the bottle" will reappear. The comparative temperance or intemperance, therefore, depends upon what is in the bottle ; and abundance of evidence taken before the Committee on the Wine- duties shows, that if you can put wine there instead of gin or whisky, a certain amount of exhilaration can be purchased with- out the same amount of coarse drunkenness.
Previous page
