Intemperance In Europe

Rev. J. T. Sunderland, of this city delivered an address before the National Qnitarian Conference at Saratoga, lasi week, and the Daily Saratogian of Sept. 23, luis this report of it: "Rev. J. T. Sunderland, who had just returned froin a year's trip abroad, spoke on the temperauce question as relating to the condition of four countrien, England, France, Germany and India. He was never inore appalled in iiis life, he said, than the first montk he spent in London. He referred to the obstrusive inanner in which saloons were condueted, the high pressure onder which they were running, and the large nuiiiber of wonien who patronized the places, and the Sunday night traffic in liquor. He noticed tire saine condition in other principal ckies of England. The liquor evil wasgreater in England than in this country. The speaker referred to the power of the liquor element in the church and in politics. The power of liquor in África is terrible. England is, chief of all, respousible on account of the commercial movement that brought to África conditions tluit were worse than slavery. Whereever the natives are coming in contact with the whites, they are decaying and all on account of the evils iutroduced by the Europeans. The temperance question is a world matter. Millions are effected through the eleetion of a liquor parliament. The prospect for improvement in England, while not over bright, is still apparent, a public conscience is slowly growing on the attitude of the government toward África, the islands oí the sea, India and tlfe lesser peoples. "In Frauce and Germany drinking ig even more universal than in England. the speaker made a strong point by quoting French prison statistics. The situation in Paris and France generally is serious, and is growing worse. The use of distilled spirits has increased 2,000 per cent. in 25 years. The one ray of hope consists in that some are awakening to the danger. "The situation in beer drinking. Germany is not much better than in wine drinking France. Statistics show there are 400,000 drunkards in the Germán empire. The drinking habits of the people tends to keep the country poor. Constant beer drinking robs the race ol physical endurance and mental quickness, which is causing the people to fait , behind in the industrial race. It is found in the army that the soldiers whö are constant beer drinkers have only eighty-iive per cent. of the physical endurance of total abstainers. Here is the chance for reform. Germany will not see her industries and her army suffer. "In referring to drinking nomen the speaker said that the drinking motherg meant drinking childreu. In this country we have some drinking wonien. It is the greatest cloud on the social horizon. "Foreign universities are no places for any hut mature young men to go to frora this country. "In India, when Enropeana first went there they found singurarly températe people. One of the commandiiients of Buddism is, " Tliou shalt not drink strong drink." Buddhism seems to have been the first great movement in the temperance cause. The speaker showed how the liquor trade secured a hold ík India through the eftbrts ol' the traders, backed by the English govermnenL The opium trade of India lias beea built up from the bottom by the government. The speaker ooncluded by showing the relation of the temperance cause to the introduction of Christianity in India, where one Christian has been made in India by the Christian gospeL, one hundred have been made drunkards by Christian liquor. Will India ever become a Christian country? She will have to be a great deal more debased than she is now before she will accept" the Christianity of a country that sends to her shores missionaries and rum on the same ship. Does it not seem that for the nextfifty years the leading missionary work should be temperance work, and that it should not be carried on in África and India but in Europe, England and America."