OCR Text |
Show BAMBBKQEIl'S DRUNKARDS DILL. The bill introduced by Senator Bamberger in the interest of drunkards, contains the germ of a truly - philanthropic enactment. Enlightened sociology so-ciology and criminology, as well as medical science, teach the true nature of dipsomania. While there is drunkenness that is wilful and morally responsible; responsi-ble; there is chronic alcoholism that is neither. While the crime consists in acquiring the disease, the disease itself is not a crime. Many States now treat chronic drunks as they treat epileptics. Thousands Thou-sands wish to reform, but cannot, with moral aids alone. The will is the result of physiological co- tions. Jf those conditions are morbid the will is weakened,, and the , moral accountability lessened. 37o man can lift himself by his boot-straps. His ai must come from without. This aid Mr. Bamberger's Bamber-ger's 'bill contemplates. Whether the bill as it stands ought to be supported depends on iqany considerations. con-siderations. But it- would seem the body politic should ininlmize drunkenness for the general good. It is cheaper to cure a man of a crime-producing disease dis-ease than to punish him by repeated arrests for crimes themselves. |