THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM 165 



in Great Britain, where the majority do not crave 

 intensely for alcohol, but where much misery is 

 inflicted by it on the minority, a self-denying 

 law enforcing Prohibition might be passed. But 

 in the grape countries, where the evolution has 

 been greater, little misery is now inflicted on the 

 inhabitants. Wine is used almost solely as a 

 beverage, not as an intoxicant. It is highly im- 

 probable that such races would ever pass a self- 

 denying ordinance merely to benefit foreigners. 

 Under such conditions how could we pre\^ent our 

 thousands of travellers and sailors from acquiring 

 the craving, and seeking means of gratifying it at 

 home — if nothing else can be got, men will drink 

 methylated spirits. Alcohol is necessary to many 

 of our industries, arts, and sciences ; must we 

 abandon all of them ? Even if Prohibition involved 

 the whole world we could not eliminate sugar nor 

 the microbes which produce alcohol from sugar. 

 In other words, the means of production would 

 remain. Any one who had fruit could manufacture 

 alcohol of intoxicating strength. Prohibition is 

 therefore impossible as a permanent policy. It 

 may be argued that as yet it has been suc- 

 cessful with Mahomedans and Buddhists. As 

 yet ! we have still to learn the future of those 

 races. 



Temperance reformers have therefore under- 



