276 Vice as an Eliminative Agent. [May, 
of expedients, but all are very effectual. . . . Each of those 
chosen for extermination embraces his fate with eagerness, 
under the delusion that he is about to enhance his own 
happiness. Immoderate use of stimulants, and the various 
excesses and errors grouped under the general head of 
£ dissipation, 5 a ‘ life of pleasure/ or the still more expressive 
phrase ‘ a short life and a merry one,’ are favourite plans of 
self-annihilation, and leave little to be desired in the com- 
pleteness with which they do their work.” He adds, “ Vice 
is not so much a cause as an effedl — not so much a disease 
as a symptom. Vice does not make a nature weak or de- 
fective : a weak and defective nature expresses its weak-, 
nesses and defeats in vice, and that expression brings about, 
in one way or another, the sovereign remedy of extermi- 
nation.” 
These views are in such flat opposition to the ordinary 
teachings of the pulpit, the platform, and the press, that 
they must be carefully examined. If Mr. W. Mattieu Wil- 
liams and Mr. McElroyare right, our moral reforms and our 
philanthropic movements are simply attempts to frustrate 
what is, upon the whole, a beneficent arrangement for the 
improvement of the human race. 
Let us look first at the case of intemperance, taking the 
word in its modern, technical sense. Our judges, our cler- 
gymen, our physicians, and many others who have had 
exceptional opportunities for observing, tell us that the ex- 
cessive use of alcohol occasions the greater proportion of 
our criminals, lunatics, and paupers. The fadts which they 
have at command are merely that the majority of these un- 
desirable classes are drunkards. But are they therefore 
right in inferring that had they never tasted alcohol they 
would have been worthy and useful members of society ? 
We doubt it : the post hoc and th e propter hoc are not iden- 
tical. Let us take an example. George III. was particu- 
larly desirous of a long life, and whenever he met with a 
very old man he cross-questioned him closely as to his habits. 
On collating the evidence thus obtained, it was found that 
the only point in common among these men was a habit of 
early rising. Hence His Majesty drew the inference that 
early rising was the cause of longevity ! But if he had ex- 
tended his observations he would have found that a far 
greater number of early risers did not reach an advanced 
age. The only legitimate conclusion is that early rising, 
when practised voluntarily , is a proof of unusual bodily 
vigour. 
Very similar is the connection between drunkenness and 
