Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-24
AROUSE THE PEOPLE
Ard the Liquor Devilism VIII Colt,

And the Liquor Dsvilism VIII Go-Itsc
Iossai shadow Eaveiops Christendon
The following from the brave pen :,
/ the editor OF the Arena should be car
fully read and digested by all thinkin,
voters:
No one who has given personal atte,-
ton to the problems of poverty AMI
crime can fail 10 be impressed with t5a
power Of the saloon as factor in The
degradation and misery of humapi,y
Rum is criminalizing the poverty-strieJ,.
en- world. This great deadly SHADOW
which rests 50 heavily over the teen.
ing, seething, struggling millions is the
despair of the philanthropist
In vain do men lecture, in vain cite
statistics, in vain prove that rum IA
building our jails, peopling our prisons
and the prime consumers of millions
upon millions of dollars for maintep.
ance of criminal courts TO infiict nm.
ishment on those who, through its
deadly influence, have committed crime
We all know the facts. The very hone
lessness Of the case seems to lie in the
indifference of society-the conscience
Of civilization is so paralyzed that the
appalling truth makes but little impres.
sion. Until this condition can be
changed, until the moral death-spel
can be broken, and the higher impulses
quickened, we may continue to pass
laws. continue to experiment with A
traffic which has proved itself TO be the
most unmitigated curse that has ever
visited the earth; but little good will re.
suit.
In olden times when Christianity
meant something, the great apostles to
the Gentiles Numbered forth these
words: If the eating of meat makes nv
brother to offend, ] will eat no flesh
while the world standeth." At the pres
emit time, in the presence of Chris.
tian civilization that is disgraced and
dishonored by a curse which all admit
is the most frightful source of crime
and misery, the clergy of the Christian
church is not initiating the apostle:
on the contrary, many ministers are
indulging moderately in wine, in brutal
disregard of the weak brothers who
are stumbling; while, with few hon.
orable exceptions, the clergy is not
laundering against this curse. If with
the vast influence which it wieds il
was filed with the convictions Of
common justice lit by Divine love
for humanity, and fired by the
spirit of truth, it could, in few weeks
enthuse the civilized world, it could
create public sentiment that would
sweep this curse from the face Of civih-
cation.
So deeply, however, has the rum pow.
er embedded itself in many of the
churches, SO powerfully do its feelers
grasp the wool and web OF fashionable
and so loudly does the cry
Prophecy TO us smooth things come
from the richly pews on the
one hand, while so meaningless have
grown the grand ethical impulses Of
christendom on the other that we can
not expect such action from the church
as unit Yet this direct appeal to the
of the people must be made.
This positive and energetic agitation
must be inaugurated 1t is idle to make
avs and leave the public impulse dor
nant Arouse the people, and the evil
viii disappear. NJ AXE men see and feel
hat the rumseller is a greater curse to
he community than a professional
.hief; that a saloon is a more positive
'vil to a neighborhood than a shanty
illed with smallpox patients, and
ire win be kindled which will purge
he country of its greatest crime and
Misery breeder, whose colossal shadow
.nvelops Christendom, and carries
brill of misery, pulsation of vice,
hrob of degradation wherever il falls
A Prominent Prohibition Convert.
DIR. David Berry. of Ashley, Washing.
on county. prominent physician in
outhern Illinois and a lifelong demo.
rat, has recently foresworn his allegi-
nee to democracy and come into the
party, and is using all of his
extensive influence in building up that
'arty. He says that he has been still
'orn prohibitionist for a number Of
ears. He has a wide influence in
outhern Illinois and is making ii felt
a practical way, as he brought with
nm into the party thirty pledged pro
ibition voters. with more to follow
lie IS fine speaker and his voice will
e heard advocating the cause of the
ONE versus the saloon.