Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-05-12
Why.

said that the letters w. Q. L. U. meant,
"Women Constantly Torment Us"
Why.
It is our privilege to ask why, pos
sibly our duty. The unreasoning AMI
NAL may take things as they come,
and, possibly, can do no better, but
an individual or a community should
know the wherefore. Especially is
this so with regard to abuses and
wrongs. Why do they exist? We
ought to know, so as to remove or
correct them as much as we may.
There is responsibility somewhere.
Things are not by chance. That's a
FOOLS idea. Where the responsibility
is, we ought, if possible to know.
Most certainly ought we to see that it
is not on us. This ''going it blind"
Is folly and madness, unworthy q ra-
tional being or an Intelligent commun-
ity. Why not open your eyes to see
what's what? Why tolerate nuisen-
ces when something is better and pos
sible?
These queries crowd upon US as we
look at the curse of the rum traffic.
1t burdens us and everybody knows
it. 1t steals our money, steals our
muscles, steals our brains and steals
our souls. It is fire-brand IN every
department of life, and yet we do not
put 1t out. It is a serpent whose bite
Is poisonous and fatal, and yet we do
not kill it. We let HIM crawl about
doing his deadly work without any
very vigorous efforts, if any at all, to
destroy HIM. He bites our loved ones,
and we weep and moan for a season;
but we let the reptile live. We even
build jails and prisons and hospitals
and asylums in which to keep his VIC
Tins, when a thousandth of the cost
would throttle him to death. If a
mad dog bites us we Immediately kill
the dog as well seek to cure or care
for the victim; but If alcohol wounds
we only build our jails and hospitals,
and tearfully bury our ruined dead.
What ails us? Have we lost our
senses? Or are we born idiots? Why
kill the dog and let the viper live?
Why holly and effectively pursue the
cur, and only go meekly or pusillani-
monsly to the viper with some dainty
morsel and a gentle persuasion to
bite more madly hereafter? As
though snakes ever listen to reason
or entreaty, or were ever inclined to
do otherwise than bite! Why do we
do sof Where are our wits? Or is
the blood in our veins nothing but
water? Or is our spinal column like
an eePs? Or are we in league with
this destroyer of our race? What
does all us? Why do we bow so cring-
ingly to this accused idol? Is there
no help for us? Must this weary wall
from 100000 drunkards' graves con-
tinue to go up year after year? Is
there no power in the 10000, 600
church members in this country to
stop this unholy and horrible slaugh-
ter? Why is it that this Goliah of
Gath defes us to our face day by day?
Is it because we are afaid to fight him,
or is it because we insist upon cloth
ing our youthful David in the armor
of Saul? Isn't it time we took sling
and stone?
IsraePs army was large and had
fought many battles and won many
triumphs; and yet she stood before
the giant with a palsied arm. So
with us. Our army is large and our
battles have been many; ana yet this
giant defies US to our face and laughs
US to scorn. Is it not time for the
Shepherd boy with his trust in God.
his sling and stone? Is it not time
for break in the ranks and a simple
and more direct method of warfare?
SauPs army and Saups armor have
had their day. Give us David and
his sling. The great want of the hour
is single eye, and single aim and
crushing blow IN the forehead. Ques-
tons of tariff and revenue will settle
themselves a thousand-fold more to
our advantage and credit when once
we nave settled this question right
eously, nationally. This unsettled,
all others must be disturbed. God
speed the day of David and his sling.