The Newtown bee., 1892-06-17

would leave to our children the nODle ueT itage of free institutions that we receiY ed from our fathers. this is the liquor traffic. This unholy traffic is yearly slay- ing more than the most bloody battles of the rebellion. This traffic stays some 1900 week, over 200 day, who fall for the most part into dishonored graves, that will have no flowers spread over them. This traffic holds in the most cru el bondage of an unsuitable appetite mill lions who are marching on through the most terrible torture to the drunkard's grave and the drunkard's hell. Once more, this traffic holds our nation by the throat and makes it's demands, that must be complied with, or there will be trouble for somebody and so, through it's power over the ignorant and vicious and, am compelled to admit, over many of the better class, it is able to elect it's own tools to office and make the laws for the nation, so that, to-day, we are virtually ruled by the tools of the liquor saloons and no laws can pass that are not, in measure at least, approved by the liquor fraternity. Now here is the chief of in- iquities strong and in power, as was Ba- laamism in the days of Ahab, king of Is- rael.
 No one can claim anything good for the saloon, except that it fills the saloon keepers pocket, by robbing helpless women and children of their daily bread. Everything in and about the saloon is immoral, degrading, debasing, yea a curse to the community. Now, while every one must admit this, yet many are ready to say, What are you going to do about it? You cannot stop the selling of liquor. Men will sell and men will get drunk. So there were croakers in the time of the Rebellion. Men who said, The Rebellion can never be put down, it is an ungodly war. Men who said, Let the Union go. Many times our soldiers at the front felt that their worst enemy was in the rear. But God had purpose in that war and when, as people, we were ready to recognize that purpose, He soon enabled us to put down the Re- bellion. Now, in this war with the sa-
  ed appetites and worse depraved minds and debauched principles. It is a battle in which all the ignorance, greed, selfish ness, lust and spoil of office are united and led on by the cunning and artifice of the unprincipled fruits of demagogism born in saloons. It is also battle which has, on the side of the saloon, im- mense wealth and, as I have said, through the compromise of the govern ment, the saloons are we'll entrenched in power.
 Then, again, in this battle against the degrading and debasing work of the sa- loon, you must fight the apathy and the indifference of many good and perhaps sober men, who, while they admit the terrible evil of the saloon traffic, yet feel and say, It is none of my business. If men want to get drunk and abuse themselves and families, I cannot help it. Such men have not the least spark of true patriotism, nor of true humanity or Christianity. They are not men.
 Still again, in this battle you must meet the tacit opposition of those de- ceived with the thought that they need a little now and then for their often infirm- ity. Others, perhaps sincere, but mis- guided or carried away with false views of their moral obligation, are ever ready to compromise in some way, rather than squarely fight the evil. While they be- lieve the saloon traffic terrible evil and curse, yet say, It cannot be suppressed and, therefore, they will compromise and so hope to make it little less an evil by giving it legal status. That is to say, it is wrong for men to keep saloons and sell that which damns their fellow men soul and body, but it will not be quite so great an evil, if these saloon keepers will pay a small sum to the State for the privilege and it will be much less crimi- nal for them to coin money from the tears, blood and lives of their victims, if they pay the State larger sum. But, my brethren, no wrong can ever be made right by bribe. It is sin, civil and moral, to license the liquor traffic. Now, my hearers, as we have partially measured the strength of our enemy, the enemy of the race and nation, is there not great force in the words of our text, "Be strong and quit yourselves like men and fight" that ye be not servants to this, your enemy.
 For it is most formidable enemy that is threatening to enslave this land and bring it under the power of the evil, im- moral, degraded and debase portion of the people through this saloon traffic. It is also an enemy that knows no honor nor mercy. If your life or mine stands in the way of their greed or power, we will be soon put out of the way, if any foul means can be found to reach us. Therefore, this conflict of to-day needs and calls for as marked physical cour- age, as did the conflict of 30 years ago. It also requires champions who hold not their lives dear, when humanity and their country's welfare is at stake.
 The cause also demands moral cour- age of the highest degree. It calls for men who are not afraid to champion 8 righteous cause, even when, to human eyes, it is most feeble and unpopular. It requires men with whom principle is far more important than expediency. Men that will quit themselves as men; who will stand for the right; who have mind and will to see the right and the moral principle that underlies cause.
 Lastly, for as cannot dwell long on any of these points, as Christians we must wage an unceasing warfare against these and evil in every form, especially