The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-04-09
MISREPRESENTATION.


mo Chrlstlan-no one who loves his
IelloW man, can possibly be, Indifferent
to-tau to manifest deep interest in
the subject of temperance-Iaws look
ing to its enforcement.
The speculative mind looks to cause
and effect. Why will men drink in
Goxlcatlng iquors9 What will prohibit
remedy the evil?
Man is a social being; he vearns for
recognition, is deeply sensible to slight
to sympathy.
Ine competitive system, with it's con-
comltant regulations, which is giving
this country its thousands of million,
aires, and it's millions of paupers, has
done-ls doing more to foster the LIQUOR
trade than all other factors combined.
Prohibition does not, will not pro-
hlblt. The only remedial remedy is to
elevate man socially-a practical Chris
tianity is the one thing needful. Let
our Christian ministry-our Bro Tut
tie and others, who are justly so vitally
concerned on this subject, align them
selves in the ranks of the reformers,
champion the rights to many longer
social privileges-opportunities.
1t is a fact patent to every observant
person that poverty-want, is the pat
ron Of strong drink. In confirmation
of this recall a bit of history-the
year 89 will long be memorable in
the annals of Eastern Carolina as one
of flood, crop failure. Xmas Eve of '89
found our people purse poor, and yet
it was generally remarked upon that
those who traficed in liquors never re-
ceived 80 large patronage.
am temperate as to strong drink
have been we'll nigh tetoteler, as to
practice, all my life; have practiced
temperance both by precept and prac-
tice. On one occasion was talking
with one of my farm laborere, a young
colored man; in reply to my enquiry as
to the good that he derived from drink,
hestated that give him one short and
he felt himself the equal of any man."
it elevated. Christianity implies the
brotherhood of man. Sin stepped man
in barbarism. Christianity by degrees,
slowly, it istrue. is selevatiDgy enObliDg,
civilizing him It's ministry needs the
wisdom of the serpent (the willy one);
in it's exercise the harmlessnees Of the
dove is to be used.
How is this wisdom to be obtainedG
Itcan be studied at the foot of Gamaliel.
Shall not those who minister unto US
study at the feet of the historian9
What is the record of history on the
subject of drink9 Is it not that degra
dation, want, invites to drunkenness
and all that it implies9 What was the
French nation prior to its revolution Of
blood7 What is it to- days
III fares the land, to fastening ills prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay"
No truth of greater import. On
whom will the responsibilities so heav-
lily rest if the conditions that now OBJ
tain in this country be not changed7
To whom is the call to labor in further
ance of this change so Macedonian as
to the Christian ministry9 My brother,
if you would foster temperance, enact a
prohibition that will prohibit; raise
your voice, lend your aid to the better
ment of mans financial condition, not
simply the few, but the many; the siM
of the age IS greed, GUGrice, OUer- reach
ing. Will you not, as did the Master,
whom you profess to serve, inveigh
against it9
A merciful Providence has blessed us
caused our fields to produce abund-
ant harvest, and yet hard times is the
cry; poverty and want stalks abroad; !;
the distribution of accumulated pro-
duction-gain, is an unholy one. Over
production is a misnomer, improve the
distribution and there will be no frag-
ments; neither will there be drunken
ness either in feasting or in strong
drink. God makes no mistakes; the
mistakes of life are mans, the DEVILS
works. M. J. BATTLE.
NJHTTTRAT TATFNT FOR THR