The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-11-26
WHAT MUST | DO.


The liquor traffic is intrenched
behind custom and law. Ii has
laid its unholy hands upon our
government in the revenue system
and fastened itself in the appetites
and customs of millions OF our peo-
Pile. 1t has reached the point where
it rules political parties in its inter
ests, and the press, the pulpit and
the ma. ses of the people are afraid
OF it. 1t fights everybody and every
thing that condemns it. There are
few men that have the courage to
oppose it publicly along all legltl-
mate lines. 1t is the most corrupt,
unscrupulous and gigantic conspira-
cy against morals, law and liberty
on earth.
If it cannot be overthrown, it will
destroy our civil and religious liber-
ties.
Let ignorance mock these words
if it will. Let avarice, appetite and
lust rally about the liquor traffic in
bacchanallan reyels, despising the
warning cry, yet it is awfully true.
Babylon. Sodom, Jerusalem and
Rome reveled until destruction sure
and awful came. So these devotee-
of appetite care not for God or men,
and will sink deeper into debauch-
cry until they will carry our liberties
down in this awful maelstrom OF
corruption, unless the thinking peo-
pie of this nation seize the wheel
and turn the ship of state from it
present course.
What shall be the heritage OF oul
children? If we fail to transmit tc
them the liberties and free institu-
Itions wrought out in blood by oui
fathers, we are unworthy our an
cestry. our country and our oppor
tunities. We are bound by every
principle of Improvement to give ou
Ichildren a better heritage than oul
fathers gave us, by SO much as oul
opportunities exceeds that OF oul
fathers.
But what are we doing? Forget
ting our posterty in a mad rush fol
gold. We are actually turning Owe
governmental affairs to the mos
Icorrupt element in the body polite
> 1t is no longer secret that the sa
loon keepers, brewers, distillers anc
men who live by political corruption
hold the balance o. power in gov
ernment. If Anybody doubts this
let them test the matter for them
selves by an effort to elect mum
cipal, state or national government
pledged to make and enforce law
against saloons, prostitution, gam
bling and kindred evils.
There is multitude of our peo
pie who see and lament these grea
and growing evils and are asking
"What can we do?" and we an
swer:
Organize.
Organize what?
Organize yourself. Organization
is essential to life and action. Witt
the members moving in opposite
directions, dissolution and deatl
must ensue.
We will never dethrone evil unit
we organize the good and labor TO
lcommon end.
|, All of us agree that saloons ough
to be put out, and yet who will d
lit? Until the individual is read
: and willing to do his part he is dis
! organized.
!. Friend, organize yoursel |
y "How?" Just determine that yo,
will use all your power for the rigli
: and against the wrong as long a
you live.
"But my policy?"
All, that's the matter. You fol
low a policy, and policy men neve
lead, but follow. You are not or
: ganized; you are an actor, but ar
It acted upon. If you were vert
;. they would have to parse you In tn
subjunctive mood, passive voice.
"But my plan is the best becaus
lit is peaceable. +"
A graveyard is very peaceablt
Peace that leaves the liquor traill
in power is the peace of nationi
death. II we love peace better tina
liberty, are we not slaves indeed
Christian citizens, we appeal
YOU who have not stiiled your col
sciences. Arise in your power
freemen and strike the saloon shacl
les from the state and the nation.
"But don't believe in legislatir
on what people shall eat and drink.
That is not the question at all.