The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-08-02
ANTI-sALooN LEAGUE.

it,
Because Anti-Saloon League lecturers,
~ a rule, are preachers, and because
their addresses as a rule, are delivered
in churches, the impression prevails, to
some extent that the Anti-Saloon
League is some sort of a religious or
ganization. Then again, because the
League does undertake to influence
legislation, some think it is political
party. But both these conclusions are
wrong. The League interferes with
no mans religion or politics. Men
of any church or creed or men of no
church or religious creed, may join
this League and unite their strength
and influence against this all pervad-
ing influence for evil, the whisky
traffic.
The mass meeting at the First Meth
odist church Sunday night was an earn
est of good work to follow. The strong
discourses at the four churches in the
morning-the Methodist, Baptist, Cum
berland Presbyterian and Tabernacle
had stirred up the people and prepared
them to be up and doing The uplift-
ing influence of those several sermons
was so plainly manifest that no way
faring man could fail to note it. 1t
was a call to arms for country, kith
and home. and the call fell upon pa
triot ears, and the town was ablaze
with enthusiasm.
In the home, at the Club, on the
street corners, at the hotels, the court
house, the town hall and other public
places, the people talked it, and it was
surprising the very few who defended
the saloon.
1t was temperance day in Columbia,
and the white flag of reform waved
high over ALL The liquor dealers lay
low They were disconnected and rat
tied and about to fall out among them
selves. Some Of them are condemning
others, tor bringing the business into
such disrepute by running Sunday joints
and otherwise violating the law. And
one of their number was heard to curse
the damnahle stuff and degrading bust
ness, and swear that he was done with
both forever.
It was a great day for law and order
and temperance
Let the good work go on. 1t is flu
tile to talk temperance, and do moth
ing. To deplore drunkenness to lament
over broken hearts and ruined homes
to weep and wall, but lay down our
arms-or rather not take up our arms
against the accursed evil of intemper-
ance. No man can defend it. Few
men try. 1t stands condemned by law,
religion, morals, justice and humanity.
It needs but the united effort of itt
enemies to wipe it from the face of the
earth.
1t helps general business to hurt the
saloon business. Cure a man of the
uIluh haul, anu buO NuG
spending for drink he will spend fol
meat and bread, dry goods and grocer
les The stock argument of the dra n
drinkers that temperance laws hurt
business, is contrary to common sense
Another altogether mistaken idea il
that man hurts his private business
by coming out on the side of law an(
order, temperance and good govern
ment No business is more Dependant
upon public favor than the newspaper
business And the Herald is Twin!
example that a newspaper in COlumbi;
can live and thrive and fatten, in opel
defiance of the whisky interest, its in
fuence and confederates.
Certainly man who holds publ
Office is dependent on public favor to
greater degree than any mans privat
business. And what man has held offic
longer than John Latta?
There are more people who oppos
the saloon than there are who favor it
Not only that, but man for man, tn
class who oppose the saloon will bu
ten times as much as those who favo
the saloon. And think you, those VIII
oppose the saloon pay no attention t
the trade feature involved in a contro
versy like this2 If you do, there j
where you overlook your hand. Th
saloon crowd do a deal of loud talkin
about their trade, but it is more tai
than trade. The other side do les
talking and more trading. We hav
never seen man run out of bushes
vet, because he was for temperance
law and order in Columbia. We hav
seen number lose ont because the
were running with the other side.
Every man must be on one side O
the other in this contest There ca
be no middle ground. Choose tn
crowd you will run with. Choose tn
company you prefer TO be classed with
Choose We. whom We will serve
whether God or mammon. Choose Y
which side We will take, whether i
defense of the home or the saloon