The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-01-18
w. CT. U. COLUMN.
CONDUCTED BY MRS. NJ. L. HOBBS.
OUR MAIN PURPOSE.

1.-The solution of the drink pro
blem does not end with total abstin
ence, but rests more upon the com
plete overthrow and prohibition 0
the liquor traffic.
Our mission is world wide, anC
has touched almost every point 0
social and religious life. There il
not church which does not &C.
knowledge that the most powerful
enemy to its progress and to the &C
complishment of its purpose, is the
legalized liquor traffic. All reli
gious life is confronted with this
common enemy to every good mo
tive and earnest endeavor towarc
the upbuilding Of the kingdom o
Jesus Christ. Emphasis should be
given to each of our coordinate de-
partments of work, but the com
mon dependence of our efforts up
on succeeding in the main purpose
Of the final overthrow Of the liquor
traffic should be kept constantly il
view. Sometimes ! fear that in oul
yea to promote special department
work, the great desire 10 win along
a chosen special line, obscures from
the thought of some Of our valued
workers the greater problem Of legal
prohibition.
AS the central idea, eliminating
in every effort, there should be
planted a seed-thought which shall
grow into a positive force looking
toward the separation of the govern
ment, state and national, from com
plicity in legalizing the common foe
to every interest to the home, the
church and the state. We most
firmly protest against the lethargy
Of the church and its failure to de-
wise practical methods Of opposition
to the liquor traffic. ! believe the
the time has come when demand
should be made for applied Chris
The church has evolved a
code of doctrine, and
has equipped itself with powerful
machinery which should find ex.
preston in the activities of pulpit
and pew in sturdy opposition, and
practical methods, against the con-
tinuance OF the blightiEg curse of
the saloon.
Ia order to be more effectual we
must study the problem more care
fully, and thereby be enabled TO de-
fire clearly our position. 1t is
noble service to save the drunkard
from the power Of his habit, but it
is vastly larger service to save the
drinker and the innocent from the
desolating hand Of the saloon.
The victim OF the drink ha-
bit wars against his own habit,
and is the constant prey OF the
greed and selfishness Of hoard OF
liquor dealers who are upheld by
law. The business OF the liquor
dealer depends for its continuance
upon a vested right, it having been
declared by the Supreme court that
no right to sell intoxicating liquors
inheres in citizenship. Let us
study the declarations Of the
churches and the decisions OF the
courts, and then insist upon prohi-
bi.ion as the cardinal mission Of our
When we look about US we are
astonished at the little place given
to 50 great a subject in the public
mind. In many of the churches
an entire yeargoes by without sin
gle sermon upon the topic, or any
public temperance meeting being
held. Thus it becomes more i'm
perative upon each one Of the four
thousand White Ribboners Of Inji-
ana to become an intelligent and
power in pushing prohi-
bition to the front.
The Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union has mighty task, that
Of aiousing the people to see their
duty. OH women Of Indiana, seek
TO inform yourselves upon the diff
ferent phases Of the temperance
work and then impart that informa-
ton.
The cause Of humanity has been
served in freeing millions Of slaves
within our borders, and none toe
much honor has been accorded to
Phillips, Garrison, Loveioy, and
the army Of blue led by Grant and
Sherman, and inspired with the
patriotism of our immortal Lincoln,
Our country is justly proud Of such
achievements. Viewed in the light
Of history, the trend o! destiny leads
the nation to the inevitable conflict
which should free her borders from
the dominion Of slavery. Inspired
with a humanitarian impulse, it il
a natural outcome for our united