The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-12-20
A SATURDAY sERMoNEITE.
lFrom saturdny's Daily HeraldD


these last two weeks to save a world,
fall the sinners would heed the teach
ing of the great man who stood among
us and proclaimed the gospel twice
and three times day for ten days.
And the Herald devoted II large part of
its space to this great event III Column
bias history.
That much good has been accom-
plished by these sermons, those who
heard them and witnessed their effects
upon the people present, do not doubt
or question that greater good still will
follow, is our earnest prayer.
The Sunday night discourse at the
Opera House is the one to which we
would invite especial attention. 1t
was temperance sermon, and por-
trayed with powerful effect the evil Of
intemperance growing out of the liquor
traffic. 1t showed that the saloon was
the hot bed of anarchy, the trysting
place of the mob and the home of
marauders, cut Threats and thieves. In
short, it showed the saloon up in its
true colors and then, it did a still
more important thing, it offered a
remedy for the cure of this curse to
the nation, the home and the indi-
vidual And 80 plain and simple and
easy and quick remedy. What is it2
Nothing more nor less than that chris
tian men, and all who love their
homes and country, should cast a clean
and christian ballft.
Such enthusiasm Vas that sentiment
aroused has rarely if ever been wit
messed in Columbia. Such cheering
and waving of handkerchiefs such
unanimity when the great crowd was
called upon for rising vote. But the
question is, will those good purposes
stay with us'
Bourke Cochran once said of Grover
Cleveland, HE is the most popular
man in the Union every dav in the
year except on election day, then he
gets beat. And the same may be
said of the temperance cause. 1t is the
most popular theme any speaker can
discuss between campaigns; then it
gets beat
And why? Because men are weak
and desert their colors. Because the
whiskey element is organized and &C.
tive, and stick closer together than
brothers. Because here and there g
protested christian will permit his
name to go on the whiskey ticket, and
because still greater number of pro
fessed christians and so-called temper
ance advocates will take this devil's
bait and swallow it.
Mr. Stuart strongest point in this
memorable address was this; TIL,
Bible says that no drunkard shall entel
the Kingdom of Heaven. If the drunk
ard must go to hell, why not the ma,
who sells HIM the liquor, argued thu
speaker. And if the saloon keepe
shall be damned for selling tn
poisonous stuff, why not the man VIII,
rents him the house to sell it in. An,
if he, why not the legislator who make
the law to license the infamous traffic
And it he, why not the so-called chris
tian who casts the ballot that elects tn
legislator who creates the law tina
licenses the saloon that makes tn
drunkard?
The logic of that is irresistible. TIL
roor, shivering, friendless drunkard
more to be pitied than condemned
The man who sells him the poison tina
robs him of home and health and al
happiness does it for the money ther
is III it, and sometimes at least is de
ceived into the belief that he has tn
right being the law-to rob other
in order to care for his own. So tn
man who rents him the house is NOR
culpable than the saloon keeper him
self. But even this man argues tina
if he didn't, somebody else would. Blu
even that poor excuse is denied tn
lawmaker Cor if he didn't license tn
business it frequently happens tina
nobody else could. But back of hir
and above him and the absolute maste
of the situation, is the voter who, bein
vested with all power ana authority,
also made the more responsible, an
who of all men is most blamable TO
the existence of this national disgrace
the drunkard factory-called the saloon
The two great parties in Tennessee al
called the Democratic and the Republ
can parties; but the one great issue
Tennessee next year, wilt be the liquC
traffic. Politicians will evade it; pla
form writers will straddle or ignore i
candidates will straddle it, or try to; br
the issue already is, and the fight wi
grow hotter and hotter as the days go b.
Every man who has enough influenC
or popularity to hope to be elected
any office, from constable up to govern
or, has an influence that will be felt Z,
or against the saloon. The saloon cal
diiates cannot be judged by their drinl
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