Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-31
DR.. Solomon

Editor The Journal.
Some days ago I saw in your most ex-
cellent paper an article from DR.. Willis
B. Park on a state inebriate home. /
read Ii with great pleasure. / blessed God
for a man who spoke so nobly for this
class of our citizens. It marked him as a
broad humanitarian with an active brain
and a warm heart, as one who loves the
poor drunkard and suffering humanity. In
the same paper read a magnificent edi-
torial on DR.. Parks contribution, which
with pathos and burning eloquence plead
ed the drunkard's cause. Then followed
Rev. DR.. A. r. Holderby, of this city, and
DR.. Eugene Elder. of Indian Spring and
Mrs w. H. FELTON,, of Gainesville, and
DIR. T. II. Powell, president of the State
Lunatic asylum in articles of fine merit,
all breathing of love and true patriotism
Not one note of discord has yet been
struck-naught but the heart of sympathy
was manifest for our unfortunate brothers
led captive by strong drink, but alas it
was left for DIR. Z. Park Gibson, of Mill
ledgeville, to sound the first discordant
note. He struck the man that was down
and struck him hard.
I have no heart to damn a man, and
surely not that man that is already
damned. The poor fellow who is down
needs a helping hand. Let no one kick
him like a dog if he himself would be re-
spected as a man.
Dr. Gibson thinks the poor drunkard
should go to our common jails or sweat
out his crimes on the streets in ball and
chains-just suffer like a vile criminal or
vagabond.
Well, this may be cold justice. This may
be the remedy for the drunkards ills. Pos
sibly il will cure him and set wrongs to
right, but as sure as the sun shines and
the white stars twinkle in the blue skies
I No N CIlph a and
as for mercy. she is crucihed most wan
tonly. I make no defense Of drunkards.
God knows my heart / hate the bar rooms
and the dispensary. The liquor traffic is
the curse of the church and state. 1t is the
one foul blot on our American civilization,
but let us remember that very many of the
most generous and of the noblest spirits
on earth today are the victims of strong
drink Think, too, of the pale-faced wife
and children and think of the broken
hearted mother and think of the father
who bemoans the fate of this boy. Think
of the tragedies of these wasted lives.
Then think of the hope that will bloom
again under the benefcent touch of love
and prayer If ever a poor mortal in this
world needs sympathy and real help to
get on his feet again that man is the
drunkard. Too often he is the slave OF
depraved appetites and passions. He is a
creature of miserable heredity, comes into
the WOrlQ Win pdSSlOn AOI uAAilh bVA II
in his bones Do not be too hard on him.
He deserves more to be pitied than CEN
sured.
Bless him, don't curse him. Lift him
LID. don't push him deeper down. Put
your arms about him, don't put your
feet upon him. We may not have the
drunkard's temptation; we may not know
the drunkard's sin, but we are all tempt
ed at some point and we are all sinners
We will remember his heredity and MS
wretched environments and the stumbling
blocks this state has put in his way ana
we will, like true men, give him chance
for his life and help him to build his nome
again. And when once more sunshine shall
fall into the hearts of his loved ones and
happy laughter shall burst forth from
their lips who shall say valuable con-
tribution is not made to society and the
world is not better by the drunkard's re-
calamation.
Again DR.. Gibson has a great eye for
business. He is looking at both sides of the
ledger. He is mortally -afaid the debts
will be greater than the credits. He is