The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-10
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. DOOMED.
Three Reasons by Mr.. stradley to Show Why
Its Days Are Numbered

Three Reasons by MR.. Stradley to snow why
Its Days Are Numbered
The liquor traffic is doomed. 1t must
be blotted out. Too long has it blighted
and cursed the nations of the earth.
universal sentiment of opposition to it
is growing. Every right feeling OF
heaven and earth is against it. 1t is
manifestly essentially and eternally
wrong. 1t cannot give ane good reason
why it should not be blotted out. 1t is
the work of the devil. 1t has been, and
still is used by him as his mightiest
agency in his malignant efforts to de-
stroy all good No one sin has ever so
sursed the earth. It's ruin is seen, felt
and deplored everywhere. All over the
earth it makes hearts to ache. eyes to
weep, hunger to gnaw, poverty, shame,
sorrow, and disgrace to reign in millions
of hearts and homes. 1t is doomed as a
legalized traffic. 1t must and shall be
suppressed, because,
1st. God is against it. He says:
''Woe to him that putteth the bottle to
thy neighbor's mouth and maketh him
drunk mo drunkard shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven" Look not on
itself Alright in the cup; for at the last
it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like
an adder God is against the liquor
traffic because it is against Him, and
all that is pure and good 1t is often
said God made whiskey, and put it
here for a good purpose" This is not
true, God never made, or put a drop of
whiskey on the earth. He made grain and
and pure state, for food. But, man, by
a process of fermentation, has changed
what God intended for healthful food,
into a poisonous drink. What God in His
goodness intended as a blessing to His
people, the devil and wicked men have
converted into a curse.
The liquor traffic is doomed; because,
End. All good people are opposed to
It, No one can be good who is not OPP
posed to it.
There are millions of good people who
are opposed to the liquor traffic who
have not taken the stand against it they
ought. They look on and deplore the
evil, but are inactive against it. This
mighty host is soon to be awakened. God
is preparing mighty men and women, who
will soon come forth, and lead this host
of good people to battle against, and
victory over this giant evil. There are
good people enough now to kill it. All
that is needed is to organize them, and
get them to act unitedly against it,
The temperance reform has been great
ly hindered by being mixed with politics.
Political parties have worked hard to
secure the liquor vote. The party in
power is afraid to vote, or legislate
against the traffic, for fear of losing
political control.
Now that negro rule has been practi-
cally eliminated from politics, the friends
of temperance have an additional reason
for combining, and forming a party so
strong that they will hold the balance
of power. Then political parties will
court their aid and legislate in their
interest. Good people must combine
against the liquor traffic, and blot it
out l believe they will. There is a
mighty move in that direction now. The
mighty ruin of the liquor traffic alarms
the patriot, saddens the philanthropist,
and stirs the Christian. mighty revo-
luton is at hand The good of heaven, |
and the best of earth are against the
traffic, and it must go. May it be soon.
The liquor traffic is doomed, because, |
3rd. Thousand of drinking people are
opposed to it. They know that drinking
is wrong They do not want to drink. |
They drink because they are the slaves
of appetite; and because the temptation
to drink is constantly before them. They
would gladly vote to put drink where
they could not get it. They long for
deliverance, but are too weak to break
away from the tyrant who holds them.
Every man who makes, buys, sells or
drinks intoxicating liquors as a bever-
age knows he is doing wrong. He knows
he is going against his own conscience,
better judgment, his God, and the best
interests of society.
LegaliZing the liquor traffic is the most
gigantic crime ever committed by hui
man government. But God is moving
nightly now, on the law makers of the
nations, to suppress this great evil.
Let every church and school house in
the State, not now incorporated, petition
the next Legislature to protect them
against the sale of whiskey for a dis
lance of two or three miles. This would
almost break up the sale of liquor in the
country. Then let every town and city
ask for a dspensary law. dispensary
is not the best remedy for selling and
drinking intoxicants, but it is vastly
better than open saloons. 1t is a move
in the right direction. 1t prepares the
way for something better.
]. A. STRADLEY.
Oxford, N. C.