Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-08-28
A New Crusade.

i Mr.. EDITOR AS we study the live
of our national heroes and admir-
their bravery and wisdom, we some
times think that their work is don
and there is nothing left for us to d
which calls for the sterling qualitie
possessed by those men. Our countr.
has gained her independence; he
power has been recognized; the ours
OF human slavery has been removed
our oppressed and down-troddel
neighbors have found us a friend il
need and we bemoan our fate in liv
ing too late to take part in these grea
achievements.
The past does indeed furnish man,
examples of true wisdom and genuine
bravery; and we thank our great mel
for the lessons they have taught us
But if we look about, we see that we
too, have opportunities for noble
deeds. The past called for great men
the present also demands leaders d
genuine merit.
There is an evil in our midst. which
threatens, not this country alone, bui
the whole great family OF nations
African slavery controlled the bodies
Of tour million black people for life
The liquor traffic. or American slavery,
first robs its subjects OF their earthly
possessions, then kills their bodies and
finally binds their souls with everlast.
ing letters.
1t is not my purpose 10 picture be-
fore your eyes the horrors OF this in
human trade over and over again
have men drawn pictures of its blight
ing and direful effects yet its harmful
results have not, and never can be,
overdrawn.
We condemn 10 death the man who,
in the heat of anger, takes the life OF
his fellow-man; but we sanction by
our votes the course of another man
no. an agent Of Satan in the guise of a
human being-who robs our neigh
bors Of their hard-earned living, de-
prives them Of their very lives, and
then sends their souls bound as Offer
ings 10 his crafty employer. Our
southern neighbors sold the bodies OF
their slaves We sell our fellow-citi.
zens and too often ourselves, soul and
body, and for want of better-sound-
ing name we call the bargain license
One billion dollars spent annually by
the citizens Of our country tor that
which destroys happiness, fosters
crime and undermines the foundations
upon which our government rests
Millions of our fellow-citizens held in
bondage by this tyrant under the sane
ton OF our laws One slave trade
was prohibited by law in ls0s. When
shall we rise in our strength and pro-
hibit this other and infinitely worse
slave trade?
A partially intoxicated man cannot
do his best work, nor can nation
composed in part of drunken citizens
fulfil its mission in the world.
Washington led our infant republic
out IRON under the cloud OF British OPP
preston into the glorious sunshine Of
American freedom, and his name is
handed down in loving remembrance
from generation to generation. Lin
coin freed race from CALLING servi-
tude, and the world is made his debt
or. Mckinley guided our nation
through trying period and empires
mourned his loss. He who rids this
nation of the curse of the liquor traffic
will not only free bis country from a
deadly enemy but will also make it an
example which other nations will be
glad to initiate, and thus make the
world better place tor humanity to
inhabit.
Palestine was once desecrated by a
foreign foe, and Peter the Hermit
raised a vast army TO wrest the Holy
Land from the invaders. Are we less
jealous than our European ancestors?
We need not make a perilous expedi-
ton TO a far-of land 10 find Gods tenn
piles desecrated. In our midst a foe is
doing his deadly work. How long
shall we allow this subtle enemy to
ravage our land, when we possess the
power to put him beneath our feet
When shall we realize that whenever
we compromise with Satan we make a
bad bargain ?
Peter the Hermit and bis success
ors made crusade after crusade that
earthly temples might not be polluted
by rude, savage eonquerors. Let US
join in new crusade against our
worst enemy, the liquor traffic, that
we may save our fellow-citizens from
corruption, our homes from danger
and our country from dishonor
+. RALPH WALKER, Chelsea. VT.