Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-12-01
THE GREAT ABDICATi0N

ne dnEAJ A6UICA Jun
The uncrowning of a man is a
tragedy; the uncrowning of a nation is
a worid-disaster. This story deals with
both.
Once a year the attention of all
Protestant churches, everywhere OH
he globe. is directed to the subject of
temperance in its broader relations.
The last Sunday in November is desig-
mated as Worlds Temperance Sun
day." and the regular course of Inter-
national Sunday school lessons is In
terrupted to make way for 1t. The
study Is less a study of a scripture
S chosen for this week is especially
apt.
Thrice the word Grown occurs in
it. h prophet Isaiah is setting forth
the uncrowning OF Israel and Judah by
the excess of strong drink. and the un-
browning of individuals, eve priests
n prophets. They had abdicated
w. so that only a remnant was left to
wear the crown of glory and the dia-
dem Of beauty
THE PATRIOTS BROAD VIEW.
The old prophet was a big man, with
wide vision. and instead Of devoting
himself exclusively to individual
drunkards-though he doubtless did his
share of the latter-he took Il national
outlook and portrayed the condition of
the two Hebrew kingdoms. The same
is n hint for h present treatment of
the temperance topic, which has too
long been considered i'm a picayune
fashion.
The national conception of the much
mishandled temperance question is one
for the present hour. In Great Britain
1T is becoming a national issue; the
physical degeneracy Of the people. the
increasing congestion of London's
Sums, and the decline Of trade, are all
allied to John Bulls love Of his pot and
spirits. William Stead has said that
commercial supremacy goes out at
the bung-lole.''
Socially II economically considered,
the drink question is also a national is-
sue in the United States and Canada.
III is steadily pressing to the fore from
every angle. That 1t is indissolubly
connected with the problem of bad
citizenship is everywhere recognized.
Steps have already been taken In al
most every state and province to with
draw the saloon from politics.; and
some have resorted to the extreme
measure of total prohibition, predicting
that this will be the ultimate national
remedy.
HOW THE FIGHT GOES.
Shrewd observers are pointing out
that public interest is being increas-
ingly centered upon the liquor traffic
by every such incident as Mrs. Ma
TONS fanatical outbreaks. as Profess
sor Atwater's experiments, the conflict
between the whisky trust and the in
dependent dealers, the dedication of
the subway saloon by a famous bishop.
the organization Of a total abstinence
society among ~bartenders, and the re-
peated political agitation of the pro-
hfbitionists. Each Of these. and sim.
liar occurrences, Is helping to focus
national attention upon what was once
the peculiar province of a few earnest
reforiners. Consequently there are not
wanting temperate students of the
times who declare hat the next rad
ical national reform to be effected will
be along the line of the abolition, or
the great restriction, of the sale Of
liquor.
A THREATENED PORT ARTHUR.
AS the Japanese have made a stub
born. vigorous and varied assault upon
Port Arthur. SO. with a single aim.
very divergent forces have been at
work. In many ways. to overthrow the
drinking customs of ages. There is
nrst the open assault and direct charge
OF the regular temperance army, with
all It's divisions and it's big
guns and its small arms. These have
taken position after position. and have
Deen In the stress of hand-to-hand con-
fict. They are the main reliance OF the
b~esiegers.
The sappers II miners have been at
work. also, by Il patient process OF edu-
cation t%unneling under the very founda-
lions OF the mighty institution. More
than one mine has been. exploded. with
disastrous results, by these skillful war
tiors. The ileet of literature has bonn
Darded the forts from where It rides In
the ofiing. Great authors and modern
newspapers alike have poured hot shot
into the liquor camp.
Deprivation has been at work as a
temperance alley, even as In Port
arthur 1t has aided the Japenese. So
ciety has deprived the LIQUOR dealer
n the drinker OF it's approval. Great
commercial institutions, railways and
such like. have closed their doors to
strong drink. The most eminent perl
odicai publications in the land refuse
to admit to their columns the adyer-
tisements Of spirituous liquors. So the
siege goes on. with the besieged RroW.
Ing increasingly concerned. And one
does not have'to be hostile to the inter-
ests OF the liquor men to perceive that
ro(Stbbo OOO1ttCO "
fall.
THE GREAT scHooLMAsTeR.
God has been keeping school through
many centuries, teaching nations and
individuals. He never graduates His
scholars until they have learned their
lessons. though He frequently expels the
inc0rrigibles. But first He tries to woo
them to wisdom by gentIcness and love.
Failing that. He uses the rod, even
az Israel was punished by the Assyrian
nail.
60 He = stu teaching y |. Intemper-
ance y linked with evil, always and ev-
erywhere. Strong drink and hard times
80 together. So do strong drink ana
physical suffering. The saloon and the
prieon are cause and effect; likewioo
the FALCON and the asylum. Disgrace.
shame, poverty and sorrow all follow
n the wake OF the bottle. Surely this
shoul6 teach men to Ghun drink. But It
dos not. The beneacent-T Teacher puts
NHirtt s>>-.>