The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-08-11

PROVERBS XIII. ~ 81! Look not thou upon
the wine when IL IL red, when IL giycth his
colour in the cup when tmDvcth ITSELF Alright
At tho last n bitcth like u serpent and
stlngeth like an adder.
The matter Of Intoxicating
drinks presents one of the most
Important and appalling subjects
that reasonable man ever con-
fronts. 1t is very difficult for "A
sober and godly man TO refrain
from abuse aud invectlve when
he undertakes to discuss 1T.
When the drink bill Of the coun-
try is greater than the food bill,
when nine teDths Of the cases on
our criminal docket may be trac-
ed directly to strong drink, when
homes are darkened and hearts
are saddened, when the brightest
stars in the galaxy of human gen
JUS are blotted out by its curse,
when it puts its Infamous hands
upon our boys aud rObs them OF
their manhood. When it encircles
our homes in its serpentlne coils
and robs them Of their Joys, when
it vitiates the very atmosphere of
honesty and decency in business
and in society, and attempts to
debauch the very lawmakers and
executors Of the law, when all
these sins can be laid at the door
Of the habit of drunkenness, is it
any wonder that judiclous men,
and modest and refined women
sometimes give vent to their in
dIgnation in terms that would not
pass current in polite society?
However | shall endeavor faith
fully to give reasonable discuss
ion of this subject free from any
suggestion OF diatribe and abuse
But there are some potent facts
that | must state in the outset as
a background for the argument
that | shall educe later.
The first fact is, that the BUSH
ness of dealing IN alcoholic stimu-
lants nearly always has unsavory
surroundings and associations.
The saloon makes gambling its
ally, claiming rs an aid prac-
tice which is II universal outlaw.
1t is II business which, nearly
everywhere, violates the plain
statutes of the law, and does it
openly, 80 that all can see it, 1t
is business that puts a premium
on dishonesty. The larger part
of its profits depends upon dis
honesty in its methods somewhere.
We are not surprised that with
such character, the saloon should
be the center Of the disreputable
element of u community. The
second tact notice about the busi-
ness is, that it IL not regarded as
q legitimate business in the mean
ing of the constitution, but a
business that lives on suilerance.
The Supreme court of the U. S.
and that of nearly all the states
have declared over and over again
that the dealing in alcoholic Ii
quors Is under the police regula-
tlOns of the state, and may be
regulated, restrained, or pro-
hiblted at the will of the state.
1t has no inherent, con-
stitutional right as II Iegiti-
mate business to live, but
only because it is permitted to ex-
list. So that in some Of the states
in large parts of nearly all Of
them, and in about three-fourths
Of our own state it is the dellber-
ate and determined decision Of
the best elements of the people,
that the business Of dealing III al
coholic drinks as beverages shall
be entirely prohibited, The state
ment of these potent facts
is n tremendous indlct-
ment against the business, and
upon the basis Of those facts it
would to build an argument
against the use Of alcoholic stun
ulants that would he unanswera-
bic, from Christian standpoint,
Please notice, (a) 1t abuses the
body, which is sacred trust,
even the temple of God, (b) 1t
undermines the physical constltu'
ton, (c) 1t impairs the reason
and Judgement, (d) 1t dulls the
conscience. (e) 1t initiates
against true religion in every de-
partment of our being, and from
christian standpoint would seen
to be an illicit thing indeed anc
IN truth.
But we are met at the thres
hold of our discussion by the
opinion of many good men, thai
these are merely abuses of thu
things, and with II proper anC
temperate use, these stimulantI
are good thing Temperance
means moderation, and a temper
ate man in drinking, is a moder
ate user of stimulaats. The Bible
too seems to deal with the matte
in q temperate manner, and Seems
- nu hAWorn n