The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-29
- WILLIAM .. ELLIs.

HE wave Of reform that is
now sweeping the continent
is worldwide and aIl-inclusive.
IT not only seeks the overthrow
of political despotism and com
& mercsal greed. but it also aims
20 build up society's weak places and
to tighten the burden of the comm on
man 1t Is As greatly interested IN tenn
perance as In municipal ownership, IN
Che remedyfng OF the divorce evil as IN
the abolition OF rampant pOiuco-com-
1rercial corruption. All of this means
that our old world Is cropping deter
1rinediy after the light OF right. These
are great days IN which to be alive
No reform Is more persistent or
prominent or peryasive than the tenl-
Dearanos reform. Like John Browns
soul lt goes marching on. ana no
man car predict what it's ultimate goal
have displayed a genius for strategy.
"A notable master stroke was the set
ting apart Of one Sunday a year as
s'tamuSzance Sunday" when the 25s-
coo 900 Sunday-schoo1 members should
all make a study OF this topic, ma
5oritF Of the pulpits Of the world
ahouid thunder against the drink evil,
and an immeasurabIs food Of temper
Rnce literature should be circulated
The educational erect Of all tnese
forces can scarcely be overestimated.
The abiding principle that underlies
the temperance reform is abstinence
for the sake OF others" It Is based
on s. famous passage in Paul's writings
STRENGTHENING out the feeble Church in
corrupt Cortntll as to It's duty with re-
spect 70 meats offered TO idols. The
practices that troubled the Corinthian
JhristIans have been outgrown, but
the principles remain, and a principle
is more important than any practice.
a Mans Right.
Claar-thinking Paul perceived that
man hes rights. He Was never swayed
away from his intellectual mornings
bv any hay sentinentality. So he
planted his feet firmly on the big and
sliding proposition, "All things are
lawful for me" Again, why is my
liberty judged BY another's con
science? p The right Of personal liber-
II. OF Independent judgment. of free
dom OF action, Was unequivocally re-
affirmed by this sagacious old philoso-
Some men have wished that Paul
had kept discreetly silent here His
utteranoe has interfered with their de-
sire to impose their opinions, tastes
and habits upon other people. There
have been Jealous friends Of temper
ance who would declare the drinking
Of any alcoholic drink sin in itself,
and they would excommunicate every
church member not a total abStainer.
But this will not do. It is counter to
rnankind's innate conviction of justice
and counter to the plain teachings Of
Scripture
Tha reformer. Of all men. must keen
q level head. No subway saloons for
him. and on the other hand. no sum
mary condemning to outer darkness
OF the man who sincerely believes in
thus fighting the devil with fire-or to
employ a more correct figure, in keep
ing the devil out of mischief by pro
vidinE him with a comfortab BILE and
congenial freside seat. Liberty to fol-
low his own leadingz must be granted
20 every MAJ Intolerance alone is in
tolerable.
Tho Dangers of Rights.
1t would have been so much easier
FOR humanity IL the Creator had only
made Us wooden manikins. instead 81
free agents. But In that case we would
also have lacked the ability to climb
50 long as man wears the crown Of d.
vine right, he must be free 10 fling
81 IN this gutter. So Paul safeguarded
MS teaching Of Christian liberty by de-
clarlng. All things are lawful but
not all things build up.' The heir tc
million has a right to spend II, every
penny. in Idle pleasure; undeniably
l1is 10 his right; but II he does ht
VII become first spendthrift and
then q pauper. End the exercise of hi
liberty viii be his undoing. Rights
ars dangerous possessions.
dan has appetites. they are thu
mark of his manhood. But when tn
appetites have the man. then he ha
been dethroned from his divine estate
The Bhi1ty-eyed creature who move
among men "a 2 u-5r9 perambulatfn,
appetite has exercised his liberty onl,
10 make himself a prisoner. 50. evi
IDENTIFY. 8 mans right to do as n
DIeases IS dangerous; If exercised Il
the full he Is likely to please nobody
but tise great adversary of souls, who's
happiness is mems misery.
The Highest Right OF Man.
THE best things about ones rights.
says a person OF insight, 'is that the
are ones own and may be given W
A mans highest right Is his right {
surrender his rights.
That is getting on ground worthy o
q man-ground where trod the Ma