The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-24

en- Text is At the Last II BlteLn
Like a Serpent. and Stingeth Like an
Adder Prov. 1892
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
~ NOE quarter the Sunday
schools consider a temperance
topic. on the present coca
7iqa is4 as o5tsp P }8 Psoy s59 rs 7.
chosen as the text upon which
the lesson is based. 1T Is to be treated
however, not in an exposItorys but in q
topical fashion. The aim should be to
review the present temperance situa-
ton I'm the light of current history The
many divergent interests which have
relation to temp should converge
upon this one occasion. There can be
little doubt that one Of the mighty tenn
perance agencies of the day Is the reglt-
larly-reCurring temperance lesson in
the Sunday-schoOls-
Tt appears that the old-fashioned
temperance agitation, and apparently
the Prohibition Party as well. are less
vigorous than they were a decade ago.
The temperance cause as a whole, how
ever. is making substantial and even
remarkable progress What this prog
ress IS. every one, young or old, who
aims to be well-informeds should un-
derstand.
Some March News.
Any narrative of temperance prog
ress must this month begin with a rec
4
the Five Years Meetings of Friends
held in Indianapolis, issued a call for
conference on the liquor traffic to
meet in Washington, D. c.. during the
current month. The committee re-
Gently assembled and reported that the
project had been presented to the lead
ing denominations but because these
had received it with great cautoin AMI
even indifference the conference would
have to be abandoned.
This is Lent. ard MANY persons es-
pecially Roman Catholics, are follow
ing the practice of abstaining from the
use OF intoxicants during the Lenten
period. The instructions of most of
the arch bishops have urged this point
strongly. Archbishop Laval, of Mon
trea1. had recently sent letter of the
strongest character urging temperance
throughout his Jurisdiction. There is
throughout the Roman Catholic
church pronounced increase Of tenn
perance sentiment and organization.
Within recent days the progress of
an anti-treatlng bill through the Ohio
Legislature has amazed the country.
This is a new development Of temper
ance reform which heretofore has not
been thought practicable. The United
States Congress, too, has given consid-
cradle and respectful attention to the
liquor question during recent days,
apropos of several bills. one Of the
most important of which aims to pre-
vent the shipment of liquor in bulk
into prohibition states and territories
Horse Sense and Reform.
one Characteristic OF the present
stage Of all reform movements is its
practical character. The mere theOr-
ist has given way to the sentiment for
tangible and immediate results. The
public mind wants things done and
done at once. Thus the Antf-salOon
league, which is evidently practical in
its efforts, has made remarkable prog
ress. Last fall it carried the state Of
Ohio, and it was such a factor IN Penn
sylvanta politics that a leading poIiti-
clan, not himself a pronounced tenn
perance man, urged the dominant party
TO make local option its next issue.
Similarly in the state Of New York the
temperance question Is being agitated
among the public issues.
If the great denominations failed to
enter heartily into the conference on
the liquor traffic proposed for this
month, some OF them, at least have
taken aggressive measures on their
own account The Presbyterians have
recently put into the field their second
temperance secretary. This spring the
Presbyterians will celebrate the TWEEN
ty-hfth anniversary Of organized tenn
DeranCe work within their body and
the occasion will be made an important
one throughout the denomination The
MethOdists have likewise given new vi
tally to their temp erance committee.
The concentration Of public atten-
ton upon life insurance questions has
raised afresh the advantages Of the
temperance mans relation to life in
surance- Some foreign companies are
organized exclusively for total abstain
ers- A few American companies are
said to make special concession TO pol
dcyhoIders who are abstainers. English
actuaries claim that this class of risks
live on the average nine years longer
than drinkers.
The educational propaganda against
lntemperance has made considerable
Roadway in Great Britain where. dur
ing the last five years, the CONSUMPTION
Of distilled liquors has decreased TWEEN
ty-one per cent of wine thirty-three
per cent, and of beer thirteen pel
cent Three important temperance
conferences Of an International nature
have been held on the other side of the
water within the past six months
Broadly viewed the temperance move
ment was never more alive or effective
than today nor did 1t ever before have
as much standing in the eyes of ths
world
Many Weapons, One War.
While the old agencies against in.
temp are still in force new one
are constantly being recruited. The
centuries-intrenched liquor Interest,"
are now being attacked by new meth
DDS and from unexpected angles On,
force which the business feels keenH