The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-24

Keen Nv RoSv finder and Bring it
Into Subjection.f 1 Cor. 9-27-
by WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
The uncrowning of a man IS trag-
edys the uncrowning Of nation IS a
world disaster. This story deals with
both.
Once a year the attention OF all
Protestant churches everywhere on
the globe, is directed to the subject OF
temperance in its broader relations.
The last Sunday in Novem Der is deslg-
mated as Worlds Temperance sun
day" and the regular course or inter-
national Sunday-school lessons IS IN
terrupted to make way for it. The
study is less study Of a Scripture pas
sage than of a topic Yet the passage
chosen for this week is especially apt
Many times the word woe occurs
in it. The prophet Isaiah is settins
forth the uncrowning of Israel an
Judah by the excess of strong drink.
and the uncrowning of individuals.
They had abdicated their 1ndepend-
ence and self-sovereignty so that only
"a remnant was left to wear the crown
Of glory"
Tho Patriots Broad View.
The old prophet was a big man, with
wide vision, and instead of devoting
himself exclusively to individual
runkards"though he doubtless did
his share of the latter-he took ma
tional outlook and portrayed the con-
ditiOn OF the two Hebrew Kingdoms
The same is a hint for the present
treatment of the temperance topic.
which has too long been considered IN
a picayune fashion
The national conception Of the
much miShandled temperance Ques-
ton is the one for the present hour.
In Great Britain it is becoming ma
tional issue; the physical degeneracy
of the people, the increasing cOnges-
ton of IrOndOnfS Sums and the decline
n frcd 10 n al IN
love of his pot of spirits. William
Stead has said that commercial SUI
premacy goes out at the bunghole-"
Socially and economically consid-
cred. the drink question is also a ma
tional issue in the United States and
Canada. 1t is steadily pressing to the
fore from every angle That II Is IN
dissOlubly connected with the problem
Of bad citizenship is everywhere recog-
nized- Steps have already been taken
in almost every state and province to
withdraw the saloon from politics; and
some have resorted to the extreme
measure of total prohibition, predict
ing that this will be the ultimate ma
tional remedy.
Shrewd observers are pointing out
that public interest is being increas-
inRly centered upon the liquor traffic
Public attention IS being focused upon
what was once the province of a few
earnest reformers. Consequently there
are not wanting temperate students of
radical national reform to be effected
will be along the line of the abolition. /
or the great restriction, of the sale of
liquor.
A Threatened Stronghold.
AS the Japanese made a stubborn.
vigorous and varied assault upon Port
Arthur so, with a single aim very
divergent forces have been at work. in
many different ways. to overthrow the
drinking customs of ages There is
first the open assault and direct charge
of the regular temperance army, with
all it's divisions and weapons, it's big
guns and its small arms. These have
taken position after position, and have
been in the stress of hand-tO-hand con-
hict. They are the main reliance of
the besiegers.
The sappers and miners have been
at work, also, by a patient process of
education tunnelling under the very
foun dauons of the mighty institution.
More than one mine has been explod-
ed with disastrous results by these
skilled warriors. The fleet of litera-
ture has bombarded the forts from
where it rides in the offing. Great
authors and modern newspapers alike /
have poured hot shot into the liquor
camp.
Deprivation has been at work as a
temperance ally Society has deprived
the liquor dealer and the drinker of /
its approval. Great commercial insti- |
tuuonS, railways and such like have
closed their doors to strong drink The |
most eminent periodical publications |
in the land refuse to admit to their !
columns the advertisements of spirit /
uous liquors. So the siege goes on /
with the besieged growing increasing
" concerned. And one does not have /
TO be hostile to the interests Of the IL /
quor men to perceive that their Port /
Arthur seems doomed to fall. God has I
been keeping school through many /
centuries, teaching nations and indi-
viduals. He never graduates his schol-
ars until they have learned their les /
sons. though he frequently expels the /
incorrigi bles- But first he tries to WOO
them to wisdom by gentleness and
love Failing that, he uses the rod,
even as Israel was punished BY the
Assyrian fail.
IA Sc He is still teaching us. Intern
perance is linked to evil, ALWAYS and
everywhere Strong drink and hard
times 60 together. SO do drink and
suffering. The saloon and the
prison are cause and effect likewise
the saloon and the asylum. Disgrace
shame. poverty and sorrow all follow
in the wake of the bottle. Surely this
should teach men to shun drink Rut
A. does not. The benefcent Teacher
puts the thorn Of suffering on the rose I
of sin, but men heed not the pain or
the blood Neither Israel nor Amer
lea could be moved by the clear mont
tons of God regarding drunkenness
Were we not assured that the drink
ing customs Of the day are diminishing
instead Of increasing we should have
to predict for the greatChristian ma
tons of tho present the fate OF Eph-
RAM of old.
When the Preachers Go Wrong.
Isaiah became most outspoken and
intense when he dealt with the chosen
people. his own Judah Even tha
priest and the prophet were not shared
His picture of the unclean environ
ment Of a drunken debauch CRATES on
the nerves OF those who dislike evil
less than they dislike the plain truth
about It.. As a matter of fact fntoxi
cation is never so disgusting and pttIa
Bile as when INDUCED in by persons of
Breeding. In the Sums Of NAM rrrant