Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-12-19
CHRISTMAS, 1907.


In the spirit of the Christmas
season, The Democrat greets its read
ers, one and all.
The birth of the Savior brought
light upon a dark and sinful world,
and, through the centuries, the light
continues to shine with increasing
brightness.
The progress of the world from The
first Christmas morning to the present
time ig an earnest of the progress Of
future years.
The elevation of woman to the
sphere for which the Almighty created
her; the rise and progress of the
press; the growth of constitutional
government: the abolition of human
slavery; the establishment of popular
education; the founding of hospitals
and schools for the unfortunate; the
improvements in prisons, and other
works of mercy and charity; all these
testify in the strongest possible man
ner to the truth and power of Chris
tianiJy.
Such things are unknown in lands
where Christmas carols are not sung.
The misdeeds in our age and
country are many and great.
But the good and the pure exist to
a far greater degree than does the
evil; and be who has faith in God
need have doubt of the final triumph
of the right;
For right is right, since God is God,
And right the day must win
T0doubt would be disloyalty,
TO falter would be sin"
In our land, irrepressible conflicts
are being waged in society and in
government.
Selfshness and greed may rule the
hour; but The Democrat has faith to
believe that the beginning of great
reforms is at hand.
Half century ago the abolition of
human slavery was thought by many
to be an impossibility; but the great
evil was wiped out in blood and
tears.
AS the slave holder held it to be his
right to enjoy the fruits of the labor
of his slave, so many still hold it to
be their right to lay tribute on the
many for the benefit of the few. Cues
tiOns of taxation will never be set
tied right until the principle is firmly
established that tribute shall be levied
only for the maintenance of govern
ment, economically administered.
A better understanding is demanded
of the relations between capital and
labor,-an understanding which can
be brought about only in the applica-
tiOn-by employer and employe-of
the principle of the golden rule.
The question of the control of the
liquor traffic is another question that
is up for settlement.
The south is meeting the question
in manner that has brought conster-
nation to the allied forces of liquor
dealers and their apologists through
out the country.
For years the storm has been brew
ing, and it has burst with fury over
the south.
One fraternal order after another
has declared against the traffic, and
the moral forces of the country are
arrayed against it.
The Christian principle is to refrain
from indulgence in that which causes
so many to offend and brings so much
misery into the world.
The day may be far distant, but
The Democrat believes that sooner or
later this principle will prevail.
The question of settling disputes
between nations by arbitration, in
stead OF by war, has been discussed
with profit by representatives of the
various nations during the year that
is drawing to a close.
The Christmas spirit of peace on
earth, good will to men" is making
for permanent peace among all ma
tions.
The uplifting of the people to high
err purposes by means of universal
education is the thought and effort of