The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-14
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

In many a community on this con-
t1nent, and abroad, the temperance
topic. 1t is getting the big headlines
in the papers. Men on the streets are
talking about it. It is finding it's way
into all sorts of weekly and monthly
pubIieauons; and some OF these are
serving up as news what the Veriest
tyro in temperance work has known for
years and decades. Everywhere one
hears the stereotyped expression, "A
temperance wave" And truly the re-
cent progress of antf-saIoon sentiment
may be called wave" sweeping over
the whole earth. That fact is not the
point for present discussion, however;
rather should we conf1ne ourselves to
a consideration of the forces behind
the present temperance successes; the
winds that have created the wave A
study of temperance organizations is
timely topic. 1t is bound to promote
Intelligence, fairness and balance
among the young temperance advocates
who are to be found in the ranks of
the young peoples societies.
Away back in Old Testament times
we find the first temperance organiza-
ton; and it was quite a model The
Rechabites were the sons OF Jonadab
who were under his command, continu-
Ing from generation to generation, not
to touch wine or strong drink Their
position was somewhat akin to thar of
the modern athletes. They wanted to
that they might always be in full.
possession of all their powers There
fore they denied themselves all things
that might enervate, and elected the
simple life, Injured to hardness. It
means that the Reehabites were
choice company of servants of the
state; they were ready for the hardest
tasks of fighting or enduring. Moreover,
they transmitted their virtues to their
children. They Illustrated what the
insurance companies have within half
century discovered, namely that the
man who does not drink is a good
queathing to his children a Rechabite
inheritance of good blood and nerves
and brains. So high on the roll of
temperance organizations, as well as
first, must be put these ancient Recha-
bites.
A single, resolute man is more potent
than half dozen dead-and-alive or
Father Matthew and Frances Willard
and John B. Cough and Francis Muir
ply before we think Of any of the
numerous temperance societies.
Revolutions never go backward.-Em-
erson.
DR.. T. Dewitt Talmage once said.
'SThe world may scoh at Christian
people as insignificant, but, banded
together for any great moral move
ment they can carry anything at the
ballot box and in congressional as
sembly. The trouble is they have
never yet massed their forees''
Nobody whose judgment is valuable
seems willing to predict what the end
Of the current temperance movement
will be. Assuredly it has not yet reach
ed its limit. The scurrying for cover
on the part of those whom 1t threat
ems is one sign of this. Moreover. the
anti-saloon agitation of today is only
part of a universally awakened moral
consciousness. From far Ceylon we
read of recent temperance legislation.
Switzerland, the home Of the manufac-
ture of terrible absinthe, has legally
ended the production and sale OF that
ravaging beverage. Great Britain is in
the midst Of q license reform debate
On this side of the water temperance
legislation seems to be steadily on the
increase. OF "a legislatures in session
in the United States this year. 20 pass
ed laws against the traffic in liquor,
and not one passed any law favorable
TO the saloon. Ohio is a conspicuous