The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-20

 what 1t ought to be. universal prrhibi- ton can and will obtain.
 No it Is useless to tell . man to quit drinking unless you build up his character. It is useless to enact state wide prohibition law. and not set aDout to cure the sick social organ ism.
 It is useless to remove the exciting agent and leave the predisposing causes to carry on their deadly work, for human conduct, in the last analy- sis. is . movement away from pain
 Man is an ingenious animal and he will find another anesthetic when at- cohol Is placed beyond his reach unless the causes which break down the ner- vous system be removed. Surely the nature of the temperance question commands the Christian to remain in politics. The church Is today the grsatest force for righteousness in the world but she is handicapped by large- ly confining her effort the individual salvation. Christians have not yet applied themselves to social salvation save under whip and spur. In our own State by forging ahead to constitution al prohibition they have deprived them- selves of the incentive which was so necessary to make them saving pow CT of wondrous significance in society. Had they rested content with state- wide prohibition, the door would have been opened for their guiding hand in every law that effected the welfare of the people.
 Tn forcing the issue the door has been closed because it is now deciar- ed to be and by that declaration will be an issue of liquor or no liquor Things become to us what we think they are and the Christians opportun- tfxrh O AAHA s-~Ags be real and will mean the re-establish- ment of the saloon in Alabama. and so It comes about that one who is con- scientiously opposed to the submissiou of the amendment Is forced on an is- sue of liquor or no liquor to support the amendment if he be at heart prohibitionist.
 T am persuaded that the advocates of submission deemed 1t expedient to make an instantaneous rush to vic- tory. It's something like the revival season in our ehurches-for a week or two we make a desperate effort to save souls and then take 1t easy the re- maining eleven and a half months of the year. Are we preparing to leave the firing line and seek the more con- genial text? An open door was plac- ed before us--we shut it. We stood in the gate that entered the city and even there feared the dragon would overcome. The conflict promised to be long and bitter. We preferred to close 1t and turn our attention to oth- CT matters.
 The Price.
 Eternal vigilance Is the price of righteousness. We are called upon to watch and work and pray and strug. gle onward. upward ever. The heav- enly voice entreats us to take up the cross and pour out our lives for others daily and entering. as sons of loving self-sacrificing service, into the re- demption purpose of our Lord. to estab- fish his kingdom on earth. To me 1t is pltiful to see my brethren lose such glorious opportunity-to give up the Master. I'm not a prophet In any extraordinary sense of that word and yet I am a prophet of the Most High. Mark my words, in less than a dozen years the corrupt professional polttic- fans who are also the lobbyists will, by means of the amiable melodies who will at that time occupy the legislat- i've halls, enact laws which will not be in the interest of society's welfare and under such regime constitution. al prohibition will be a hissing and a by-word In Alabama in less than 100 years.
 "But the die is cast, the opportunity was lost when the amendment waa submitted and now, as a prohibition ist. who sincerely believes In local op- ton, 1t is my purpose and intention to favor the amendment. It is too late to turn back-to do so would be worse than folly. I yield in submis- sion because I have to when I face the issue. I could easily become an outcast from my brethren if by any means I couii win them to see it as do-that can not now be done for by the declaration that the issue is one of liquor or no liquor and the further declaration that those who are opposed to the amendment are friends of whiskey and enemies of prohibit tion. they have committed themselves beyond hope. Cain once asked, Am my brothers keeperT and the answer is found in that prayer taught by Jes- us. Thy Kingdom Come I trust that I am mistaken, that Christians in Ala bama will from henceforth interest themselves in all things that hasten the establishment of the Masters kingdom.
 "Too often we are prone to sing. On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, While contemplating the crown, for get the cross We pray Thy King dom Come and forget that by our blood and sweat and tears 1t Is to be established here on earth"
 
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