La Junta tribune., 1911-03-18

ment OF man ~ Inanhood-
~ Manhood In man is the
supremacy Of conscience and the
dominance OF courage. two of the
things that lift him above the lrute
creation. Therefore the most valu-
able possession a man can have Is
his manhood: that Is. a conscience
that is free and the courage TO fol
low H.
Manhood is the chief factor in the
advance of civilization. and In secur'
Ing the Creates, measure OF peace
and prosperity for a people. We are
the greatest nation on earth today. In
progress and achievement. because
our government secures for men the
largest measure Of freedom for the
conscience and the greatest scope
for courage.
In these is our hope for the future.
The past few years have revealed a
most disastrous failure in manhood
corruption in politics. in business and
In social life We are realizing more
aud more that the most valuable and
important things In private life, and
in social. industrial aud civic life
cannot be safeguarded by law. they
must be- secured In the character-the
manhood OF the citizenship. Free
government is on trial on the Amer
lean Gods last best *.
pertinent" The result Is by no means
certain. or all conservation move
mcnts yet proposed the most iUpor-
tant for every community and for
the whole nation 10 consider Is
the conservation OF manhood. The
most valuable possession OF nation
is not Its mines OF gold, not It's grea,
forest reserves. nor its eGpanse Of
rich acres. nor It's manufactures. all
these are practically and ultimately
worthless without manhood.
The greatest crime that can be-
committed against a man Is the cor
ruption OF his manhood The great
est crime that can be committed
against nation Is the destruction of
its manhood Weaken mans con
science and rob him OF his courage
and you do worse than kill the man,
you kill his manhood. \ man with
out manhood Is worse of himself and
more dangerous 10 society than a
Wild beast at large He has the
freedom OF man and Is capable Of
doing more harm than the beast To
rob nation OF Its manhood Is
worse than to beiray II into the
hands Of an armed foe With its
manhood nation can deliver itself
from an outside enemy. but 70 bed
OF It's manhood II cannot deliver It.
self from Itself We have little 10
fear today from an outside foe. not.
withstanding our scant armament, but
many serious thinkers OF the day
are wondering whether or not We
shall be- able to overcome the inter
nal foes that threaten the character
of our citizenship. In which alone
Is our hope.
In view OF these considerations.
do not hesitate To say, upon evidence
which is seen ON every hand. that
the liquor traffic Is the greatest
crime of this or any age. bccaus. II
is the greatest known corruptcr and
destroyer OF manhood. First. alcohol
In It's physical affects destroys the
action OF the higher centcrs of the
brain and its victim Is soon bru.
taiixcd He viii do things under the
influence Of alcohol that he would
not do at any other time. Seventy.
five per cent OF all Grim. is com.
mitt.d under the Influence of strong
drink. Conscience Is deadcncd and
cowardly deeds OF e,il are committed
No beas, OF the field will abus. his
female mate. but a man. with his
manhood destroyed by the use Of
alcohol. viii beat his ~if. with a
club. and even 10 worse by her. Even
when used In small quantities. alec.
hoi debases tastes. blinds judgment.
and blunts consci.ne.s. No tha, men
have Low and selfish Ideals seek sen.
suai pleasures. and rate money con.
sid-ratsons higher than honor. man.
hood. ar tn. lives Of others. This
physical effect OF alcohol upon the
higher c.nt.rs of brain and nervous
system goes far 10 explain the In.
,cilcctuAi pcr,.rsity and moral tur.
pliud. OF many who defend ID. traf.
ne and do all they can TO con.
tinas 1t regardless Of the ruin. suf.
frrinx. ioss and crime !, Ia constant.
" infiiessns upon their fellow men.