The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-02-29
Why This Agitation of Alcohol.

In the beginning God created heaven
and earth and then all the animals,
and plants and made man the highest
of all animals and ruler of plants.
The soil is for our maintenance;
the little tender plants supported by
mother earth develop into nourish-
ment for our bodies.
When we so debauch ourselves as
to use the fruits of the earth and
plants other than for our sustenance
We are taking things in our own
hands and leaving our heavenly faith.
er out of it. There are multitudes of
starving folks to-day; were all the
grains that go to the preparation of
alcohol directed into the channels of
feeding the poor, what mission
work could be done!
All lines of progress become stag
mated from the use of strong drink.
Not only does it take from channels
of productive industry one and a half
billion dollars each year, but it is
impossible to compute the loss to our
nation in the earning power of brain
and muscle which have been Destroy
ed through intemperance, and the
forces which carry on the traffic know
neither divine nor human law. The
enactment of laws which have opened
the sluiceways of destruction, pour
ing forth upon the people a dreadful
tide of intemperance, with all the at
tendant evils of drunkenness, disease
and death, are the results of alcohol.
Then why this agitation of alcohol?
Government has been weakened by
his ruling suasion as far back as 53S
B. G.. In the book of Daniel 1st
chapter, 9Th verse, We read how he
(Daniel abstained from strong drink
so that he might grow strong in
muscle, brave in spirit, and true to
Jehovah. In the 5th chapter we see
the results of Belshazzar's drunken
feast-how he lost his kingdom and
was slain by the enemy.
Under the influence of the deadly
drink there are no sacred things.
The most solemn responsibilities are
counted as naught. The dearest re-
lationships of life are endangered.
Honor, riches, love, reputation, will
all be thrown away for moments
indulgence.
Then why this agitation of alco-
hol!
He has extorted many millions
from the laborers of the nation to
be expended in maintaining the po-
lice forces; has bribed in various
ways and disguises the legislators,
judges, and juries of the country.
He has taken away property earn
ed by faithful, earnest labor, and re-
duced many to beggary and want,
diverting the wealth of the nation to
the support of the criminal, pauper
and idiot, made so by his blighting
influence.
He has enticed our boys and young
girls from their homes and lives of
sobriety, industry and frugality to
course of Incidence, wastefulness,
and drunkenness, and made them
dangerous classes of society. He has
drawn our young women away from
paths of virtue to frightful depths
of degradation.
Why agitate alcohol?
He has changed, in many places,
the holy Sabbath, with it's peaceful
hours of religious observation, into
one of worldliness and revelry. He
has turned the wife's love into de-
spair, her pride into shame, and has
dealt deadly blows on her once ten
derly loved form.
He has left burrows by his finger
tips on the brow of the aged and
hoary mother.
He has blighted the sunny, happy
years of childhood and caused the
little ones to pass their lives in
squalor, misery, and want.
He has dragged down the gifted
and noble of all classes from posi-
tions of honor, trust, and usefulness,
and consigned them to disgraced
names and a drunkard's grave.
He has caused the life blood of