The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-11-05

Of It's highest opportunity and aOlfty.
Mere arguments against the use OF
intoxicants will never win the tenn
perance war: there must be provision
made for the fulhllment Of the tend
encies and tastes which alcohol rep
resents. Primarily, these are purely
social; and there is no greater PROB
lem confronting the church Of today
than that Of providing unhampered
and yet wholesome social relation
ships for the young people OF our gen
Grafton.
Beginning at the Beginning.
Now, to come to the point OF his
whole temperance question:: How
may the reform hope to win? Let
US loo at it nationally and from the
standpoint Of those who believe IN
the feasibility and ~desirability Of a
world without intoxicating liquors.
First Of all, and manirestly, there
must be a new mind in the youth Of
the world. Public opinion must be
changed at its springs. New minds
must precede new laws. Only q ma
ton OF abstaining individuals can
make q total abstinence nation.
The hOmely phrase Is worth re-
peating that "the first saloon for a
man to close is that which does bust
ness between his own nose and chin
Without abating one jot or title OF
it's restrictive or Legislative work, the
church must create in youth a Senti-
ment In favor Of temperance which
the years cannot change. To make q
nation of non-drinkerslw we must begin
at the bottom.
Temporary Expeiients.
Half a loaf is better than no
bread" Not everybody believes that.
Some good temperance folk are deter
mined to starve to death, or else have
q full course dinner. It seems more
! reasonable that while waiting for
ideal temperance conditions we should
accomplish whatever we can. Pend
ing the winning Of the war, let us
accomplish as many. minor victories
as possible. The amelioraIion Of evil
conditions will probably have to pre-
cede their annihilatiOn. Thus, by
pure GOD laws the quality Of the
liquor sold to the poor may be rend-
cred less injurious. Even the mar
who drinks has rights: and it is a
part Of sane temperance progress to
see that he be not poisoned.
A whole scheme OF regulation Of
the liquor trahc must antedate the
removed Of the trah The hours
when saloons may be pen; h sale
OF liquor to minors, to women and
to intoxicated persons; the separation
Of the saloon from politics.; and even
minor details like the removed OF the
screens from the doors. all make for
temperance progress, and shold not be
disdained by any who are enlisted In
the big fight.
The Ultimate Goal.
The audacity OF the fatal abstain
ers' program is not so staggering to a
fair mind as it once a This Q II
templates tho absolute extinction OF
the liquor trahc. 1t hopes ultimately
to remove this public enemy from
SOpiatN'S midst Tho Christian Tn
d~eavorers have raised the battle-cry,
"A ~saloonless nation by'1920."
Pending hat "consummation de
Voutly 70 be wished for" the terri
tory wherein liquor is sold may be
restricted as rapidly as is consisten,
with honest and consistent progress
Local option. which has found such
amazing favor throughout the United
States should be extended over as
Wide an eren as local sentiment viii.
support. 70 put on the statue books
laws which cannot be. enforced is 9
mistake: it still further imperils the
sanctity OF law, n promotes tina,
disregard for the enactrnents OF the
{ State which Is one OF the Yray.. evil,
OF our western life.
The fact may as we'll be faced first
as last, that no reform can go aheal
or the viii OF the public. Steady, in
telilgent pressure must be brought t.
bear upon the minds Of men until al
= have come to substantial unity upor
the subject and the land shall bt
free OF that blistering, blightint
G curse which has shorn stroons mer
$ OF their strength, has broken tn.
: hearts OF women worse than widowed
y and has nipped the Hover Of hops
q from the life OF innocent little chill
e dren.
SEVEN SENTENCE EJ,NON
Nothing makes II ma stron. lii
a call upon him for help.-MacDon
aid.
Remember, gentlemen. that whe,
e you meet with a di1.culey. yon ar,
n on the eve OF u di>covcry.-Tnr.
i Kelvin.
e The lines Are fallen untn m.. !,
is pleasant places;
e l have a gOodly heritage.