The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-27

dreds of little children were enjoying Christ.
mas tree entertainment in the now saddcned
city of Michigan when there was a sudden tran
sltion from scene of pleasure to the pail of
death Some one poksd his head in the audit
forums door and cried fire., There was no
fire, but panic enaued and the lives of some
four score Of innocent little children were snuTed
out in a few moments
There were fond mothers there who had <alsen
pains to have their oarl.ngs appear we'll An
affectionate extra +ouch of the hair ribbon or
adjustment OF the usckwcar-ana how prcraly
little Mary's and little J.mmie's parents looked
upon them as they spoke their little pieces from,
the stage! There 10 see them die--'twas horrl-
BILE
And what caused it--what caused it? We are
not surprised to read In the news dispatches that
It Is said "A man came MP the steps OF the han
from n saloon, whose breath smelled OF alcohol
were letting whiskey aione"--hut ah' did whis-
key let them alone! This is just one fright.
fu toll society is paying for harmful! social Gus
toms and the legal sanction of the liquor tyaf-
nc
Day by day this blights homes and blasts
lives-here, there yonder. whither-~and ever
and anon there is recurrence OF some catas-
topic which appals the public because Of tho
number that feied out the same time and
in the place. Bur the harvest of misery
Yes, but a mighty and increasing army that is
detsrIrdned to ria this fair hand Of such curse,
goes bravejy also.
There has been more portentous domon-
stration at the national capital for many a day
than that OF December 10 1913, when men
and women from all this land assembled
60 petition congress 30 provide for the submiss
10 the States of constitutional amendment t.
prohibit the beverage liquor traffic.
There is no moro and determined pr
pose in the thoughtful patriotic public mind than
the destruction Of the lega!ized liquor tratfc
This traffic is a public menace 1t ia not con-
ducve to those fundamental things for which
this nation was formed. to-wit--the insurance of
a more perfect union, the preservation Of life
and liberty. the pursuit of happiness and the
promotion of domestic tranquility
It makes for slavery. misery, death and domes-
tic turbulence! II endangered travel on land
and sea- (Who doubts the cause Of the Titanic
disasterD The black flag floats social in
sttutons, and from the fagstaffs OF State houses
and our national capital! The battle is on for
the salvation of the church, the home and the
school and it is on in earnest!
We cranks can't anything else" Oh,
Yes we can There other wrongs to be
righted and countrys blessings far exceed
it's drawbacks But. even so, there is no
cuse for quiescent attitude regarding this par
ticular curse that Is causing much havoc
and which, if not overthrow will wreck this
nation
Poor little innocent victims In Calumet. Pity
the homes where Christmas JOY was turned to
heartbreaking sorrow Who is to blame? Who
is to blame? Certainly not. those who by
Xnte- and -YaIce- eLernalIX- nnnteet- against The
social drinking custom and the 1egalizatlon o.
the beverage liquor traffic.
Under which flag?
W NJ. BIcKERs.
Richmond, Va. Christmas 1913.